Check your records, says Landmart

If neighbourhood green space is a priority, Meadowlands residents should check the city’s zoning plans before purchasing a home, said a Landmart Homes executive.
The Ancaster home builder drew criticism earlier this month following the approval of the latest phase of development on Chambers Drive and Raymond Road. Hamilton councillors approved a draft plan of subdivision which includes a community church, 28 street townhouses, five lots for single detached homes and three condominium blocks.
But residents said a Landmart Homes salesperson assured them the lands to the north would remain protected green space when the lots were sold in the fall of 2007.
“All of the information that we handed out did not show any green space there,” said Landmart vice president of sales and marketing Darlene Fraser. Fraser did not work for Landmart in the fall of 2007.
Fraser said some of the lots on Chambers are deeper and wider, which command a premium price. Premium pricing also includes options such as oak stairs or granite counter tops.
“I can’t speak to what was said,” Fraser said. “I can speak to what is in writing.”
In a letter to city staff, Chambers Drive residents David Di Stefano and Deborah Carvalho said they paid for a premium lot with the understanding that lands to the north would remain as green space.
“We are opposed to the zoning amendment application because we paid an increased price for our lot since it backed out onto green space and there would not be any development,” their letter states.
Fraser said residents should always check the city’s records before purchasing a home.
“I know that the opportunity for verification has always been there for each and every purchaser,” she said. “This town house block is not a secret. It’s been there for a long time.”
Fraser said homes backing onto a community park on Fair Street and Lampman Drive may have been sold as premium lots. But the same arrangement was not applied to Chambers and Raymond.
Seven residents of a condominium at 400 Stonehenge Drive also signed a letter of objection, arguing the townhouse development threatens a wooded green space backing onto their units.
In an e-mail to city staff, Chambers Drive residents Peter and Lucy Filice stated they were misled by the homebuilder when they paid a premium price for their home. They argue “there were no plans for future development” to the north of their properties.
Fraser said she was surprised that residents did not research the community plan for the area before purchasing their homes.
“The opportunity was there to go and check the zoning,” Fraser said.
Marketed as The Masters of Ancaster, the latest phase of the Landmart development is slated for completion by the spring of 2011.