Zoning challenged
IRAC expected to release triplex rental development decision soon
KINKORA – Six Kinkora residents have taken concerns about a proposed triplex development in their community to the top decision-makers on the Island.
Ron Thomson, Marlene Waddell, Lesley Cousins, Glen McGrath, Leo Flood and Darren Baglole oppose the Municipality of Kinkora’s approval for three properties in Somerset Estate Subdivision to be rezoned from R3 to R4. The R4 designation will allow developers David and Sharon MacLeod to build two three-unit rental buildings on the properties, located on McGuigan Lane.
KINKORA – Six Kinkora residents have taken concerns about a proposed triplex development in their community to the top decision-makers on the Island. Ron Thomson, Marlene Waddell, Lesley Cousins, Glen McGrath, Leo Flood and Darren Baglole oppose the Municipality of Kinkora’s approval for three properties in Somerset Estate Subdivision to be rezoned from R3 to R4.
The R4 designation will allow developers David and Sharon MacLeod to build two three-unit rental buildings on the properties, located on McGuigan Lane.
The residents brought their concerns to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Feb. 6.
Thomson and his wife, Marlene Waddell, bought their home on Shamrock Crescent two years ago expecting more single-family homes to fill in the many vacant lots.
“You drive down Shamrock and the houses are what I call ‘tickety-boo,’ everybody cuts the grass, has flowers - it’s nice,” said Thomson.
Even though he and Waddell recently moved into Summerside to better accommodate their health needs, they represented the residents at the IRAC hearing. The IRAC appeal asked the town to reverse the zoning decision made in May 2018, by the previous municipal council.
“We believe this action will reduce house values and may violate Kinkora’s own Town Plan,” said the appeal from the residents.
“For the most part, homeowners keep their homes reasonably good shape,” said Thomson, in an interview with the Journal Pioneer.
“Rentals are generally not as house proud as owners are,” he said.
Additionally, Thomson maintains the decision violated the town’s own rules.
“There is a section in the town plan, where it states that R1 or single-family dwellings are to be protected from commercial spaces or apartments,” he said.
In a July letter to IRAC, Derek French, development officer for Kinkora, said “the proposed rezoning will be in compliance with the Official Plan” and provides a type of housing that’s rare in the area. French added there were 20 submissions in support of the rezoning.
Over and above the rental properties, Thomson is upset the developers will be taking advantage of publicly-funded infrastructure to build income properties, especially since there was land zoned R4 right next door.
The subdivision has paved roads, underground infrastructure and curbs and was developed with funds from all three levels of government.
“He becomes now a builder, not a developer. He builds triplexes and he’s availed himself of an area that was funded by government money, which is the people. He didn’t do any developing here and he’s going to be rent collecting.”
Thomson is generally disappointed with how the town has handled the residents’ concerns.
He still hasn’t heard why residents within 200 feet of the rezoning weren’t notified by mail – his wife happened to pick up a flyer at the post office.
Thomson would also like to know why a town employee, the deputy mayor Roger Savoie, was left to break a tie vote when the mayor and one councillor recused themselves from the rezoning decision due to a conflict of interest.
Additionally, when one of the appellants, Glenn McGrath, asked for the council meeting minutes from October and November 2015, the CAO Amanda Noonan said she was instructed not to release them.
Minutes are public information, most municipalities and groups share minutes on their website, but the Kinkora website says “Under construction August 2018.”
When the Journal Pioneer put those questions to the town, little information was returned. Current Mayor Tina Harvey wasn’t on council at the time and referred specific questions to Lennie Keefe, who was at the IRAC hearing.
Keefe, also named on the Somerset Estate sign, declined to answer any questions for “no particular reason,” adding, “I don’t feel I need to go into it any further.”
David MacLeod likewise wouldn’t comment while the issue was with IRAC, saying “it could jeopardize the decision.”
Harvey did send a statement to support the previous council.
“The rezoning was approved by the previous council and while this is not something the current council can comment on, we do support their decision and are happy that this week’s IRAC hearing should signal the end of a lengthy process for all involved. Council has no plans to revisit this decision. It is now under IRAC’s review and we hope to hear back this month.
“We are invested in the growth of our community and understand that housing options in the municipality need to address changing times and needs.”
No one has been able to shed much light on the Somerset Estates development, much less answer the Thomsons’ concerns.
“I love Kinkora. I would have lived there for the rest of my life,” said Thomson.
IRAC will have a decision within three weeks of the hearing.