Pushback to a new condo development at Roseland Golf Course has not been enough to prevent the proposal from moving forward. Windsor’s Development and Heritage Committee narrowly approved a rezoning application for a 48-unit condo building at 455 Kennedy Drive on Monday night. The approval pushes the development forward to be debated by Windsor City Council. In the spring, the city brought forward the $33 million “Residences at Roseland” four-storey condo building. Through the multiple phases of redeveloping part of Roseland, Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis has been in opposition, often siding with residents who share concerns for the proposals. On Monday, Francis raised questions about the lack of an appraisal on the land, which will be sold to the developer for $1.5 million. “You hire an appraisal, you get a certified appraisal, you know what it’s worth, and you sell it for what it’s worth. The fact that city council doesn’t want to do that is ridiculous to me,” Francis told reporters after the meeting. Priced between $400,000 and $1 million, units would include one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. Francis said the city can’t afford to “subsidize” luxury housing. “I respect what the developers are doing, I respect that they have a job to do, and they’re doing it to the best of their ability, but I have to do the same thing on behalf of our taxpayers,” Francis noted. City staff told the committee the development does not create any concerns for traffic or stormwater capacity. In response to questions about the lack of an appraisal, staff noted city council previously waived the requirement as part of the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor talks. Francis said he had no recollection of that council decision and worries it could set a bad precedent. “If you’re willing to sell land at Roseland for undervalue, potentially, are you willing to do that at Willistead? Are you willing to do that along the riverfront?” Francis questioned. “We have a policy for a reason, and it doesn’t take a lot of money, and it wouldn’t take a lot of time to get a professional appraiser to actually appraise the land and tell you exactly what it’s worth.” Francis moved to reject the application, but the motion failed after only receiving support from Coun. Angelo Marignani. A subsequent motion put forward by Coun. Mark McKenzie to approve the rezoning and progress the application to city council passed by a vote of 3-2. With files from AM800’s Dustin Coffman and Meagan Delaurier.
