The Independent

A developer’ plans to build apartments in Thedford will have to wait.

Robert Hewitt owns a former Grand Trunk Railway warehouse on Pearl Street and wants to create apartments upstairs. Lambton Shores council isn’t opposed, but says benzene has been found on the property.

The amount is small and doesn’t affect the commercial use of the property, but, since Hewitt wants to add apartments, the Ministry of Environment requires a Record of Site Condition or RSC. Hewitt says condos built across the road along the same rail spur did not need it.

Councillor Ron Wilcox, who has apartments in Thedford, tried to convince council to allow the residential building to go ahead without the record, suggesting Strong Mayor’s powers could be used.

“We get calls weekly for people looking for someplace to live. We have homeless people living in Thedford…We got to have some lower income housing.”

But CAO Steve McAuley said other apartment buildings, including one in Forest, went through the process and so should this property. Council agreed, allowing a zoning change but putting a hold on residential construction until the RSC is complete.