The parking lot at 115 Victoria St. N in Sarnia (Photo from Sarnia Council Agenda - July 10/23)The parking lot at 115 Victoria St. N in Sarnia (Photo from Sarnia Council Agenda - July 10/23)
Sarnia

Sarnia council slams the brakes on downtown parking lot donation

After almost a year and a half of discussions, a last minute petition ultimately stopped further discussion about the future of Sarnia's Victoria Street North parking lot in its tracks.

City staff were asked to prepare a report on whether, or not, to declare the lot at 115 Victoria Street North surplus in June 2023 after receiving a request to purchase the property for affordable or supportive housing.

The direction triggered a number of discussions which saw city council declare the lot surplus and donate it to the County of Lambton in May, but then rescinded its decision earlier this month.

Councillor Terry Burrell said views from the public favoured maintaining the lot's current use.

"We recently received a lot of input from business people downtown, and others, that they want the property left as a parking area and some other people do not think that it is an appropriate site for social housing," said Burrell.

A statement by City/County Councillor Dave Boushy sparked applause, heard during the virtual meeting, presumably from members of the public watching the broadcast in council chambers.

"Judging from the feedback I got from the public, I think, honestly... I think we made a mistake. Let's admit it," Boushy said.

City/County Councillor Brian White said there was an "element of truth" to councillor Boushy's statement.

"Whether you call it a mistake or you call it the opportunity to have the discussion -- and I think that's critical to what our process is here, is having that discussion -- I've heard loud and clear from the residents of the community that this is not the right location as well," said White.

However, White believed there was a lack of understanding between what supportive housing is (which was proposed for the area) as opposed to social housing.

In its letter, circulated late last week on its Facebook page, The Downtown Business Collective of Sarnia-Lambton said while the committee understood the intentions behind the project and the need to address the current homeless crisis... it believed the approach would create more challenges than solutions.

County of Lambton CEO Stephane Thiffeault responded to the letter Friday afternoon.

"It is understood on our end that any future project on that lot will, subject to the option agreement materializing, first have to be presented to, and approved by, county council. Our public communications are, and will continue to be, in keeping with that understanding and with what’s already been communicated to county council in our various reports on this subject matter," Thiffeault said.

City council voted 7-2 in favour of receiving and filing the recommendation to donate the northern portion of the lot to the county. Mayor Mike Bradley and Councillor Adam Kilner supported the direction.

"It doesn't matter where you go, you're going to run into the same issues," Bradley said.

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