Ancaster residents preparing to fight against four-storey development

Ed and Debra Valevicius left Mississauga four years ago and settled in the Ancaster area in a recently purchased home to enjoy their retirement years.

However, two years later, they discovered their dream neighbourhood could be turning into their nightmare.

The Valeviciuses, along with their neighbours, including Ken Cook, are fighting to prevent a four-storey residential building on 1289 Mohawk Rd. W. from being constructed right behind their homes in the Scenic Woods area.

We lived in Mississauga and no way the city would allow something like that on that small of a property," said Ed. It's really nice here. We enjoy living here. But people will be looking into our house."

The Valeviciuses and their neighbours live behind the 0.4-hectare property, which has a house built in 1883 that is on the city's inventory of buildings of architectural and/or historical interest, on Honeysuckle Crescent.

A public meeting has been scheduled during the July 6 planning committee, beginning at 9:30 a.m., for the rezoning application that seeks to change the property's designation to allow the project to go ahead.

The owner, Shine Mohawk Independent Living Enterprises, wants to build 19 units for seniors and 35 below-grade parking spaces. The proposal is projecting 11 surface spots and 13 underground places. The plan had been revised from 28 apartment units.

The planning consultant for the owner, Michael Barton of MB1 Development Consulting, has stated previously the revised design will include more stonework and less exterior glazing to integrate with the heritage building's character. The idea is to keep the building's facade, and construct the new development behind it.

Neighbours are concerned that the owners could also build a seniors' retirement facility.

There are tons of retirement places around here," said Debra. They don't need another one."

But the Valeviciuses say the proposed plan is too intensive for the neighbourhood and that the building will be right up against their fence. The new building's footprint is nearly six times larger than the current 2.5-storey home, at about 6,170 square feet. The new and heritage buildings would cover about 35 per cent of the lot.

There must be some rules about going up to my fence," said Ed.

Cook said the owners are attempting to impose a development onto a property that doesn't allow for it.

Every one of the bylaws are being stretched," he said. It's not one thing, it's everything about it."

There is a children's centre next door to the property and Debra says it will impact that area. And she says they have no idea where the parking will be located on such a small area.

Debra says she has been attempting to rally her neighbours to attend the July 6 planning community meeting to voice their opposition to the proposal. Unfortunately, Ed and Debra will be away at their cottage with family, something that was scheduled months ago.

I might be able to get an internet connection," she said. But that is not a guarantee."

While living in Mississauga, Debra spearheaded an effort to prevent a large development from being constructed near their former neighbourhood. She was pleasantly surprised when their councillors supported their actions, but she is finding out it is different in Hamilton.

Since the ward boundary changes in 2018, the Scenic Woods neighbourhood, even though it is located in Ancaster, is represented by Ward 14 Coun. Terry Whitehead, who has been on a leave of absence since the spring.

A public meeting held in October 2019 for the property had residents, including Debra, upset that they were being characterized by Whitehead as against development and engaging in NIMBYism."

I don't feel like fighting one more battle. It's just frustrating."

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: When we heard that a four-storey building was proposed for the Scenic Woods area, we wanted to find out what the neighbours thought of the proposal.