A large crowd overflowed Cobourg council chambers Monday night as councillors considered a proposed zoning bylaw amendment to allow medium to high-density residential development at 117 Durham Street, the former CDCI West football field.
The Town of Cobourg purchased the property in 2022, and the development proposal would have rezoned the site to allow more housing units. But public reaction was swift and vocal, with 10 separate delegations speaking out during the meeting.
Among those voicing concern was Katharine Spavins, representing Canopy, a local advocacy group.
Spavins and others cited issues around preserving the biodiversity of the site, the needed infrastructure, road clearance concerns, and wastewater management complicated by being in a low lying area.
Council did not pass the original motion to approve the bylaw. Instead, Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty proposed an amendment to defer the decision until after staff complete an upcoming asset management plan.
The motion passed, pausing the development to allow more public engagement and additional review. Councillors said the delay would give the town time to assess the proposal’s alignment with municipal infrastructure and growth priorities.
The decision gives both residents and council more time to weigh future options for the property.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)