There was a lot of discussion, confusion, and four separate votes, but in the end there was no firm decision from Belleville’s Planning Advisory Committee on a proposal to build a four-storey hotel at 99 Millennium Parkway, next to Hastings Quinte Paramedic Services.
The hotel plan has been passionately objected to by residents living on nearby Cloverleaf Drive ever since the proposal came forward as a five-storey hotel.
Monday night the Planning Committee saw staff recommend that rezoning be allowed for a three-storey hotel but not the four-storey hotel the applicant had asked for.
A three-storey building would conform to the area’s zoning by-law which currently allows buildings to be no more than 11 metres in height. The four-storey hotel would top out at 14.5 metres.
The committee voted down staff’s recommendation.
The committee also voted no to a Councillor Sandison motion rejecting the hotel use on the property because it didn’t conform to the current zoning. A hotel is an allowed use for the property under the city’s Official Plan but not the zoning by-law now in place.
Then, after much comment and questioning, committee gave a thumbs down to a motion to reconsider the original staff recommendation approving a three-storey hotel.
Several times Committee Chair Councillor Paul Carr said it was important the committee recommend something to council for a final decision adding that committee “paralysis” would not look good in front of the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal if the applicant decided to appeal the city’s final decision.
Finally, committee approved Chair Carr’s motion calling for more discussion with the applicant.
“…as to whether or not they’re willing to modify their application as it pertains to the height requirements that we’re seeking.”
Both Councillor Sean Kelly and public member David Joyce said they thought the location was not an appropriate one for a hotel, especially given the strong opposition from people living nearby.
Chair Carr said even at three storeys the hotel would be a full 6.5 feet higher than any other building in the area and that “intrusive” structures didn’t belong there.
The matter will come back to a future Planning Advisory Committee meeting.
