An empty lot at the corner of Keewenaw and North Star drives in Copper Ridge will remain empty — at least for now.

City council voted down a zoning amendment for the lot on Monday evening. The amendment would have permitted the property's owner, Patrick McLarnon of Maxavier Real Estate, to build a seniors' housing development on the site.

The land is currently zoned for commercial and residential space, meaning there can be commercial units on the ground floor and residential units on the second storey.

McLarnon was looking to change the zoning so 16 residential units could be built on the first storey.

However, several area residents raised concerns about the development, including traffic and safety issues, loss of commercial opportunity in the area and profiteering by the developer.

City council received an administrative report on July 4 recommending the bylaw be amended to require 40 per cent amenity space or that it be voted down.

McLarnon appeared before council on Monday, reacting to the report.

The report had "no reason or justification” to defeat the bylaw, he said.

He also opposes requiring more amenity space, arguing that more amenity space would translate into

more yard maintenance, which McLarnon said is not conducive to the kind of seniors' development he is looking to build.

"I'm dumbfounded as to how this recommendation was reached,” he told council.

McLarnon talked to Coun. Dave Stockdale after learning of the report's recommendations. He said

Stockdale told him councillors would be voting against the rezoning bylaw because that was the

administrative recommendation.

McLarnon questioned the need for "an elected and paid city council” if councillors are just going to follow city officials' recommendation. Several councillors took issue with his comments.

Stockdale clarified his statement.

"I probably said it looks as if all of council would vote against it,” he said. "Because, obviously, I don't know how everyone on council is going to vote.”

Coun. Doug Graham said his decision to vote against the zoning amendment was not based on the recommendation.

"It really didn't matter to me what the administrative report said,” Graham said. "I've been opposed to it since day one and would not have voted for it.

"I don't believe that obtaining a piece of land and then immediately trying to change the use in order to maximize profit ... is appropriate.”

The charge that council simply follows the city administration's recommendations struck a nerve with Mayor Bev Buckway.

"To think that city council jumps at everything administration says is very wrong. Very wrong. I don't like those accusations,” she said.

"If the city staff did not have to deal with the council, I can tell you things would go a lot smoother around here for them than they do.

"But it's our job to look at things and work with our city staff in order to come up with what we feel is in the best interest of our community. And in this case, that's what we have done.”

Buckway said she did not like the fact that the development would have been all residential, with no commercial.

She suggested McLarnon redo his proposal and bring it back to council.

Stockdale hopes the developer can bring forward something which will satisfy council and city planners.

"This site is going to be developed,” he said. "And I would suggest some housing and a neighbourhood commercial development.”

Stockdale asked McLarnon if he would be willing to work with the city's planning and development offices to come up with a new plan.

"I don't know,” McLarnon replied. "At this point, a lot of thought has gone into planning this, and I believe it presents the neighbourhood with commercial options as well as residential options.”

McLarnon was unable to be reached for further comment.