The land lease housing proposal for a subdivision in Belleville got shot down at city council Tuesday night.
Council had before it the proposal by Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities for a subdivision with a total of 283 units, on 21 hectares of land at Farnham Road and Scott Drive. Councillor Paul Carr said his concern centred on increasing costs associated with the land lease and the whole affordability question. In an interview following the meeting, he mentioned a media report he’d seen from southwestern Ontario that indicated resident concerns over “ever increasing costs after they got the land lease” on a project there.
Carr says it’s more geared to retirees.
Councillor Kelly McCaw told council that financial institutions don’t want to approve loans for land lease ventures, and, she said, “They are very hard to sell.”
The rezoning of the land went down to defeat on a vote of three to two with councillors Garnet Thompson, Carr and McCaw voting against.
Mayor Taso Christopher, councillors Jackie Denyes and Jack Miller declared a conflict. Councillor Mike Graham was absent.
