Residents object to Crystal Beach development

KRIS DUBE

SPECIAL TO POSTMEDIA

A proposed condo development at the site of a historic restaurant in Crystal Beach was met with some mixed reaction at Monday’s council-in-committee meeting.

A handful of people spoke at a public meeting, focused on a bylaw amendment up for consideration by council to allow a five-storey building, used for both residential and commercial uses.

There are plans to demolish the popular waterfront landmark and build a restaurant and seven apartments on the site.

Concerns surrounding privacy and parking from nearby property owners were heard at the meeting. Many of the same issues were also brought up at an information meeting last month.

A number of residents have expressed concern over a parking prohibition along the east side of Ridgeway Road between Crystal Beach Drive and Terrace Lane.

Some have asked that they be provided with dedicated parking within the municipal lot at Crystal Beach Waterfront Park, says the report approved for informational purposes on Monday by council.

The bylaw amendment, if approved in full, would allow a five-storey building in the area, instead of the three-storey limit that currently exists.

Patricia Mason-Levasseur is the owner of two adjacent properties, one of them in the process of being sold, less than a year after her husband drowned in Lake Erie.

She spoke at Monday’s meeting and raised concerns – mostly about how her view of the waterfront will be affected by a fivestorey structure.

“When I moved to Crystal Beach, I didn’t expect to be in a house that’s right next to a concrete-block building,” she said.

Mason-Levasseur, along with other members of the public who stepped up to the podium at town hall, also said they are worried about how they will be affected by the demolition process, with dust and debris.

The number of windows and privacy issues were also mentioned by speakers who opposed the project.

No members of the public, other than the proponents, spoke in favour of the development.

Michael Allen, the architect designing the proposed development, says other than the height, his team’s project would actually be a deintensification of the site’s current layout.

The Palmwood will be demolished and a complete rebuild will follow, if the condo project is approved.

A cement barrier wall will be maintained but a new restaurant and condominiums will be built around it.

Allen said what is being proposed fits into the urban boundary, Niagara Region’s official plan policies, as well as the province’s growth plans.

The architect said privacy issues will be taken into consideration as the approval and planning process continues.

“That, we will get into greater detail as we move forward with the site plan agreement,” he said.

The report brought to council on Monday was approved only for informational purposes.