Residents argued for and against the proposal during the meeting at city hall, with the applicants asking for 4 Valdane Ave. to be rezoned from single detached residential to medium density residential in order to construct the townhouse.
Resident Darren Ings said the proposal would not conform to the area, which consists largely of single family dwellings.
“Most of us have seen Sesame Street and I know most of us have seen the game ‘one of these things is not like the other.’ And that would allude to the subject property at hand,” said Ings, a real estate appraiser who later added that he had also looked at buying the property to construct a duplex.
Ings said he was told by the city “in no uncertain terms” it would not be permitted.
“Now we’re here two years later and we’re looking at a triplex,” said Ings. “I’m looking at it from a conformity point of view... this is not like anything else on the street.”
However, applicant Tracey King-Gallant said she and her husband received support from many residents before making the application.
She said the couple was planning to build a “dream home” on the lot and will be living in it.
The one-storey building would also include two other units.
“The units will be maintained by us… it will fit into the community very well. It’s one level and will be manicured and maintained for a high-end look,” said King-Gallant. “When we went door to door to the residents, we had a warm welcome and lots of support.”
To date, council had received five letters of support and one letter of opposition.
Gary Bolger, who lives next to the proposed dwelling, spoke in support of the application.
Bolger said he was initially against the proposal.
“The more I thought about it, the more I think it would be a benefit to the community,” he said. “I would definitely love to have them in my neighbourhood.”
Resident Henk Bondt also spoke in support of the plan.
“(This development) will fit right in with the rest of the properties and we know the owner is going to be there looking after the place.”
Another resident noted there was no guarantee the couple would not eventually sell the property.
Ings said he was also not happy that Coun. Melissa Hilton was with the couple when they approached him for resident feedback.
“I felt that was very confrontational… is there a conflict of interest with Coun. Hilton bringing the couple around? I feel there is,” said Ings, who presented signatures of “three neighbours and four individuals” against the development.
Coun. Hilton had previously declared a conflict of interest and did not attend the meeting.
The city’s planning board will review the application and public feedback from Tuesday’s meeting during its meeting next Monday before making a recommendation to council.
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Below is a fully interactive map with a marker showing 4 Valdane Ave.