On the agenda for Madawaska Valley’s Council in Committee meeting of December 3rd was an application for zoning by-law amendment in respect of 20 St. Francis Memorial Drive from Residential to Community Facility. The residence in question is opposite St. Francis Memorial Hospital (SFMH) and the application by SFMH to change to Community Facility zoning was to allow it to expand the hospital footprint as part of its Emergency Department redevelopment plan.
Greg McLeod, SFMH’s Chief Operating Officer, explained to The Current that the owner of the residential property had approached the hospital about buying it. This had appeal because it would enable the hospital to relocate Barry’s Bay and Area Home Support which it believed would be a cost-effective solution to address the need for expansion because of the ongoing Emergency Department redevelopment.
The plan was not well received by neighbouring residents who voiced their concerns in a letter addressed to the mayor and council which was received by the Township on 28th November. The letter said, “We are extremely opposed to the proposed rezoning to this residence as it changes the landscape of the neighbourhood. There are four residential properties on St. Francis Memorial Drive and several on Siberia Road that will be affected if this rezoning is allowed. Two of the residences at the end of St. Francis Memorial Drive will be isolated from the rest of the neighbourhood as they are located on the north side of the residence at 20 St. Francis Memorial Drive and the residents are quite concerned at the potential decrease in the value of their homes should this change go through as St. Francis Memorial Drive is a dead end street.”
The residents also expressed concern that although the rezoning application was to allow the dwelling to be used for institutional administrative offices for Barry’s Bay and Area Home Support, “this could change at any given time should the need arise to develop the land further once zoned as Community Facility.”
McLeod told The Current that the hospital hosted a consultation with neighbouring residents as it wanted to hear their concerns before moving ahead. Having done so, SFMH recognized that the rezoning would not be supported and it therefore withdrew it on December 3rd. He said a further consultation process would take place as “the hospital remains focused on the renovation of the clinical areas and redevelopment of the Emergency Department.” This is part of SFMH’s plan to “re-design our clinical infrastructure to meet patients’ needs.” McLeod added, “At the end of the day the hospital listened, adjusted its plan based on the neighbours’ feedback.”
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