Heather Wright/The Independent

Forty-seven townhouses for seniors are in the works in Courtright.

St. Clair Township gave Goldleaf Developments the okay to rezone the land which was designated for single family homes for the project.

Lambton County Planner Ian MacDougall told council the six acre property between Four and Charton Street was supposed to be developed years ago.

“At one time, it was proposed for a subdivision of single family dwellings. That proposal, the draft subdivision, has long lapsed, and now it’s been purchased and a proposal now to bring in town homes on this project,” he said.

MacDougall says there will be 11, one-storey townhouse buildings with between three and six units in each. They would have a garage and parking.

MacDougall encouraged council to support the project. 

“It’s good to have a mix and provide options to the citizens for different housing options,” he told council. “It is a rental project. They have a similar project in Petrolia, and is, it is fully occupied.”

Some neighbours on hand Monday for the public meeting were concerned townhouses would change the quiet nature of the area. The planner disagreed. “The units are fairly small. They’re all built on grade. There’s no basement. So that would have a design that would be more applicable to people that are either retired or children have left home,” said MacDougall.

Council passed the zoning change for the project. Planners will now help create a site plan for the project.