Heather Wright/The Independent

A Petrolia developer has big plans for a land-locked property off Eureka Street in Petrolia.

A public meeting is planned for the zoning of the wooded area between the homes lining Eureka and a woodlot along the fence which borders Petrolia’s industrial park.

The developers, Petrolia Property Investments, have a plan for one new fourplex and 37 town houses – 41 units on a four-acre site. 

 The information on Petrolia’s website says the company would like to delete the ‘Significant Woodlot’ status on the land and rezone it for residential use. It would have lots with 6.21 meters in the front yard, 3.05 meters in the side and a six-metre rear yard with a 10-metre woodlot setback. 

This isn’t the only development planned in the wooded area behind Eureka Street.

In Feb. 2024, Lifetime Building Group came to Petrolia council with plans for 48-townhouse units – eight buildings with six condos in each. The development was on a 2.8 acre plot of land on Eureka Street, behind homes already on the street. Tenants would use a private drive to access the homes.

At the time, neighbours voiced concerns about flooding and how close the townhomes would be to existing housing. But since that public meeting, there has been no movement on the project.

Another plot of woodland in the same area has also been the subject of a lot of discussion at town hall.

Local developer Horst Richter of Countryside Realty owns a piece of land near the proposed development which he had donated to the town for a dog park. The town later tried to sell the plot, causing an uproar. Council then returned it to Richter when he threatened legal action.

The public meeting on the proposed zoning change for the Petrolia Property Investment condos will be held Feb. 23 at Town Hall starting at 5 pm.

Editor’s Note: The print version of this story incorrectly identified Lifetime Building Group as the company behind the develop subject to a zoning hearing. We regret the error.