Image

Rezoning for $33M development nixed

June 1, 2022

A proposed $33million townhouse development in Petrolia has hit a road block.

Town council has turned down the bid by Baker Build and Design to rezone a 10 acre parcel of land between Third, Fourth and Kentail St. to allow a 66-unit townhouse development to move ahead at the May 24 council meeting.

The builder hoped to build town houses which were between 1,400 and 2,000 square feet and sell them at a cost of about $500,000.

During a zoning hearing earlier in the month, neighbours voiced concerns about a wall of two-storey town homes in the predominantly single storey home neighbourhood. Many, including Alison Mavis, said they checked with real estate agents before buying to make sure the area around their homes would also be single family homes.

Their main concern at the rezoning hearing was the poor drainage in the area which led to standing water in most yards, damaging fences, decks and lawns.

When council reviewed the rezoning application for the development – which is called Petrolia Sky Estates – May 24, the neighbours returned. They were expecting answers from town employees about who would deal with the drainage problems, but Mavis said they had not received them.

“What happens if this massive development causes issues to current homeowner,” she asked councillors.

“Who do we turn to? Who is responsible?”

During the pandemic, BM Ross and Associates looked at the area and determined it was in need of major repairs because of constant flooding in the area. Mavis voiced concern that study was completed when it was expected the neighbourhood would continue to be single family homes. She wanted to see the planners take another look at the study, and take the proposed town houses into consideration.

Councillor Marty Souch asked if it was possible for BM Ross to take a second look. “Those questions should be answered before we make a decision” he says. Councillor Grant Purdy agreed. “The drainage is an important issue I know it is really bad there. If we pass this right now, it does pave the way for things to go through.”

But town staff said if the zoning were changed, the builder would still have to come up with a drainage plan which would be approved by council.

Mayor Brad Loosley said he hoped the reconstruction of the streets in the area this summer should help the situation.

But three of the five councillors at the table didn’t want to take the chance. Souch, Purdy and Don Welten all voted to deny the rezoning with Councillors Wade Deighton and Ross O’Hara in favour. Councillor Joel Field was absent Mayor Brad Loosley only votes to break a tie.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Petrolia, WM give out $15K in green grants

April 23, 2025

There will be more trails, trees and environmentally-friendly lighting thanks to the Town of Petrolia and WM’s Green Grants. The town announced $15,000 in funding on Earth Day. 2025 Successful Projects: The IODE Margaret Stokes Chapter was successful in their application for Moncreif Park and JubileeTrail Revitalization in the amount of $5,000. The funds will be used to plant native

Read More

Image
Front Page

‘We will be fighting this’ bid to push through York1 plan Canniff tells province

April 23, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent When Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff first got the call, he thought it was good news. Instead, he’s gearing up for an all-out fight to stop York1 Environmental Waste Solutions from pushing through its plans to reopen the derelict Dresden dump. Canniff got a call from the Minister of the Environment’s office Thursday around noon. When he returned

Read More

Image
Front Page

Petrolia Water intake contractor approved

April 22, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Two major projects in Petrolia are moving forward. In 2022, the town received of a $16 million grant to replace the Lake Huron water intake pipe which was installed in 1944 and is nearing the end of its life. Monday, Petrolia council awarded the contract for the new water intake at the Brights Grove Water Treatment Plant

Read More

Image
Front Page

Environmental Defence calls PC’s move to speed up York1 project ‘shameful backpedelling’

April 22, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Traumatizing. That’s what Thomas Peacock, one of the leaders of a community group fighting the revitalization of the Dresden dump, calls the Ford Government’s decision to allow York1 to redevelop the land without an Environmental Assessment. Members of the Dresden community became aware of the move not from their local MPP or a news release, but by

Read More