Development and infrastructure dominated a relatively short Pelham Town Council meeting Wednesday, July 10, with council voting to move ahead with a controversial plan to build six houses in the Canboro Road/Daleview Drive area of Fonthill.
The proposal, which would see the demolition of an existing fourplex apartment building, has been a topic of concern from some nearby residents, with Mayor Marvin Junkin joining that chorus.
Junkin said he “strongly” disagreed with the staff report to endorse the demolition and construction, citing the fact that the current fourplex represents affordable housing.
“We would end up taking one of the few affordable housing units in the town, and we would be replacing it with two estate homes,” the Mayor said. “I don’t think that’s what this council is about.”
Ultimately that proved incorrect, with all members except Junkin and Councillors Olson and Eckhardt voting for the development.
While the proposal calls for the removal of the fourplex, between the existing lots there are currently five residences. The new plans call for six new homes, although it is highly unlikely they would be deemed “affordable” in Ontario parlance.
“We’re not here to create a community of exclusive dwellings,” Olson said.
However, Deputy Mayor John Wink said the current proposal may be a lesser of two evils for neighbours, pointing out that given its current apartment zoning, the property owner could instead choose to build a three-storey building without a zoning amendment.
Ward 1 Councillor Kevin Ker agreed, calling the situation an “Occam’s Razor.”
As far as the affordability factor goes, acting Director of Community Planning William Tigert said that Pelham is caught between newer provincial guidelines for affordable housing and older ones.
A heritage home is also part of the lot, but the plans intend to keep that structure as is, as a triplex.
Fenwick-to-Fonthill path years away
Council accepted a preliminary staff report on the idea of better connecting Fonthill and Fenwick with pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, but it was clear from discussion that full fruition is years, if not decades, away.
CAO David Cribbs remarked that it may ultimately be cheaper to create a more indirect route that does not follow Canboro Road, but it would be unknown until a detailed study was completed.
“We have a great trail network, but weirdly, we don’t have a connection between Fenwick and Fonthill,” the CAO said.
Ward 3 Councillor Shellee Niznik wondered aloud if widening Canboro was even feasible, while Wink added that it was more likely the connection would be constructed in stages.
“We’re not going to create this link in a year or two, because we can’t afford it,” he said.
Additional council news provided by the Town of Pelham:
2023 Town of Pelham Annual Report
Council received Report #2024-0111 Corporate Services – 2023 Town of Pelham Annual Report, for information. The Annual Report is prepared to provide details about the Town’s financial performance and major accomplishments during the previous year. The Annual report includes the Audited Financial Statements along with a detailed financial overview and to assist with assessing trends, the report contains five years of statistical information. The Town of Pelham has been producing the Annual Report since 2019. The Pelham Finance and Audit Committee reviewed the 2023 financial section and Consolidated Financial Statements of the Annual Report at the May 22, 2024, Pelham Finance and Audit Committee meeting. Residents can view the annual report at www.pelham.ca/budget under the 2023 Budgets and Reports.
2024 Bridge and Culvert Inspection Program and Rehabilitation and Replacement Needs Analysis
Council received Report # 2024-0155-Public Works – 2024 Bridge and Culvert Inspection Program and Rehabilitation and Replacement Needs Analysis, for information. In accordance with Ontario Regulation 104/97 passed pursuant to the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act, the Town of Pelham is required to undertake an inspection, under the direction of a Professional Engineer, for every bridge and major culvert at least once every two years. The inspection program for 2024 was completed by Ellis Engineering Inc. as part of planned spending in the 2024 Capital Budget. Each structure was given a priority ranking based on the condition of the structure. Staff has identified one structure with a low Bridge Condition Index value, the Roland Road culvert. The Roland Road culvert design is nearing completion, and the replacement is planned to be completed in 2025, pending budget approval.
Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Zoning By-law Amendment
Council received Report #2024-0158 Recommendation Report: Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Zoning Bylaw Amendment for information and approved, in principle, the proposed Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Zoning By-law Amendment, as amended. The Town’s Zoning By-law was approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal on April 3, 2023. In order to incorporate the OLT-approved zoning changes into the new Zoning By-law (4481) and bring it into alignment with the Town’s Official Plan, it is necessary to undertake a technical process to amend the new Zoning By-law (4481). The Cannabis Zoning By-law Amendment is a technical amendment that implements the OLT interim order issued on August 22, 2023. The Town hosted a public meeting for this file on June 26, 2024. The public meeting had approximately 80 people in attendance. www.pelham.ca/zblcannabis
Installation of speed reduction measures at Port Robinson Road and Klager Avenue
Council carried a motion for the installation of Speed Reduction Measures at Port Robinson Road and Klager Avenue in Fonthill. The introduction of speed reduction measures has the potential to mitigate collisions and enhance overall road and pedestrian safety. Council directed staff to install a three-way stop sign and crosswalk at the intersection of Port Robinson Road and Klager Avenue as soon as feasibly possible. Additional information on reporting traffic complaints can be viewed at www.pelham.ca/traffic
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that only Mayor Junkin and Councillor Olson voted against the proposed Canboro Road development. In fact, Councillor Brian Eckhardt also voted against the project.
