Director of Engineering Rod Bovay addresses Belleville city council while Director of Recreation Mark Fluhrer listens, July 11, 2016 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville has made a decision on the issue of the number of kitchens allowed in a dwelling unit in the city but not without a lengthy debate.
A staff report, presented to city council Monday night, called for limiting the number of kitchens in a dwelling unit to one, but did agree to develop an agreement to be used for any minor variance to allow a second kitchen.
Councillor Jack Miller pointed to a “growing need” for homes with the second kitchen.
Councillor Mitch Paciuk said it was “urgent” to take action in the case of the Mark Klemencic’s Greenhill Lanes subdivision where homes were already built and the developer was caught by the recent restriction.
A staff report outlined the liabilities for the city.
Councillor Jackie Denyes questioned whether the city would be “showing preference to one builder.”
Councillor Mike Graham, a former police officer, said in his experience “you don’t know how many second kitchens are in basements and bylaws are not going to change that.”
Director of Engineering Rod Bovay.
Bovay told council that process will take two months.
Any further such development would be through a minor variance approval process.
Honouring Belleville Constable Pat Comeau
Monday night Belleville paid tribute to a member of the Belleville Police Service for being a Community Builder.
Mayor Taso Christropher presented a certificate of appreciation to Constable Pat Comeau for his “outstanding work in sports and recreation” and called him “a true leader in Belleville.”
Mayor Christopher praised Comeau for his 25 years of volunteer work with Special Olympics, Cops for Cancer, Cops for Kids, and the Kids Fishing Derby which he said was the largest in Ontario.
Fire Hall No. 2 still for sale
Belleville has rejected the two tender submissions for purchasing its former Fire Hall Number 2 on Dundas Street, closed when the new headquarters opened on Station Street.
The top tender submission was $180,000.
In a report to city council, city clerk Matt Macdonald says this was not suitable and staff is working on a process for real estate services to handle the sale.
