Cathy Dobson/The Independent

Sarnia City/County Councillor Bill Dennis is the only member of Sarnia council against a new affordable housing project slated for a former church property on Cathcart Boulevard.

“I have heard repeatedly from homeowners worried about the future of their neighbourhood and I understand why,” Dennis said at Tuesday’s council meeting. He doesn’t believe the county’s assurances that the project won’t be converted for supportive housing in the future and said he shares some of the neighbours’ anxiety that people with severe drug addictions will live there.

At issue is a 94-unit, four-storey, rent-geared-to-income building proposed by Lambton County near the corner of Cathcart and Colborne Road.

It will be next to Jubilee Gardens, another rent-geared-to-income building with 41 units that has operated without controversy in the neighbourhood since 1975.

County officials say construction isn’t likely for another one to two years. They are hoping to receive upper-tier funding approval to help with financing of the new project, which was made possible when St. Bartholomew’s Church closed and sold its property to the county.  

But first, it went to city council for official plan and zoning changes that were overwhelmingly supported by council in an 8-1 vote.

Council heard from three speakers prior to the vote; one in favour and two against. Debbie Willis presented a petition with 211 signatures she collected from neighbours against the proposal. Their concerns related to keeping the neighbourhood safe and maintaining low density, Willis said.

“We are not insensitive or unempathetic. Actually we are the opposite,” she said, pointing out that the neighbourhood embraces Jubilee Gardens and considers it more aesthetically pleasing than the proposed building.

Willis complained that the county didn’t provide enough notice or information to the neighbourhood despite three public meetings held in February. At those meetings – which were well-attended – clear opposition to supportive housing was voiced by the neighbours but the majority said they were in support of affordable housing.

Neighbour William Scott said Tuesday that affordable housing is okay with him but four storeys is too high and the proposed building won’t “fit in” to the neighbourhood.

Councillor Terry Burrell said, unlike Dennis, he takes the county at its word that the proposed building will never be converted into supportive housing.

Sarnia-Lambton is in dire need of more affordable housing for people in lower income brackets, Burrell said.

Melisa Johnson, Lambton’s general manager of housing services, reiterated the new building will be affordable, not supportive, a term used to describe the availability of wrap-around services and on-site security.

“This will contribute a great deal toward the city’s affordable housing goals,” she said.

Dennis asked the county’s planning consultant, Jordan Fohkens, if he would purchase a home across the street.  “Yes or no.  It’s a simple question,” Dennis insisted. Fohkens replied he didn’t think the question was relevant.

Councillor Anne Marie Gillis said she had concerns about density and a lack of sidewalks on the north side of Cathcart.  Councillor George Vandenburg said he wanted to see stats on criminal activity in existing affording housing operated by Lambton County. And City/County Councillor Chrissy McRoberts asked why more affordable housing projects aren’t being built in Lambton County, outside of Sarnia.

But ultimately the overwhelming majority of council sided with speaker Rev. Ken Marui with the ministry team at Grace United Church, located down the street from the proposed housing project.

“Affordable housing grants dignity to its residents as well as better physical and mental health,” Marui said. He said the official plan and zoning amendments were “respectful of the vision of St. Bart’s.”

“We value diversity and bringing people together of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, and social standing,” Marui said. “We see far too often in the news – locally and internationally – that silos of sameness lead to distrust of others, inability to disagree constructively, and fear of change.”