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A2 h Canad'îan Chami àn, 'Vuesday: Màreh 7, 2006 Canadian Red Cross People wholCuni changes its mind on condo dE injures LANAL)IAN \klMI N I a opi inent. by upto w~iîl lc l h l mii- Tbe decîsion that the Town îsn't 30%. Milto i îîîî il lii ili ut Ille il i i Monicpail going to defend its dental of the fîve 1 à oriein il rv st i n i cndoi îîîîil Miii iiit bOI)- noeta as lour-sîorev building!s - whtcb ManIe rIHE F O;RD STE wveopment construct ai the northcasi corner cil Maple Avenue and Main Street - ai the March 20 0MB hearing was made after an mi-camera', or closed-door, discus- sion laie last year. Staff was then directed t0 negotiate a seulement that addresses site plan issues with the developer, which Director of Planning and Development Mel lovio said it did. "We brought back what we found was a reasonable setîlement," he said, noîing it was presenited to council in january during its mn-camera session. Then, residenis who live around the proposed site were informed of the set- tiement. deiails ai a meeting the Town held with them February 15. For area resident Tracey Demaline, who attended the session, the setule- ment came as shocking news. 'We were hit wiîh a bombshell," he said, noting he and his neighbours thought the meeting was being held to discuss how the Town was going t0 defend its August 29 denial of the con- dominiums. "We were ail kind of dumbfound- ed." Now, the group of residents, which has opposed its condominiums ail along, is taking their fighî to the 0MB, since the Town will no longer be there t0 take a position against the develop- ment. "We've been serambling since we found out," said Demaline. "We're try- ing t0 gather whatever funds we can t0 go to the 0MB." The terms of the settlement reached between the Town and developer involve several changes to the plans for the property, such as seîîing the condo- minium buildings farîher back from the homes on Roper Drive and construet- ing and landscapîng berms to further block the view of the developmenî from neighbouring residents. Town solicitor Hal Watson said the Town looked t0 get the best possible developmenî it could while having as litde impact on tbe surrounding homes as possible. He explained îhaî alîhough a seuîle- ment bas been reacbed, the malter still has t0 go to the 0MB for a final deci- sion because the Town originally denied the zoning bylaw amendment necessary for tbe developmenî to pro- ceed. "Just because the Town reached a resolution doesn'î mean anyîhing," he said. Watson explained now ils up 10 the developer t0 convince the board the eondominiums are in the publie inter- est and conform wiîh the Town's Official Plan and the Provinces policies. *see TOWN on page A7