A London police officer is under investigation after appearing at a City of London planning meeting in full uniform.
A public participation meeting was held by the planning committee to discuss an application that would see townhouses built at 489 Upper Queens Street, just south of Commissioners Road.
Dozens of neighbourhood residents showed up at the meeting to speak against the development, including Cst. Holly Kelly, who lives on Upper Queen's Avenue not far from the proposed site of a building.
"I was incredibly disheartened when I heard what would be developed onto Upper Queens," Kelly told councillors on the city's planning committee. "We invested a lot into our home to match the integrity of all of the homes around us, and to ensure that was part of what we were keeping in this neighbourhood, because we know the value of that. I'm devastated to know that same care is not being taken next to us."
Then, Kelly referenced her position with London police.
"It's no surprise what I do for a living," she said. "I can't help but be concerned where (the driveway for the town homes) will be located and the amount of vehicles and people coming to and from that unit, my concern for the safety of pedestrians walking in that area."
Kelly does not work in the London Police Traffic Management Unit.
However, despite Kelly wearing her uniform to the meeting and referencing her job, London police take no position on the development according to Chief Steve Williams, who sent out two tweets on the issue on Tuesday morning.
"Views expressed by the officer do not reflect the views of the LPS," Williams wrote. "I have directed an investigation into the conduct of the officer. The investigation will be conducted and information will be released as able in accordance with applicable legislation."
https://twitter.com/S_Williams001/status/1620436429032796160
Kelly's appearance at the meeting may run counter to the Police Services Act, which prohibits political acts while in uniform.
Her pleas to the committee to reject the development were unsuccessful. Councillors voted 3-2 in favour of allowing the units.
"A ten unit townhouse development really is gentle intensification, particularly just a few metres away from a major arterial road like Commissioners that's served by transit services," said Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, who voted to allow the project. "We don't just have a housing crisis, we have a housing affordability crisis. We don't need more million dollar homes, we need more affordable homes."
Lewis was joined by Councillors Skylar Franke and Anna Hopkins in supporting the application.
"Neighbourhoods are changing as we develop. We do need to keep going inwards and upwards," said Franke. "All neighbourhoods have a role to play in our housing crisis and that includes accepting, welcoming and celebrating infill."
The debate will head to full council next month.