Dear editor:
Re: Residents object to plan for two-storey apartment complex in Mount Forest, published in North Wellington Community News on Oct. 21.
I attended both the August and October council meetings.
The Wellington North Community Growth Plan was brought up as one reason for this development. Council confirmed at the August meeting that we are meeting our growth targets. I think it is imperative that this be kept in mind when developers are requesting rezoning amendments, especially when current residents are strongly opposed to the rezoning. Too much growth is equally as negative as not enough.
Affordable housing was mentioned twice in the news article. Affordable housing is defined by the province as the lesser of a unit for which rent doesn’t exceed 30% of gross annual household income or a unit for which rent is at or below average market rent in the regional market area.
Andrea Sinclair of MHBC Planning noted the township’s own urging for additional affordable housing which the apartment complex is purported to be. This is false. When Andrea was asked, she replied that Archon Group, the developer, wouldn’t know what rents would be until final construction costs are calculated.
Mayor Andy Lennox was quoted as saying “I don’t want to impose this on the neighbourhood that doesn’t want it, but I’m stuck with the problem of how do we address this affordable housing situation”.
Three of five council members voted in favour of the rezoning application, without knowing if this apartment complex will address the issue of affordable, or even attainable housing.
Andrea Sinclair stated at the October council meeting, in response to whether Archon would consider a one-storey apartment complex, that the developer isn’t interested; it’s their land and they can do what they want. Indeed they can, regardless of whether it provides the type of housing needed here or what current residents feel about it, thanks to three of our council members.
Sue Doherty
Mount Forest