Rezoning sought for new housing development in The Point

Cathy Dobson A local buyer has submitted a rezoning request to Point Edward council and hopes to build as many as 156 residential “townhomes” at the west end of Exmouth Street. Johnny Stathis is the owner of the 23-acre (9.

Cathy Dobson

A local buyer has submitted a rezoning request to Point Edward council and hopes to build as many as 156 residential “townhomes” at the west end of Exmouth Street.

Johnny Stathis is the owner of the 23-acre (9.3 hectare) tract across from the Cargill grain elevators and wants a change in zoning from environmental protection (EP1) to residential marine.

If the project gets off the ground, it could mean a 15% increase in the number of homes in the village.

Point Edward CAO Jim Burns said the current rezoning doesn’t mean the land cannot be developed, but that it is in a “holding” zone.

In 2020, at the request of the tract’s former owner Paul Wicks, council voted unanimously to support the position that the land is not a protected woodlot. A subsequent survey of the trees concluded that it is all non-native scrub and offers little value as a shelter or food source for birds and small animals.

Burns said a subsequent species-at-risk survey suggested the acreage is possibly inhabited by Butler’s garter snakes, skinks and a variety of bats.

“The current owner is working with a biologist and the provincial government to find solutions to the species-at-risk issue,” he said, adding that he anticipates development should still be possible.

A public meeting is scheduled for June 14 at 5 p.m. in village council chambers to discuss rezoning and will include a presentation from municipal planners about the development.

Anyone who wishes to speak to it in person or submit a written comment has until June 9 at noon to contact CAO Jim Burns at 519-337-3021.