A rare 5-5 tie at Windsor City Council has halted a proposal to rezone 619 Cabana Road West — a plan that would have allowed three, three-storey buildings containing 18 residential units on a vacant lot near Dougall Avenue. City administration had recommended approval, describing the project as a modest, policy-aligned form of intensification along Cabana Road West. But the development has sharply divided both the neighbourhood and council. Area resident Anna Lanoszka urged councillors to reject what she called “a precedent-setting monstrosity.” “We’re supposed to care about the trees and the environment, but eight wonderful, 60-year-old Norway spruce trees will be sacrificed,” she told council. “Homeowners will flee in anticipation of noise and mess, since such an 18-unit structure will result in uncontrolled intensification and destruction of green space.” She added that she wasn’t opposed to development, only to the proposal in front of council. “This will not even be a place when single people can plan their roots for a long time. This will be a place when people come and go.” Nearby resident Dan Coccimiglio said he supported density but questioned the city’s zoning approach. “We can always say yes to development — but there’s also a point where you say yes in a controlled manner, and that’s all we’re asking for,” he said. He argued the project represented “over intensification.” “It’s about setting us up for success in as many ways as possible — making sure we have adequate lot areas and making sure we’re retaining the natural screening walls that currently are proposed to be destroyed," said Coccimiglio. Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis backed the motion to deny, warning that the first project under the Cabana corridor plan would set the tone for what follows. “This is the first one out of the gate,” he said. “We’ve got to do it right — and in a way that makes sense, not only for the lot widths and lot usage, but also for the neighbourhood as a whole.” Others saw the project differently. Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie said the proposal fit Windsor’s housing goals. “We’re in the midst of a housing crisis,” he said. “These units will help address both overcrowding and affordability. People want places to live that are more appropriate for their lifestyle, and I think these units provide that opportunity.” Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino said smaller units could help people priced out of the market. “The smaller the units, the cheaper the units — and the more people will be able to get inside of them,” he said. When the votes were cast, council split evenly — first on a motion to deny, then again on a motion to approve. Mayor Drew Dilkens explained that a tie vote is treated as a failed vote. “It’s as if council turned it down,” he said. “The developer can appeal or come back with an amended application that addresses council’s concerns.” Dilkens said he hopes the proponent revises the plan to balance density with neighbourhood character. “Council’s taking great steps to make sure we get the Cabana corridor right,” he said.
