Deep River council has agreed to extend the deadline for a developer to have concrete plans in place for an Avon Road property he bought from the town two years ago.
The town bought the property in 2006 from the former Lutheran Church for the nominal cost of $1, and sold it to Neil Milton, president of Bygda Builders, in 2023 after having declared it “surplus” the previous year.
Milton had applied to the town for a zoning bylaw amendment to allow for construction of a three-storey, nine-unit “row-stacked dwelling” with underground parking.
But his plans drew heated opposition at a public meeting in November from nearby residents, who raised concerns about its impact on everything from their privacy to parking in the neighbourhood.
A report on last week’s council agenda recommended extending the deadline for Milton to secure a building permit for the Avon Road property to April 30, 2026.
“The purpose and spirit of the option to repurchase agreement is to encourage the timely development of the lot to create housing opportunities,” the report stated, adding town staff have met with the developer several times since the December meeting.
“Staff strongly believes that the current owner continues to work in good faith with the town, the county and the broader community on the development proposal, and can achieve this purpose”…
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