Summerside business owner opposes waterfront rezoning plans

Morris Caseley, a Summerside, P.E.I., business owner,is opposinga rezoning applicationthat would allow potentialconstruction of an apartment complex onthe city's waterfront.

• Application in to have Water Street land in Summerside rezoned

TheSummersideRegional Development Corporation (SRDC)owns the four-acrelot at 565 Water St.,by Sunny's Dairy Bar, and applied to have the land rezoned into a high-density lot allowing potential developers to construct an apartment complex.

"I am concerned about and opposeSRDC'srezoning request for a number of reasons," said Caseley,in a letter to mayor and council.

In the letter, Caseleypresentedthree arguments to mayor and council regarding his opposition to SRDC's plans.

'Safety risk'

Caseley's lawyer, Mike Ramsay, shared his client'sconcernswith council at the July 19 meeting andspoke with CBCearlier this morning.

"He's concerned that high-density usage of this property will involve increased vehicle traffic in the area," Ramsay said,and thepotential "safety risk"during the summer months when more pedestrians are walking by the shore.

Caseley is also concerned,Ramsayadded,about the "impact that a high-density residential development would have on the future use of Green Shore Park as a concert and events grounds."

Developmentnot 'harmonious'

SRDC's general manager, Arnold Croken, said earlier this month that the rezoning would encourage "considerable development" on the green space.

Considerable development, in the form of a largeapartment complex, wouldn't be "harmonious," Ramsay said,with the other existing buildings in the area.

Council will debate the rezoning proposalat the next monthly meeting on Aug. 21.

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