Residents say townhouses could cause serious problems

Artist’s rendering of townhouses proposed for 427 Farnham Road Belleville. (Photo: Belleville Planning)

Residents in the area around Farnham Road near the Moira River do not want a 13-unit townhouse/condominium development on a piece of property near Moira Lea Court.

At a Belleville Planning Advisory Committee meeting Monday night, 10 residents who live near the proposed development strenuously objected to townhouses being built at 427 Farnham Road.

Many said the property was much too small for the development and that having families living so close to a busy Farnham Road and so close to a yet to be built roundabout would be dangerous.

One woman said school buses would be stopping constantly in morning and afternoon causing a traffic backup, especially when the roundabout comes into existence.

A man said he wouldn’t want his children playing on property so close to a busy Farnham Road. Another person thought it would be too close to the Moira River.

Several people believed the property was much too small for the 13 townhouses while others living in nearby single family homes had concerns about privacy and property values.

Planning committee member Kathryn Brown will not be voting in support of townhouses there.

Ruth Ferguson-Aulthouse of RFA Planning Consultant said the townhouses would bring more affordable housing to the city for families.

The units would be between 1300 and 1800 square feet in size and all would contain three bedrooms. Their price range would be $250,000 to $325,000.

Ferguson-Aulthouse said that under the official plan, the property could be used for commercial purposes and she maintains that a residential use would be much preferable to a commercial use in that location.

No decision was made and city staff will be bringing forward a recommendation on the proposal at a future meeting.