The Dalhousie Community Association is raising objections to a rezoning bid that would allow a Polish church to create additional parking on a nearby property at the corner of Louisa and LeBreton streets.
Eric Darwin, president of the association, wrote an open letter to the city in July opposing St. Hyacinth’s rezoning request, which would see a residence it owns across the street be used for church parking.
If the residential property is zoned into a lot that parishioners could freely park in, Darwin says he believes the church would use it as a way to demolish the house and more than double the current six spaces – something it intended to do when it first bought the property in 1989.
The tall, white duplex at 27 Louisa St. has an existing lot at its left.
“They’re not rezoning it just for the parking spaces. They’re rezoning the house itself and the backyard too. This means they could convert more of the property into a parking lot and even tear down the house for additional spaces,” he contends.
Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes has previously objected to the demolition of property due to a lack of affordable housing in the area. It would also contradict the neighbourhood’s residential development, as there are townhouses being built nearby, Darwin adds.
But he and the church are at odds with what would happen if the rezoning application is approved.
“As far as (the parishioners) are concerned, he does not represent anyone in our Polish community,” says Roger Furmanczyk, president of the St. Hyacinth Parish Council.
Although the church parish planned to demolish the duplex upon its purchase 22 years ago, that is now no longer the case, says Furmanczyk, adding they will simply continue using the property as they always have.
Parishioners park about six vehicles in the residential lot for weekend services, he says.
Three years ago, bylaw officers determined it could not be used just for the church, as the city considers a parking lot public if it can hold more than four cars.
Furmanczyk quickly appealed to the city.
“To us, they’re still our own parking spaces and not a parking lot,” he says.
Until a formal conclusion is reached by Ottawa’s planning committee, parishioners can still park in the duplex’s lot.
However, a final decision will soon be made. The planning committee will address the issue in late October or early November, says Innes Ward Coun. Rainer Bloess.
Bloess, who has discussed the issue with Furmanczyk, says he thinks the church will win the fight.
But even if St. Hyacinth doesn’t intend to tear down the home to create more parking spaces, their bid should still be rejected, says Darwin.
The residential lot is pointless as it would only be used for a couple of hours on Sundays, he says.