A trio of neighbours expressed disappointment after city council's planning committee chose to approve a re-zoning request on Sept. 7, changing the residential zoning of a South End lot to commercial.
Osman Abou-Rabia, Nicole Roy and Paul McMurray argued the property, which is currently owned by Milad Mansour, should continue to be classified as a residential site in order to fit in with the surrouding neighbourhood.
They said they were concerned an application by Mansour to rezone the property from residential to C1-S (local special commercial zone) could lead to more problems for the neighbourhood. Mansour asked for the rezoning so he could sell the property to developer Roland St. Onge, who could then develop the site for commercial use.
In a letter of opposition to the application, McMurray noted the zoning status of the property had been violated in the past. The owner, he alleged, has operated industrial businesses on the property as far back as 1959, which was when McMurray purchased the property beside the one in question.
McMurray cited noise problems, industrial spills, and night deliveries of steel plate as reasons he opposed the rezoning. He said garbage littered the site, and provided pictures of piles of tires and other refuse. In addition, he claimed the fence on the property intruded on his property.
A report by city staff confirmed the property had a history of non-conforming use. Non-conforming use means the property is given exception to the zoning of the property.
Art Potvin, Greater Sudbury manager of development services, said a steel fabrication business, a car wash and a towing business have used the premises in the past, and have not sought approval from the city. At present, the property has lost its non-conforming use status, and any use besides that of a single residential site is illegal.
Staff supported the St. Onge application. The report stated the site would be likely be cleaned up and a professional and personal service provider use was better for the neighbourhood than the past industrial and illegal uses.
Ward 9 Coun. Doug Craig argued the application by St. Onge should be restricted to professional services, such as medical
offices, to use the building onsite. Expanding the allowed uses to personal service providers could see the site used for businesses like convenience stores. He said the residents in the area have suffered enough from garbage littering the site.
Restricting the use of the site too much could cause the sale to fall through, warned Coun. André Rivest, the planning committee's chair. If the sale fell through, the derelict nature of the site could continue for years.
