London developer unhappy with Woodstock council rejecting development plans

Woodstock councillors recently turned down a proposed development in the city's north end. (City of Woodstock Image)

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Woodstock City Council recently turned down a development known as 401 Lakeview Drive in the north end of the city, but the developer is vowing to use any and all available tools to see the proposal built.

“Farhi Holdings Corporation (FHC) submitted a redevelopment proposal at our site after over three years of technical studies, consultation with staff and neighbours and support from councillors and provincial partners who wished to see increased density on this site,” explained Jim Bujouves, President of the London-based company.

“Understanding the close proximity to an existing neighbourhood, FHC made several changes in a resubmitted application that among other things: added underground parking for the mid-rise buildings, increased the park space, increased the tree protection area, had independent peer reviews of our traffic study and rearticulated density to County Road 59 away from the lower density units. These changes not only met the demands of the opposing neighbours at the time but also received full staff support and led to their recommendation to approve our development.”

Bujouves added that unfortunately, Woodstock City Council chose to deny staff's recommendation and put loud NIMBYism ahead of rationale planning practice and meeting Provincial housing targets that the Mayor and Council personally signed on to meet.

“It is detrimental to the housing crisis and our younger generations when we gatekeep exclusively single-family housing and actively have local councillors facilitating clear NIMBYism from those who already enjoy owning and affording a home.”

He said his company finds this decision by council hypocritical as the city is currently investigating annexing valuable farmland from East Zorra-Tavistock, a move only delayed because EZT’s Secondary Plan approval has not been approved by the province.

“Their own studies show they are out of developable land. We believe that council cannot deny intensification projects supported by their own staff while looking to expand their municipal boundaries. We are hopeful that our application will receive Oxford County Council support and if not, FHC is prepared to use the full rights afforded to us by the Planning Act to ensure Provincial housing targets are met.”

Those rights include an appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal, a provincial body which hears and adjudicates matters related to land use planning, environmental and natural features, heritage protection, land valuation, land compensation, municipal finance, and related matters.

Council voted unanimously against the development although Bernia Martin was absent as she was campaigning as the Liberal candidate in the provincial election. Council’s main beef with the project, along with a number of area residents, is that it is simply too dense and doesn’t fit in well with the current makeup of the neighbourhood.

The motion to turn down the development was made by Coun. Deb Tait.

“This is way too dense for this community. As for the traffic study, I live a block from the (Vansittart) bridge. Yesterday I went to cross the street, Vansittart across from Vincent, and there was a lineup of at least five or six blocks. The cars had to wait four lights to get through and that’s with one lane closed.”

She added she can’t imagine the amount of traffic the area would see with the amount of housing in the Farhi proposal.

“We don’t have the infrastructure for it, we aren’t ready for it,” she added.

Tait also thanked residents for their hard work and presentations speaking against the residential development but she is fully aware of what is likely coming next.

“I think your biggest issue going forward is going to be the appeal process and you’re going to have to yell and scream to the press and hopefully get some kind of awareness of what’s going on and how important this is for our community that this does not move forward.”

Tait has said many times during her tenure on council that residential developments do not pay their way.

“Current taxpayers are going to bear the burden of all this development. We are going to need more police and more emergency services. We don’t even have a fire department on that side of the city which we have required for years. I can not imagine having to get vehicles over there. You are going to have to do whatever you can to motivate and get the press to pay attention because I think this is very important to our municipality.”

There is no word yet when Farhi will present its plan to Oxford County Council.