City committee recommends approval of 387-unit housing development at former Fogolar Furlan site
A city committee unanimously endorsed re-zoning lands for a massive proposed housing development in central Windsor Monday night.
But not before neighbouring residents around the Fogolar Furlan property spoke out against the project.
The proposed development would see five, six-storey buildings go up on the former Foglar Furlan sports fields on approximately 10 acres of land.
The proposal calls for a total of 387 units, nearly 500 parking spaces and a new access road to the subdivision off North Service Road.
And neighbours aren’t happy.
“Is this something that you would want in your backyard?” asks Amy Grady. “I understand, build something there, but not that.”
“I believe the magnitude of this project is too big,” said Grant Debroe, a resident who’s house backs onto the proposed development. “That’s my personal opinion.”
“None of us residents want this in our area,” said another delegate speaking before the Heritage and Development Standing Committee.
Complaints range from view obstruction to increased neighbourhood traffic, pollution, privacy and shadows that will “steal sunshine” and upset existing residents’ quality of life.
“Why are you pushing this when no one wants it?” said another nearby resident.
The matter has been before the development committee before, but was deferred multiples times to appease neighbours’ set-back concerns.
Proponent HD Development Group made adjustments and moved the development 20 metres away from the neighbouring backyards.
“I sincerely hope area residents who are opposed to this development will be pleased with our new latest design,” said Haider Habib of the HD Development Group.
“In my professional opinion, I feel like this is sound planning,” said Jackie Lassaline, who was hired on by the proponents to undertake a comprehensive study of the development to ensure it complied with the city and provincial planning documents. “I do believe it conforms with the official plan of the city of windsor and does comply with the comprehensive zoning bylaw.”
The committee members agreed.
“It’s checking all the boxes. But yes, there will be impacts for the people in the neighbourhood,” said Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie, noting the need for housing in Windsor outweighs the neighbourhood concerns.
“We have a housing crisis in this community, we have a housing crisis that we need to address,” said McKenzie. “That means intensification. Intensification in previously and currently developed areas.”
With the committee’s unanimous recommendation, the application will now like go before council in March.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.