Hotel setback approved

By Ron Giofu

The new boutique hotel on Dalhousie St. is one step closer to reality after town council approved a request to setback relief.

After three hours of debate at the May 23 meeting, Amherstburg town council approved the request from Black Dog Entertainment to have the rear setback at 256 Dalhousie St. reduced to zero. While the vote was obviously pleasing to the proponents and their supporters, opponents voiced anger and frustration at the same time with many opponents being from the neighbouring Salmoni Condominiums at 252 Dalhousie St.

Voting in favour were Mayor Michael Prue, Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb, Councillor Don McArthur and Councillor Linden Crain. Opposed were Councillor Diane Pouget, Councillor Peter Courtney and Councillor Molly Allaire.

The ride was a mix of younger and older people as well as men and women, Prior added.

“All are welcome and we’re happy to have them,” he stated.

Cristofanilli said people are becoming more and more aware of prostate cancer and word-of-mouth has helped the event grow over the years. He said the more the word gets out, the more the event will be successful.

As part of their stop at the Legion, incoming president Ernie Gazdig and member Jim Jariett presented the Motorcycle Ride for Dad representatives with a cheque for $1,000. Gazdig said the Legion dug deep to help out and the money came through fundraisers that are held throughout the year, and are separate from other funds the Legion has such as the Poppy fund.

The money raised through community events are put back into the community, Gazdig added.

Continued on Page 8

Prue cast the tie-breaking vote after the rest of council had deadlocked the voting. Prue said he had “mixed feelings” about the request coming into the meeting due to the feelings of the Salmoni Condo owners and others who didn’t want the downtown to change.

A big issue for Prue coming in was about where to put the garbage and the grease from the restaurant that is planned for the proposed boutique hotel. He added he listened to the issue over fire safety, which brought much discussion as part of the overall debate, as that was a major concern as well.

Prue said he listened to discussions from Black Dog Entertainment, owned by Richard and Colleen Peddie, around composting their garbage and called composting “the wave of the future.” Grease, if there is any, would be pumped out two or three times per year.

“I don’t have any concern with that,” said Prue. Reducing the setback to zero has only been approved previously for the Queen Charlotte Condominiums but 36 per cent of older buildings in the downtown core are close to having zero setbacks themselves.

Continued on Page 2