Heather Wright/The Independent

Petrolia’s planner is worried there will not be enough parking at a proposed housing development on Wingfield Street.

May 13, the town held a public meeting on the proposal for 411 Wingfield Street, which used to house the office of one of the town’s longest serving physicians, Dr. Frank Riedl. After Riedl’s passing, the building went up for sale. The developer wants to turn the entire building – which contained office space on the ground floor and apartments on the second floor – into housing.

The existing building would be a “multiple dwelling” with up to 18 units, including two in the basement. The application also asks for a smaller square footage per unit, and fewer and shorter parking spaces.

But Planner Maria Cossa-Rossi is concerned about the lack of parking saying the developer needs about nine more spaces.

“The potential for multiple renters with vehicles, given there are one, two and three bedroom units proposed, combined with the proposed limited on-site parking spaces and no access to public transit, year-round overnight street parking or parking lots will potentially create conflicts with abutting commercial uses,” Cossa-Rossi said in a report to council.

But the developer contends the small, affordable homes are not likely to attract people with vehicles.

A representative for the developer said that currently, half of the tenants in the building actually use a parking spot.

One resident also sent a letter to council concerned about the parking impacts.

Council will discuss the proposal at its next meeting in May 27.