Paradise approves multi-unit conversion, but with conditions

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Report

Some members of Paradise council hemmed and hawed over whether to approve an application to turn a house on Stonewall Drive into a three-unit dwelling this week, ultimately giving it a thumbs up.
Deputy Mayor Kimberly Street brought the motion before council, where several councillors noted they had given the subject much thought before making their decisions.
The proposed development is a discretionary use of the zone, said Street, and a notice of the application was advertised, receiving one submission of concern.
The impact of a multi-unit house on the area’s property values and traffic were the chief concerns listed in the submission. The planning committee nevertheless decided to recommend approval of the application, but subject to 11 conditions.
Councillor Glen Carew, who said he had given the matter much thought, ultimately voted against the application, citing the absence of other multi-unit properties in the area and the submission of concern from the resident.
“I don’t think I can support that particular motion,” he said.
Councillor Larry Vaters, who said he too had spent some time deliberating on what to do, eventually came to the opposite result.
“I keep coming back to what we see and hear about in society today, in terms of density,” he said. “Fundamentally, at the end of the day, I don’t think there’s traffic issues here. It’s a short street, it’s a fairly large lot.”
Councillor Patrick Martin came to his decision a little more easily than his counterparts. Martin argued that the spaciousness of the street plus the housing crisis, and the evidence of a similar dwelling conversion on St. Thomas Line as reasons for supporting the motion.
“This one was a no-brainer for me,” said Martin. “The housing crunch is real… Many people want to come to Paradise and just can’t find somewhere to live, so these apartments are definitely going to help the housing needs we have in this town.”
Councillor Deborah Quilty, who also voted for the motion, reminded council that any further applications for the area similar to the one being discussed would be assessed on their own merits, depending on the circumstances of each case.