Developer Claims Town Hinders Progress

Cobourg developer John Lee, the principal of Phoenix Genesis Developments Inc., said he caught a plane from Florida to be able to make a presentation at Monday night’s Cobourg Council meeting. Lee said that he cannot proceed with his planned Heritage Harbour Townhouse development on the site of the old Cobourg Jail because Cobourg is demanding a cultural heritage impact assessment. Lee claims he would have to hire a consultant and pay a minimum of $10,000 for such a report. This, according to Lee, is “another burden to be placed on developers.” He urged council to exempt his project from this requirement. Lee told Northumberland 89.7 his building could start immediately with completion in the fall if he were to be allowed to go forward without such an assessment. Council voted instead to receive his submissions for information purposes. There was no promise that the Town will waive the requirement.