Sarnia council has authorized the demolition of the former Kinsmen Centre to make way for a new subdivision with up to five residential lots fronting onto Lakeshore Rd.
The option was one of three presented by staff Monday to address the future of the two acres at 656 Lakeshore Rd., which backs onto Baxter Park near Colborne Rd.
Councillor Cindy Scholten described the resolution as an economically sound decision for the city as a whole, one that will draw new tax dollars and grow the city's revenue stream.
"We are not in a good shape financially," says Scholten. "Our operating budget is hurting, our assets are hurting and this is a good opportunity for us to make a right decision... a sound decision... with all of the input that we have received."
Scholten says Baxter Park will still be there.
"I don't believe in selling the park," says Scholten. "The way that this report shows is that the Baxter Park six acres will completely remain. We're not selling beach waterfront area and we're not selling the park."
Councillors Dave Boushy, Mike Kelch and Mayor Mike Bradley voted against the motion.
Councillor Boushy felt his peers should listen to residents who presented a petition against residential development of the land.
"We have 500 signatures ," says Boushy. "82% voted for the Kinsmen and the neighbours to get together and see what they can do. I think that we should listen to them."
Patrick Marcella lobbied against options for residential development on the former Kinsmen Centre property.
Patrick Marcella was among a group of neighbours lobbying for continued use of the property, which he believes is designated parkland, as some form of community centre.
"I'm disappointed," says Marcella. "I thought the public had spoken. I thought the six month process for public input was good. I thought it was very strongly in opposition of selling parkland and I think that we're in trouble down the road if they need to sell parkland to balance the books."
He says it's obvious to him that a few councillors don't care about listening to the public.
"Nobody has come up and spoken or put themselves on the agenda at either one of the meetings, now or in January, that spoke in favour of houses. Nobody. They've only had people come up, put the time, effort and research into trying to explain why we don't want houses and why we don't think it's a good idea."
The Kinsmen Centre will be demolished next year and council has directed staff to forward all citizen input and concepts received during the public engagement process to the master plan process in 2018 to determine appropriate amenities for the park.