Sarnia's mayor expects city council will vote against Sifton Properties' rezoning application for the northwest corner of Modeland Rd. and Michigan Ave when it meets Monday. Staff is recommending the application be denied because it's not consistent with provincial policy and doesn't conform to the city and county official plans. Mike Bradley says council ultimately has to keep an open mind because it's a public hearing. "If I was writing a case study on how to deal with municipal council, this would be my case study on how not to deal with municipal council and the neighbourhood!" Sifton Properties' proposed development calls for a smaller grocery store, a four-storey seniors complex, small medical centre and possibly a restaurant. The area is designated low density in Sarnia's official plan.
Bradley expects either way, council's decision will be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.
"It definitely is going to the OMB. If we turn it down, they're going to appeal it and if we approved it, the neighbours will appeal." Meanwhile, Kinleigh Developments Ltd. has withdrawn its application for a development on the southwest corner of Modeland and Berger Roads.