‘You’re literally pulling the carpet out from underneath us’

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This article was published 18/11/2022 (988 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Emotions ran high at the Rhineland Pioneer Centre in Altona on Tuesday evening, as residents of Parkside Village expressed their objections to a proposed amendment to a rezoning bylaw, which could result in the loss of their homes.

The hearing was in response to a request by Steinbach based 1820 Properties and Brookstone Capital, the new owners of Parkside Village, who plan to replace the 27 mobile homes on the property with apartment buildings and townhouses.

At the hearing, developer Owen Reimer said he knows there is opposition from the current residents, but the park requires major infrastructure upgrades, which he said wouldn’t be possible for the existing mobile units on site.

Loretta Neustaeter was among the nearly two dozen delegates who spoke out against the development at the public hearing.

“This is my home. This is my husband’s home. This is my children’s home, and it’s not right. People that come into the community that don’t live here and have a say of kicking us out. I do believe in history. We’ve already taken land from people. Why are they taking our land again? I don’t get it. I pay my lot fee. I pay almost $3,000 a year, and that’s just me. So, you can’t say the town does not get money from us.”

She pleaded, “Please take into consideration that you are literally pulling the carpet out from underneath us. My trailer can’t be moved. If this gets rezoned, I’m completely homeless. A frontline worker saving people at the hospital – homeless.”

Neustaeter collected over 70 signatures on a five-page petition she presented to the Town. “Hopefully, it helps.”

Local pastor Richard Bage implored council to consider the consequences of allowing the project to go through.

“We have talked about moving homes. We have talked about moving mobiles. Yet, we do not have a plan in place as to where they would be moved. Until such a plan is in place, I cannot support this proposal because, as it looks right now, if this plan goes forward, 27 families, largely seniors, largely young families, largely the working poor would be displaced. And I can’t speak in favour of that,” he said.

“My question for council, my question for the mayor, my question for all of us here this evening – is there room in our Altona? Is there room in our ‘altogether’ for all residents, including those at the Parkside Village?”

Bage concluded by quoting Jesus: “For I tell you the truth. Whatever you’ve done to one of the least of these. You have done to me.”

News of the development came as a shock to 23-year-old Steven Ursell, who purchased his mobile home in June.

“I spent all the years leading up, saving up money to have a home as my first home. There are two additions. I have a garage and it’s not on beams or anything. Well, I won’t be able to move it. So, I don’t know what’s going to happen. All I can say is, I wanted to move here, and I wanted to build a family and I wanted to live the rest of my life here. But yeah, is this really how new young people that want to build a life here, is this how they’re treated?”

In response to the public comments, Reimer said, “None of this was new to us. We heard it all before at the last meeting. But it doesn’t fall on deaf ears. We’ve been up front with them from day one. We never told anyone we were going to keep this status quo. We were clear that this property was to be developed, and that it’s not financially feasible as a trailer park.”

In terms of incentives or assistance for the homeowners who will need to relocate, he said they’re open to ideas. “Everybody is different, so we don’t want to come up with a blanket approach. We want to give them an option to first rights to move into one of our units. And we probably will look at incentives, since it’s in our best interest to have the units filled.”

Reimer added, “We’ve also never approached the town in terms of what they can do regarding affordable housing. There’s lots of talk all the time. These towns promote it, but they never ever come to the table with cash, or discounts on fees, or anything. It’s always, “We’d like it, but we want you guys to take care of it.”

For the amendment to be approved, the proposed new bylaw must go through three readings at the council table. First reading triggered the public hearing as required under the Planning Act. The Community Planning Branch in Morden did not have any concerns and indicated that the zoning bylaw amendment that’s under consideration conforms to the overall intent and policies of the RPGA Planning District Development Plan bylaw.

Unless objections are received from at least 25 eligible persons, or 50 percent of the total number of property owners located within a hundred metres of the property, council may proceed with second and third reading of the proposed bylaw, at which time notice of the council decision must be provided in accordance with the Planning Act as well.

Those in attendance were also given the opportunity to sign an objector’s log. Official objectors to the proposal will be notified if council proceeds with second reading of the revised bylaw, and they will be given another opportunity to object further.

Should there not be a sufficient number of objectors reached a second time, the application will be forwarded on to the Municipal Board for a decision.

Should the rezoning be approved, the current use of the property as Residential Mobile Home will be able to continue until the property owner decides to move forward with the project.

Altona resident Tamara Franz said there is a social cost when people fall through the cracks and lose their homes. “And we all will pay that cost. When children don’t have security in their homes. What kind of community do we choose to be? What is the larger balance sheet to consider when we make these decisions? I hope it will not just be a question of money.”