Dear Editor,
Thank you for allowing our neighbourhood to share our concerns regarding Sky Dev’s Minor Variance Application, in which a Public Hearing is to be held at 3 p.m. on February 25, at Council Chambers 157859 7th Line, Meaford.
For over 100 years, Knights’ owned a hardwood manufacturing facility next to our harbour. They sold the land understanding that the rezoning was to be single residential housing development. Sky Dev purchased the land to build high density in being a mix of hotel, townhouses and rental mid-rises. In 2024 our Municipality approved 3 mid-rise condos. We are not opposed to the much needed housing of just under 200 units coming into our community. Our concerns are specific to the 242 outdoor parking lot with the safety, noise, environment, pollution and the negative impact this outdoor parking lot will have on our overall neighborhood’s quality of life. This Minor Variance application does not comply to the Zoning By-Laws and does not complying to Meaford’s Official Plan:
B1.5.4 Guiding Principles The following principles are intended to guide land use and development in the Urban Area Waterfront. Land use decisions should aim to: a. Protect the environment for the benefit of current and future generations. b. Promote a healthy waterfront. c. Promote the urban area waterfront as a gateway and focal open space area.
Special Policy B1.8.1.2 Development Principles
c. The development will be compatible with surrounding residential uses and streetscapes.
e. The development will provide pedestrian linkages and public spaces and access to the waterfront and will minimize the amount space used for parking cars.
- Environmental: Large parking lots contribute to heat island effect, producing polluted storm water and can cause flooding issues.
- Safety: Large residential parking lots are often targets for criminal activity due to their transient nature and lack of constant activity putting our children and vulnerable seniors at risk, even with cameras.
- Noise: 242 car doors slamming, cars starting, alarms going off, winter snowplowing and truck removal of snow.
- Traffic: Increase in congestions on residential streets not designed to handle this type of volume with only entrances to project being on Boucher and Bridge.
- Pollution: Air quality with increase in traffic and outdoor parking and night time light polution.
- Quality of Life: Complete elimination of all green space in the neighborhood. Children who currently safely play in our neighborhood are now highly exposed to traffic accidents. No longer a desireable walkable beachfront community. No greenspace for the tenants private use.
We ask our residents to find the time to attend this public meeting and support our neighbourhood in opposing the increase in height, increase in density, removal of greenspace to be replaced with asphalt in paving a 242 car parking lot, in addition to the 48 hotel outdoor parking lot amounting to just under 300 cars. Please note that we are not opposing the housing as to the approved plans. We are opposing the Minor Variance Application in wanting to increase the outdoor parking close to 300 cars. Please email your opposition File #A10-2025 to planning@meaford.ca or call 519-538-1060 ext 1153.
Danielle Hessell, chose to plant roots, raise a family and became invested in the future of Meaford over 10 years ago.
Donna Earl, generational roots in Meaford being a community leader in having worked with the Meaford Base, Chamber of Commerce, and a strong event volunteer, including our scarecrow festival.
Judy Pryma, frequent visitor to husband’s family farm in Heathcote as a teenager and now retired, having to learn to become a community activitist.
