The Berwick-area property developers, who built senior’s residential complexes in Aylesford in 2006 and a 19-unit rental unit development on Wellington Avenue in Berwick in 2010, have been trying to get another in-town development off the ground since the spring.
A building, located on a Cottage Street lot they purchased, was demolished in May. Since then, their efforts to negotiate the planning and development process to build new, semi-detached rental units have been stymied by what they say are a series of town staff miscommunications over permits and variances and a litany of obstacles, “for which no one seems accountable.”
The pair felt compelled to speak out against the planning process which has been “dragging on since May. We wanted to have the new building up and roof tight by now,” said George.
Eilleen is baffled by the delays, especially given town council members and neighbours living near 198 Cottage appeared happy when they learned of their plans to purchase the property and demolish the dilapidated house on the land.
Berwick collects approximately $25,000 in taxes from the couple’s Wellington Avenue properties and George estimates the Cottage Street property will generate an additional $6,000 in tax revenue for the town.
“Every month that goes by is one month of lost revenue for us and the town. I don’t know why it is dragging on so long,” he said.
Berwick’s chief administrative officer Don Regan acknowledged the town’s planning process, which is carried out by a third party contract planning service, “can plod along.” But he says the model, designed to protect the town’s interests, does work.
The Halifax-based 4-Site Group, which currently provides planning services to Berwick, is two years beyond its term contract. Regan said the multi-year agreement was up for renewal two years ago, when the town was undergoing a municipal planning strategy review.
“That was not a good time to change horses,” said Regan.
The Floris’ purchased the former Lions hall property on Brown Street nearly three years ago, with plans to build a 12-unit rental development. They are still in negotiation with the town to purchase a small parcel of town-owned land to have the space they need for that development.
They are sufficiently frustrated with their experience with Berwick’s planning system that they are re-thinking their plans.
“Given the frustration and stress I have experiences with previous dealings (with the town) I am having second thoughts,” George wrote in an Oct. 28 letter to the mayor and members of town council.
The Floris’ have a waiting list of people who want to live in their units, but they say they are tired of the hoops they have to jump through at every turn to develop them. They hope the town will take the opportunity to review its current planning services contract with the goal of creating a process that works better for all parties.
“It shouldn’t have to be a fight all the time,” said George.
