Willow West resident objects to further planning changes to adjacent housing development

Jamie Hunsburger is urging the Municipality of Kincardine to oppose a planning application for the housing development at the corner of Kincardine Avenue and Fraser Drive in Kincardine.

The resident of the Willow West subdivision, just east of the housing development, spoke during the public forum portion at the start of the council meeting last night (Nov. 2).

"I am speaking to council today to ensure it is aware of a current planning application (B-87-16.22) in the Willow West subdivision, and the associated request for agency comments deadline of Nov. 7," said Hunsburger. "This application seeks to sever a semi-detached dwelling unit down the common wall, resulting in two separate lots (from the existing one). The as-built, as-approved structure includes a secondary suite for each semi-detached dwelling. The existence of the secondary suite is only permitted if each semi is on its own lot."

He said that, if this planning application is approved, it will result in a single structure housing four separate dwelling units.

"The average density per unit will be greater than that of the originally proposed six-unit row house which the planning advisory committee rejected in January because it felt it was too dense," said Hunsburger. "I request that the municipality reconfirm its position by opposing the application."

He said if council thinks more time is required to confirm its position, the planning process accommodates extensions by contacting the Bruce County planning and development department.

"I believe in the process and the need to be respectful of approval authorities tasked with governing society," he said. "In 1995, I bought a garden shed at Home Hardware. This municipality refused me a building permit because I could not provide engineered drawings that the roof could support the snow load in this area. I was told 'rules are rules.' I returned the shed with the explanation to a shocked businessman.

"Today, this municipality facilitates the building of structures that are known to be non-compliant with the comprehensive zoning bylaw on the belief that future approval will be given to put the development back into compliance."

Hunsburger said the tolerance of this presumptive practice lessens the belief that approval authorities are, in fact, acting in the best interest of society.

"No doubt any opposition from the municipality could be seen as contradictory, given it issued a building permit for the structure," he said. "Perhaps if we all followed the rules, we wouldn’t be in this situation."

Mayor Anne Eadie thanked Hunsburger for his comments. "Your input is noted."

Issues presented during the public forum cannot be discussed during that night's council meeting.



Aerial photo (above) and site plan (below) of the housing development at the corner of Kincardine Avenue and Fraser Drive in Kincardine, showing the proposed severance of the semi-detached unit; taken from planning application B-87-16.22