Official Plan amended with a few caveats

Cathy Dobson/The Independent

Both the developer and Point Edward Mayor Bev Hand call it a “milestone” that will lead to significant development at the former Holmes Foundry site.

“I’m very pleased. It means we are moving forward,” said Hand minutes after council voted 3-2 in favour of an amendment to the Official Plan that sets the stage for a wide range of residential, commercial and recreational uses. For decades, village officials have wanted development of the vacant 17 acres, calling it the gateway to Point Edward, Lambton County and Canada.

The property, which is close to the Bluewater Bridge and Highway 402, was mired in controversy for 30 years after Chrysler closed a foundry there.

But nearly three years ago, Lambton County native Tyler Pearson bought the property and has been conducting environmental studies in preparation for major development.

His proposal includes about 1,900 mid-rise and high-rise apartment and townhouse units, a hotel, 254 senior housing units, retail stores and parkland. 

Wednesday’s public meeting at the Point Edward Community Hall was the first step in the planning process for development.

Several residents voiced concern about potentially high traffic volumes, pollution, noise and the need for massive infrastructure improvements and more fire and police protection for such a large project.

Council members assured the 60 people in attendance that each concern would be addressed as the development progresses.  At least three more planning meetings will be required to approve rezoning.

Planners Jordan Fohkens and Jarod Preston recommended that council approve the Official Planning Amendment (OPA) but with two important changes: They said they could not support retail warehouse or free-standing self storage uses.

After a brief debate, the mayor and Coun. Arianna  Noctor voted against approval of the OPA and said they preferred that staff determine how to include those two uses in a way that satisfies all parties, then return for another public meeting to get OPA approval.  But the three other council members voted in favour of approving it with the retail warehousing and self storage uses prohibited.

Deputy Mayor Greg Grimes said later he was in favour because he didn’t want to delay the process.

“It’s a massive milestone,” agreed Pearson after the vote.  But he admitted to being disappointed that two uses have been taken off the table.

“Unfortunately it limits the options a little bit,” he said.  Retail warehousing would allow for development such as a large format big box store, while most residential developments these days require a free-standing building for storage units, he explained.

“I have built multiple storage buildings in municipalities that welcome them,” he said. “They look like high end office buildings.”

He has the option of appealing council’s decision and said he would confer with his team before making a decision on that.

Meanwhile, environmental work is ongoing at the property, which now includes a one-acre parcel at the corner of Christina and Exmouth streets where an Esso gas station once operated.  That parcel was never part of the original 16-acre Holmes Foundry property. 

However, Pearson said he was determined to acquire it and purchased it from Imperial Oil recently.  The deal closes in the next few months.  “I always looked at that corner as the marquis of the entire site,” he said.

Riyaz Punjani of S2S Environmental Inc. was at the open house prior to Wednesday’s meeting and said his team has drilled more than 100 holes, some deeper than 20 feet, to assess the soil on site.

They found metal contaminants, petroleum hydrocarbons and solvents in the ground and are currently doing mitigation work. Soil was removed in several “hot spots” but most of the remaining contaminants will be documented and some will need to be capped, Punjani said.

“The good news is that metal contamination is not that bad because metals are bound to the soil,” he said.  “So it’s very fortunate.”

Chrysler did an extensive clean up in the 1980s but contamination is still widespread, Punjani said.  “But we can manage it.” He is hopeful a record of site condition can be obtained from the Ministry of Environment within 12 -18 months.

Pearson said Wednesday he purchased the property knowing there were still contaminants and has not been surprised by the findings.

He said numerous interested parties are already discussing a range of developments including a grocery store, a recreational facility and residential uses.

“I’m very close to the community and take a lot of pride in what we’re doing,” he said.  “Tonight’s meeting was significant.”