Belleville’s Planning Committee is recommending support for a new kind of housing subdivision being proposed for the city.
Area residents opposing the plan packed city council chambers Monday night.
Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities is proposing a subdivision with a total of 283 units on 21 hectares of land at Farnham Road and Scott Drive.
It would feature 91 single houses, 44 semi-detached and 148 townhouses, plus two parks. A land lease community.
Parkbridge homes are more affordable because buyers only purchase the home, not the land on which it sits.
Parkbridge retains ownership of the land and leases it to homeowners.
One of those opposing the plan is Barb Masukawa.
Jim Thompson addressing Belleville’s Planning Committee, November 5, 2018 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Another area resident, Jim Thompson, called the company representatives “snake oil salesmen.” Thompson told the committee there would be “hundreds of rentals” and they “don’t fit in with the community.”
Other area residents expressed concern about the condition of Farnham Road, questioning when it would be upgraded.
Councillor Mitch Panciuk pointed to the lack of affordable housing in Belleville.
Both Planning Chair Councillor Jackie Denyes and Councillor Jack Miller declared conflicts.
The Planning Committee voted to recommend that city council approve the rezoning to allow the development, with a holding symbol to ensure a number of servicing requirements are met.
