New homes to replace aging Pelham Arena

Public input was sparse in Pelham council chambers on Monday as the floor was opened to residents for a proposed rezoning of the lands surrounding the current Pelham Arena.

While a previous public input session on redeveloping the area after the new Meridian Community Centre replaces the aging arena have seen crowds gathered offering numerous comments, Monday’s meeting only saw three area residents voicing their concerns over the issue.

The proposed zoning bylaw would see the roughly 3.5 hectares of land at 1120 Haist St. now occupied by the arena, a park, public recreation courts, soccer fields and platform tennis court carved up for housing developments.

Under the proposed plan, 1.4 hectares would be retained for the existing fields, platform tennis court and a space for the possibility of a new recreation court or splash pad.

The remainder would be used for 13 single-detached dwellings, three of which would front onto Haist Street, and 28 rearlane access townhouses, and two parking lots consisting of 16 spaces each.

The plan also calls for an internal trail network exiting down the wooded west side of the property to Welland Road where it could connect with the Steve Bauer Trail.

Residents’ concerns focused on a perceived lack of visitor parking for the townhouses, and how the trail network will interact with natural water features on the property.

“The water is up to my knees in there,” said Hellen Bates, who was assured by staff that drainage should deal with the issue and the path will be offset from water areas.

Bates added she wants to see the trail fenced off from neighbouring properties like her own.

Other residents voiced concerns over the loss of the multi-purpose recreation courts fronting onto Haist Street and the impact of new homes on their views.

While council did vote to receive the report for information, Ward 3 Coun. Peter Papp said he would like to see more details on the trail network, and possibly a solution to losing the recreational courts used for basketball and tennis.

“What do we do to augment that?” he said.

“That is on the radar,” said Ward 2

Coun. Gary Accursi, explaining those courts could be replaced on the portion of the property earmarked for future recreation use.

He added the town will still have oversight of any future development through the site-plan approval process.