The proposal to allow three small businesses on a Belleville farm raised a number of concerns at Belleville’s Planning Committee last night.
Consultant Spencer Hutchison outlined the plan by owner Brian Reid to rezone part of his farm at 466A Airport Parkway to allow the three businesses.
They are: a depot for a property maintenance business, 10 mini-lock storage units in the form of metal containers, and an area for the sale of bulk landscaping materials.
This brought forward a number of concerns about the amount of truck traffic already at the site, and the “difficulty” of passing over three CN lines at the area.
Hutchison indicated that a traffic study didn’t think it was “insurmountable” but he said, “Following this meeting I will continue talks with (city) staff and CN Rail.”
Area residents David and Sharon Bird complained of the number of businesses creating truck traffic and disturbing their home “24 hours a day, seven days a week” and objected to any more.
“We moved there to build a quiet retirement home beside a hobby horse farm but it has developed into a number of businesses including lawn maintenance and now they’re proposing three extra uses.”
They said traffic had increased in the past three to four years.
They complained of large trucks passing in front of their homes, with lights shining into their windows.
“It is preventing us from enjoying our home,” and they have concerns about dust, noise, and safety seven days a week 24 hours a day.
Member of the Planning Advisory Committee Kathryn Brown told of visiting the site and noticing the awkwardness in getting across the rail line at that point.
Councillor Bill Sandison said he had also visited the site and had concerns but would reserve judgement until after seeing the staff report.
Staff will bring back a recommendation to the committee at its next regular meeting.
