Members of Renfrew town council felt they had little choice as a deadline for a controversial proposal for a historical town lot came to an end on Tuesday.
The council voted in favour of a plan to separate two new residential lots from 247 Barr Street that would add a total of 12 new housing units through a combination of semi-detached and detached homes.
The vote came despite concerns from people living near the proposed construction and Heritage Renfrew’s Dan Donohue, who were all uneasy about the future of the greenspace, accessibility, and appeal of the neighbourhood, as well as the historical impact of changing the plot of land that was once the home of Renfrew magnate M.J. O’Brien.
Director of Development Eric Withers noted that the concerns were understood and valid. However, town staff’s recommendation to go ahead with the project had to be made solely on provincial policy requirements, which the proposal likely meets.
He added that waiting longer to make a decision would leave the town exposed to the lot owner appealing through the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Councillors Andrew Dick and Jason Legris both would sternly condemn that the council effectively had just a few days to consider the project at the meeting, with Legris noting the province’s streamlined stance on new housing has hamstrung their ability to make informed decisions.
The proposal passed a recorded vote of 5-2, with Dick and John McDonald voting against.
Reeve Peter Emon noted that he would have been against the motion if he thought it would turn into anything but a costly loss when the appeal made it to the Tribunal.
(written by Kasey Egan)