Planning Committee rejects rezoning proposal

By Jenn Tomlinson, Special to B-cause

PARIS - The fate of a twelve-acre area of land in Brant County has been put on hold following tense discussion in Paris Wednesday night. Planning Advisory Committee members decided to stall the proposed rezoning, which would convert the acreage from agricultural to estate residential and sever the land into four lots.
Anna Lehmann has owned the land for over fifty years and now lives in a retirement home. She was represented at Wednesday night’s meeting by her agent, Snodgrass Consulting. Howard Snodgrass spoke first, delivering their rezoning plans with extensive detail and apologizing for his lengthy presentation. The chairman opened the floor for questions, and committee members inquired about everything from stormwater and drainage concerns to erosion risks.

The application for approval hit a sore spot for Allan and Karen Thomson, who live right across the road from the Lehmann property. Husband and wife stood to present their arguments separately, providing pages of arguments to support their side, speaking in urgent tones. They discussed a long list of reasons for their objection, beginning and ending with the city’s expansion into the country and their desire to have the County leave things as they are. Mrs. Thomson expressed particular disappointment in being misled upon purchase of her home two and a half years ago when her realtor said no houses would ever be built on the land in question.

Three other individuals from the public came forward with questions for Snodgrass, who left no question or comment unanswered and provided much detail in his responses. As discussion continued, the chairman reprimanded the Thomsons multiple times for outbursts toward Snodgrass, shouting and interrupting him.

After discussion was over and prior to taking a vote, the mayor voiced his agreement on a need for further evidence on the feasibility of future home construction on less-than-ideal terrain; the ground in the area tends to be on the gravelly side.

Snodgrass specifically assured the mayor and committee members that drainage issues would be addressed by his team of engineers and hydrologists. Nonetheless, these issues proved to be the fatal blows for the rezoning proposal.

Assurance was not enough for committee members to approve the Snodgrass/Lehmann request, and they voted to table the motion.

Snodgrass and Lehmann may come back with an amended application.

The next council meeting is April 6th.