Leamington council voted June 23 to refuse both an official plan amendment and a zoning bylaw amendment for 806 Mersea Road 4, which sought to add a large-scale greenhouse as an additional permitted use to the existing land. The decision came after a lengthy debate over whether a key commercial property should support agricultural growth or be preserved for future development.
Property Location and Application Details
The property, owned by Great Lakes Greenhouses Inc., is located on the south side of Mersea Road 4, just east of Highway 77. A report to council stated that the intent of the application was to allow for the expansion of operations adjacent to existing greenhouse facilities east of the property while maintaining the current commercial land use designation and zoning.
Administration's Recommendation
Administration recommended that council reject the applications, arguing that the site is strategically located within Leamington's future employment area and will eventually be serviced by the municipality's northeast trunk sewer project. Michael Nelson, manager of planning and development services, told council that greenhouse operations can be established on agricultural lands throughout the municipality, while fully serviced employment lands are "much more limited."
"It would underutilize a very important location that should be protected for future large-scale employment, logistics or intensive commercial uses that benefit from established transportation corridors," Nelson said. He noted that approving the applications before the municipality completes its ongoing official plan review would be premature.
Official Plan Review and Policy Alignment
The review is intended to bring Leamington's official plan into line with updated provincial planning policies and the recently approved Essex County Official Plan. Nelson said the proposal was not consistent with the province's planning statement and did not conform with county or municipal planning policies.
Applicant's Arguments
Robert Brown of Oakview Land Use Planning, who addressed council on behalf of Great Lakes Greenhouses Inc., argued that Leamington already has a surplus of employment and commercial lands based on growth projections completed during Essex County's official plan review. He said the municipality has more than enough designated employment land to meet projected demand over the next 30 years and argued that rezoning the site could give council flexibility to redesignate land elsewhere if needed.
"My client has no intention of using the lands for any other purpose or selling them for commercial industrial purposes," Brown told council.
