North Grenville council is stuck between a rock and a hard place, after hearing from the applicant and concerned neighbours about a proposed venue business in Kemptville.
A public meeting to discuss the zoning bylaw amendment and official plan amendment for 4100 County Rd. 43, owned by D&G Landscaping Inc., was held on Wednesday, April 10. The change of land use, from rural to tourist commercial, for the 42-hectare property is opposed by neighbouring residents of the Maplestone subdivision.
Amy Martin, director of planning and development, said the purpose of the meeting was to gather “public comments, concerns and questions.”
“No decision is being brought forward tonight for council’s consideration related to the official plan amendment or the zoning bylaw amendment,” she added.
Martin explained that a supplemental report with staff’s recommendations will be brought back to council at a later date, likely in June or July.
“Generally, staff found that the proposed official plan amendment and the zoning bylaw amendment meets the intent of the Provincial Policy Statement,” she noted. The application also conforms to the official plan of both the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and Municipality of North Grenville, according to Martin.
“The proposed tourist commercial use would allow for the use of the proposed property as a venue or banquet hall, which could allow for things like weddings, conferences, private events,” she said. “There are six accessory geodesic domes that were built on the property last year. They are currently not habitable and cannot be habitable or used for any type of accommodation until such a time as the zoning is changed on the property.”
Martin read out a list of people who submitted letters of objection. She also outlined their questions and concerns, including site plan control requirements, management of the business, increased traffic, nuisance of motorized vehicles on water and land, lighting, location of fire pits and noise related to short-term rentals and banquet hall.
Greg Clunie, who owns the property and D&G Landscaping alongside his brother Doug Clunie, spoke about the “benefits to North Grenville and specifically to Kemptville.” He said the plan is to join the chamber of commerce: “And we will actively look for opportunities to partner with local vendors. Several of our staff are residents of Kemptville and we plan to hire dozens of additional full and part-time employees.”
Clunie noted that the intent is to “operate it as a boutique, high-end wedding and special event facility.”
He referred to D&G Landscaping as a 37-year-old family business that has built “the majority of Ottawa’s largest public meeting spaces, such as Lansdowne Park, LeBreton Flats and much of the ByWard Market.”
“Our intention is to build a world-class facility here in Kemptville,” Clunie continued, “that will have outstanding landscaping and public art.”
He stated that the property will be maintained at the “highest level.”
“You can see this place is top-notch and we’re not having riff-raff in there for a wedding,” said Clunie. “This is a high-end venue and it will be managed as such.”
Donna Stein, one of the residents of Maplestone in attendance, brought up increased traffic on County Road 43.
“Now with the weddings taking place, I don’t think any resident will be impressed with the nightmare this will create,” she noted.
Stein commented that they can plant as many trees as they want, but “sound travels.”
“I ask council: would you like to sit in your backyard and have to deal with sound and music coming from a venue and after-hour party revellers?”
She highlighted public safety concerns, ranging from mischief to drunk driving, and called it a “nightmare waiting to happen” in a community with limited public transportation.
“This plan dismisses our rights to a peaceful existence in our own neighbourhood,” said Stein, who added that the day-to-day operations will impact neighbours. “By approving this plan, you are opening up your taxpaying residents to a world of hurt and destruction on the lifestyle we pay taxes for.”
She stressed that if the development proceeds, it will lead to a “significant reduction of value in our homes,” and lots still for sale at Maplestone will remain vacant.
Members of council were invited to comment on the matter prior to the close of the meeting. Coun. Doreen O’Sullivan stated: “There’s a lot of hypothetical and imaginary concerns that many of you have, and I think that Mr. Clunie — I would hope — would really take into account everything he’s heard this evening, and it is unfortunate that you feel you didn’t know more ahead of time.”
To watch the full discussion, visit the municipality’s YouTube channel.
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