Fraserville residents voice concern about proposed development in area

A proposal for 48 new residential lots was the subject of a planning meeting Monday night. Residents of the Fraserville area voiced concerns with the proposal.

Proposed Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments for a possible development in the Fraserville section of Amherstburg are the source of strong opposition for residents who live in that area.

Piroli Developments are proposing a third phase to their developments in that area, this one being 48 new residential units on a new street off of Brunner Ave. The proposed development would see ten single detached homes and 38 semi-detached units, with planner Bryan Pearce from Baird Architecture and Engineering on hand to present the proposal.Pearce noted a number of reports have already been submitted to the town, including a traffic impact study, and that there is no planned parking impact for on-street parking. That comment drew laughter and groans from residents at the meeting, with those being concerns from those in attendance.

Councillor Peter Courtney expressed a desire to take another look at the traffic impact study, stating “numbers have changed” and residents have ongoing concerns about even more traffic on that road.

“The residents I’ve talked to are concerned about levels of traffic going onto a busy Front Road North,” he said.

Councillor Diane Pouget also expressed an interest in traffic in the area, with residents listing traffic and parking as major concerns.

Bob Roberts said plans call for the new roadway to be near his home, and said he doesn’t want vehicle lights shining into his house. Saying parking and noise is already “crazy,” he said he doesn’t want any further impacts.

Debby Pajot said the first two phases of the project, the two River’s Edge apartment buildings along Sandwich St. North/Front Road North have already impacted the area. 

“We’ve seen parking on Fraser, Grant where I live, and Brunner Ave.,” she said. 

Parking for the apartments should be contained to those lots, she believed.

“Leave our streets alone,” Pajot said.

Pajot also told town council “we need a second route out of our subdivision” and noted the street on the former Diageo site that was closed that links Balaclava St. and Girard St. 

Trees and parkland were other issues she brought up.

“Everyone is development, development, development,” she said,

Cathy Thomas hoped the housing would be affordable, also emphasizing traffic concerns. She said she lives near Stella Maris Catholic Elementary School and “the traffic there is crazy.” Thomas also called for an additional access point.

“When there’s something going on, we’re trapped,” she said. “We can’t get out.”

Playgrounds were another issue she addressed, as was the character of the area.

“Change is inevitable,” said Thomas, “but change has to be appropriate for the area itself.”

Meeting notification was raised as was trees and natural areas, blaming town council for allowing the first two phases to go forward. On the former, Thomas said she found out about the meeting through a family member who saw it online.

Terry Beaudoin also pointed out parking issues.

“I’m totally against all of this,” she told town council. “I agree with what everyone is saying about Brunner Ave.”Vehicles are regularly parked along that street for much of the distance of the road, some for long periods of time.

“There are some vehicles that never move,” said Beaudoin.

Beaudoin said she is concerned about the traffic and even when she backs out of her driveway. She said she went from a view of “a beautiful field to having 400 neighbours I have to put up with,” adding more would be coming if the third phase was approved.

Bob Pajot added six to eight spots would be lost along Brunner Ave. with the street entrance and exits. He questioned whether there was enough parking at the two apartments. 

“There’s a few for visitors but certainly not enough,” he added.

Pajot also expressed a desire for another access point in and out of Fraserville. 

“There is no way there is enough parking,” he said. “There’s not enough on Brunner Ave. as it is.”

Josh Lambier added there is often vehicles on both sides of the road, meaning the road shrinks from two lanes to almost one. There are children who walk and bicycle in the area and expressed concern about even more traffic should the development go through. 

“Adding more traffic is not acceptable,” he said.

Other concerns expressed included the settling pond and whether it would attract mosquitoes, the displacement of raccoons and squirrels and the loss of greenspace.

Some residents expressed a desire for a stop light at the intersection of Brunner Ave. and one of those was Bill Petruniak. Petruniak noted the development has to be safe for pedestrian traffic and called for sidewalks, and also suggested using some of the lots for a public park. 

Infrastructure in the area is in the neighbourhood of 50-years-old, he added. Another subdivision is planned for the area, which could cause even further drainage concerns with Petruniak calling for the subdivision to be delayed.

Dennis Gauthier voiced concerns over mosquitoes and what is being done to control them. He added he found out about the meeting around 11 a.m. Monday morning for that evening’s meeting.

“A half-day notice for a meeting is ridiculous,” he said. 

Gauthier also pointed out some vehicles barely move, if they move at all, after they park on Brunner Ave. 

Pouget said residents can contact property standards online or call police if vehicles are left in the same spot for a period of time.

David Purdie pointed out speeding concerns, noting Sandwich St. S. is an area where people exceed the limit.

“Slow things down,” he said. “They’re not doing 50 km/hr.”

Purdie also suggested traffic lights and opening the road at the former Diageo property. 

“I feel like I’m in Windsor,” he said. “This is pathetic. Traffic is nuts.”

“It’s a freeway,” added Pat Fox.

Pearce said sewer and stormwater infrastructure support the development and that a traffic impact study has already been done. On-street parking is something that can be regulated by the town, he added, also noting other studies have involved species at risk, with no negative impact associated with the latter. Sidewalks are also planned for the development.

“We plan to comply with zoning bylaw requirements,” he said.

Rob Piroli added “we’ve heard a lot of disappointing news today” and told residents “I do feel for you.”

All reports submitted have been deemed complete, he added, saying “you can rely on them.” He suggested the town implement permit parking along Brunner Ave. to try and alleviate parking issues, adding that while the apartment buildings have more parking than the town’s bylaws call for, he didn’t want to see surplus onto surrounding streets.

A traffic report has already been submitted to administration.

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb said while not part of the current planning process, the town does have to look at controlling parking on Brunner Ave.

“We hear you and we’re going to do what we can,” he told residents.

Comments will be summarized and brought back in a future report to council. Deputy CAO/director of development services Melissa Osborne told town council it will likely take one or two months to bring a report back as there are a number of items to consider.

By Ron Giofu