Tecumseh is a step closer to having a new town-wide comprehensive zoning bylaw. Town Council gave first and second readings to the proposed bylaw Tuesday night. Council did agree to a last-minute change, not allowing semi-detached homes and duplexes as of right in existing neighbourhoods, which are traditionally home to mostly single-detached houses. It’s a final change to an at-times contentious town-wide zoning bylaw that seeks to provide more consistency across Tecumseh. The new rules will replace three separate bylaws which existed before Tecumseh’s amalgamation in 1999. Recognizing the long path to consolidate the zoning rules, Gary McNamara, the town’s mayor, noted it was important to consider the concerns of residents. “It gives us, I think, a clear message in terms of some of the concerns that residents have had,” McNamara said. “It gives us also an opportunity to look at, as we develop in the future into greenfield developments, you know, the ability to be diverse.” Councillors weighed the benefits of the added housing versus resident concerns and the risk of creating significant growth without a period to adjust. Coun. Rick Tonial said it would be irresponsible to make the housing options as-of-right in existing neighbourhoods. “Two units, semi-detached, whatever you want to call them, is not right for those neighbours that have been here for years. I like the amendment because it still allows duplexes and semi-detached, but that would be more in our open spaces out in the southern area of the town here,” Tonial said. Joe Bacheti, the town’s deputy mayor, originally brought forward a motion to defer the matter until after the upcoming municipal elections, but it failed without support from council. Bachetti said he supported the final motion because it addressed his major concern with the proposed bylaw. “To me, unless the province legislates it, I think we need to protect those R-1 zones for people that have come to want to be with those restrictions,” he said. In recent months, the bylaw has received frequent pushback from residents. Concerns have largely focused on densification, dwelling units, short-term rentals, and RV regulations. Throughout the process, several changes have been made to the initial bylaw to at least partially respond to the wants of residents. After council’s latest decision, Monica Muscedere, a town resident, told CTV News she is happy to see council listen to residents. “It’s not a perfect bylaw. I think that there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done to get it up to a standard that I think the residents would be proud of and happy to live with, but this is one step closer,” Muscedere said. Concerns for the Ward 1 resident are largely tied to the impact on existing neighbourhoods, and the potential strain that over-densification could have on the electricity grid and sewer system. “I was concerned about the R1 zones and the use of the semi-detached or the ability to have the semi-detached and duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes in already established neighbourhoods of single-family homes,” she said. Muscedere noted she’s not opposed to the creation of communities with duplexes and semi-detached homes but added they shouldn’t be forced into existing neighbourhoods. “Tecumseh is a well-sought-out town to live in. People, you know, spend their life savings on homes. They’re a true investment. So this, the bylaw, the way it was created would ruin that, and it would completely, like, destroy the fabric of the already established neighbourhoods in a place that people have bought into,” she added. Semi-detached homes and duplex projects could still be completed in existing neighbourhoods but would require a zoning bylaw amendment, a council vote, and a committee hearing. Town council will have to give a third and final reading to the matter at its next regular council meeting scheduled for Sept. 15. Once the town gives notice of the bylaw change, it triggers a 20-day period for residents to consider appealing it. With files from AM800’s Dustin Coffman.
