‘A lot of opportunity’: Nigh Road infill proposal gets mixed reaction

It’s rare that Fort Erie councillors see a purpose-built rentals development proposal presented to them.

So while a proposed project on Nigh Road does just that, councillors and the municipality will have to balance the eagerness to get more rental units in town with some of the concerns expressed by neighbours.

“I see that as an opportunity for affordable housing, whether it is the entire development, whether it’s a portion of the development…I see a lot of opportunity there,” said Councillor Nick Dubanow on Monday night as Fort Erie held a public hearing on the proposed build of 10 units that will be used to supplement a rental market in dire need of support.

Dubanow said it’s not often that development proposals come forward with purpose-built rentals in the plan. And while there may be some legitimate concerns, he added the municipality can’t force developers to build purpose-built rentals, so when a project comes forward like this they should try to make it work.

Whether any of the units, if the project is approved, actually fit the official affordable housing criteria, remains to be seen.

“My understanding is they will be attainable, affordable has not been proposed,” said Robin Shugan, intermediate development planner.

Biglieri Group’s Rachelle Larocque, representing the developers, said they were open to the idea of offering some of the units as affordable housing options, though those discussions would happen further down the road.

Existing residents, as well as some members of council, had concerns with the proposal; chief among them was parking. Though the developers have shifted their plan and say it meets existing parking requirements, several concerns were echoed.

There will be no parking allowed on the internal road into the development and there’s no parking allowed on Nigh Road either.

“Visitors are going to be parking somewhere,” said resident Sam Rutherford.

According to a staff report, “The proposal may accommodate eight accessory dwelling units based on the number of parking spaces provided.”

It goes on to say the townhouse units will have double car driveways, and four visitor parking spaces for a total of 24 spaces.

However, with a possible 18 total units and 24 parking spaces, Mayor Wayne Redekop asked where visitors would park if all the spaces are in use.

“That would be something that residents would have to sort out prior to having guests,” said Larocque.

Other concerns included increased density, infrastructure worries, existing drainage concerns that could be exacerbated by the project, as well as the potential loss of trees and privacy for existing neighbours.

“I have significant reservations about the scale at this point,” said Councillor Joan Christensen, adding she’s not opposed to infill, but is worried about over-intensification.

As part of the request, developers are looking for relief from a few zoning bylaw requirements, including lot frontage, lot area, and minimum landscape.

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