Stellarton approves plan for housing units

Despite concerns raised by neighbours, Stellarton town council has approved a site plan application allowing for two additional housing units to be constructed at 39 Emmanuel St.

Developer Gerry Pettipas had originally made the request to the town in the fall, but later withdrew the application. Last month he resubmitted it, and it was approved by councillors on Monday night.

Pettipas owns two town houses on the property, which is located in Lourdes, and plans to build two more.

But Thomas and Jean Casey, who live at the adjacent property, expressed worries about privacy, and asked that an eight-foot privacy fence be erected as part of the development’s approval.

Jean Casey said prior to Pettipas acquiring the property, a two-storey family home was located there, and he demolished it and built the town houses.

She said the four units have been designed to overlook her house and garden, with the two new units looking into her kitchen and deck.

“We were dismayed to discover more units were planned,” she said.

Casey said she and her husband don’t want to see the activities taking place next door, noting that for several days in November there were a lot of vehicles and a police presence there.

A fence is located on the Caseys’ side of the property line between the two lots, four feet high for the first portion near the road, as required, and then six feet high stretching to the end of the property.

However, they requested an eight-foot privacy fence be built on Pettipas’s property to “block our view from any activities taking place by the owners or tenants.”

In spite of this, council approved the site plan application without the condition that a higher fence be erected.

In a letter to the town last fall, the Caseys had also expressed concern about snow being pushed against their fence and causing damage, but when Pettipas found out, he said he was unaware of the snow removal issues, and he was willing to work with the Caseys to solve any problems.