A set of homes next to Lake Ontario in west Niagara-on-the-Lake may soon be bundled together into a new condo development.
A developer who owns 10 houses on Fireland Road 13 (also known as Roven Road) and 13B wants to rezone the properties and sell the single-detached homes separately as part of a condominium group.
During its last committee of the whole planning meeting, NOTL council heard details about the plan.
No decision was made to approve the project.
Firelane Road 13 is a private, north-south road that serves the site and connects to Lakeshore Road. Firelane Road 13B branches east near the shoreline. Under the plan, 13B would be designated as a “common element” of the condominium, explained town planner Connor MacIsaac.
“The surrounding land uses include agricultural and residential uses, as well as seasonal cottage uses,” said MacIsaac.
The area has seen little change in land use or density since the 1970s, by which time the homes had already been built.
MacIsaac noted a potential hurdle with Niagara Region, which requires sewage output to remain under 10,000 litres per day, unless the developer obtains special environmental approval from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
During the meeting on July 8, Coun. Gary Burroughs asked whether each home would have its own septic system or if that, too, would be a shared element.
Max Fedchyshak, who acted as a representative for the developer, responded that each home would have an individual septic system, which would keep sewage output below the 10,000-litre threshold and avoid the need for additional approval.
Two members of the public also spoke.
Nicholas Colaneri, a local resident, said he was neither for nor against the proposal but raised several questions, including whether a nitrate study had been conducted to assess sewage impact on groundwater.
“I didn’t see anything about that so I’m curious about it,” Colaneri said.
He also asked whether provisions were in place for emergency services, whether zoning had been confirmed before construction, and if density limits had been considered. He raised concerns about emergency access in the event of a power outage.
Dylan Earl, an employee of the current owner and a Thorold resident, also addressed council.
He said the land is not viable farmland, and the development would improve its use. He also said the wishes of nearby property owners would be respected.
“I’ve spoken to the existing owners, north and south, they have no desire to join the condominium and would prefer to stay freehold,” Earl said. “We respect that.”
