An estimated $6-million development in south Windsor is getting the green light from a city committee, but it may be dead on arrival.
The City of Windsor's Planning, Heritage and Economic Development Committee approved the proposed Dougall Medical Health Centre on Dougall Ave. south of Walmart on Monday. There are five lots from 3169 to 3199 Dougall Ave. that would be converted into the health centre.
However, the committee denied the developer's request for a restaurant and take-out food outlet to be added as part of a rezoning application. The committee also rejected the request to add an extra two metres in height to the two-storey building.
The investor behind the project, Eddie Kadri, left the meeting frustrated.
Kadri says he envisioned putting up a beautiful building, but that's unlikely to happen now unless those requests can be accommodated.
"There's a huge cost associated with doing that and I need to be able to — for this development to be viable — have the ability to recoup some of those costs," says Kadri. "I see a restaurant as being a vital part of the development itself."
Kadri estimates the centre will create 50 new jobs.
A mock-up of the proposed Dougall Medical Health Centre. (Photo courtesy City of Windsor)
Amy Skipper lives on Church St. behind the site of the proposed development and feels the new building doesn't suit the area.
"Church St. is beautiful, tree-lined, without the intrusion of streetlights or sidewalks — it has been a perfect place to live. If the development is allowed, the tranquility and peace of mind will be shot," says Skipper.
She feels the building the developer is proposing would alter the landscape for the worse.
"Rather than look at a blue sky, the family will face a 32 ft high commercial building," says Skipper.
A mock-up of the proposed Dougall Medical Health Centre. (Photo courtesy City of Windsor)
Ward 7 City Councillor Irek Kusmierczyk says denying some of the developer's requests is based on previous public consultation councillors didn't want to ignore.
"Council decided not to turn its back on that agreement and to honour that agreement that was the result of public consultation eight years ago," says Kusmierczyk. "I'm hoping that the developer will be able to come to council with new information that may be able to allow us to change our minds on that decision."
He compared the new health centre to "fitting a size 10 foot in a size 9 shoe."
The committee agreed to reduce the set back from the parking lot to the road from three metres to 0.9 metres to allow for 28 spaces.
City council still needs to give its final approval.
A mock-up of the proposed Dougall Medical Health Centre. (Photo courtesy City of Windsor)