The Municipal Cambridge Heritage Advisory Committee has voted against showing support for a proposed million square foot warehouse in Blair Village.
At a Thursday meeting that lasted almost four hours, 29 delegates voiced concerns regarding a controversial Minister's Zoning Order (MZO) in the Heritage District.
The committee reviewed a Heritage Impact Assessment, demolition permits, and policy exemptions.
At the end of the meeting, the committee voted 2-6 against a number of recommendations supporting the project, including the demolition of three homes in the area and voicing its support of the project to city council.
Resident issues include the location and size of the project, impact on traffic, and affects on the heritage district.
“About 12 years ago, our family built a home in Blair. At that time, we were made very aware of the heritage requirements that we had to adhere to. And one of the reasons why we were attracted to the village was the respect for heritage and the historical value associated with Blair,” said Michael Malleck from Blair Village.
“I’m wondering how a 1.3-million square foot concrete building does fit in our heritage community? A business park consisting of several small businesses has a completely different flavour to a giant warehouse fulfillment sector.”
The proposed site is east of Highway 401 and south of Fountain Street.
The developer is Broccolini Real Estate Group and the project been the subject of public concern because residents feel they were not properly consulted before the MZO was issued.
The Heritage Impact Assessment is required for any demolition and new construction in a heritage district and the developer wants to demolish three residential properties on Old Mill Road.
Another resident, Ryan Tremblay, lives directly across the proposed facility.
“This is 100 metres from my front door. I moved in over two years ago. I have a young family I’m hoping to raise here. When we bought the house, my lawyer told me that we were buying a house in a Heritage District, and you can’t really change anything with the property. I said that’s exactly why I am buying this property, because changes can not be made easily,” Tremblay said.
“Imagine my surprise that two years later, with the proposed MZO, I find out about a giant million square foot mega facility right across the street from me.”
Committee chair John Oldfield said that the province has done a masterful job of offloading responsibility with this MZO to the local council.
“I think it originated as a provincial planning tool that is a sledgehammer designed to get in the way of the process and local people getting out and expressing their concerns regarding the impact it’s going to have, with their lives turned upside down,” Oldfield said.
“I hope that’s not the case. I hope residents can still go about their livelihoods enjoying their little village of Blair.”
