An affordable housing development proposed for Sarnia's former High Park United Church property has received full support from city council.
Official plan and zoning bylaw amendments were approved Monday.
R4 Developments Inc. is planning to convert the existing church on Brenchley Street into 20 to 23 one bedroom apartments, and build a three storey addition on the northeast side with nine additional units.
Councillor Brian White thinks it's a great opportunity.
"I'm very excited to see affordable housing addressed here," said White. "This is smart infill and represents very smart planning. I'm happy to support this application."
White admitted that he hoped for this type of development when he learned the church was closing.
"I remember being in that building on the last day of service and I walked out of there and I said out loud, to a number of people, with the record of infill and redevelopment that's going on in this city right now -- during this term of council -- I expect that this building will be gone and turned into apartments within two years and I think it's been a matter of four to five months since that happened."
The church closed earlier this year.
