The Town of Lakeshore could be headed to the Ontario Municipal Board after denying zoning bylaw changes for a proposed 10-unit townhouse development.
Developer Tony Azar is proposing two buildings containing a total of 10 back-to-back townhouse dwellings in Lakeshore on the corner of County Road 22 and Beechwood Dr.
Council denied the zoning change because many surrounding residents came forward with traffic and safety concerns. They said the rental development does not fit with the current neighbourhood.
"All the people in the neighbourhood have brought it up to such a pristine level. It has to do with pride. Once you get rental people coming in, they said they're going to have to do their own yard work. We want to keep our neighbourhood to a certain standard," says neighbour Mark Gasparini.
But Azar says he will appeal the decision and is confident it will rule in his favour.
"I love my chances at the OMB, we're going to win it hands down. It will probably be a couple hour hearing, not more than that," says Azar. "The OMB will look at the comparability, it will look at the zoning and the planning aspect of it. We'll have the town municipal planner that will support it and she has to come as a witness and say this meets all the criteria."
All councillors voted to deny the development except for Mayor Tom Bain. He said he doesn't like the town's chances in front of the OMB.
