A new development application for 725 and 775 Main St. proposes building a 12 storey apartment building and four stacked townhouse buildings immediately north of the Green Gate subdivision.
With 206 units in the apartment and 48 townhouse units, the proposed development would create a total of 254 residential units on what is now a largely wooded property with an identified wetland.
Since the proposed development exceeds limits on what's currently allowed under the city's zoning and official plan rules, the developer has submitted amendment applications.
The official plan amendment seeks to redesignate the lands from low/medium density residential to high density residential to permit a maximum of 155 units per hectare.
A zoning amendment asks to rezone the lands to allow a reduced front yard setback of 5.5 metres from the townhouse buildings from Ferncliffe Street, and a reduced rear yard setback of 4.8 metres from Main Street for the apartment building.
Interior side yard setbacks and a reduced parking rate of 1.1 spaces per unit are also proposed.
A planning justification report from MHBC consultants says the plan for the 1.70 hectare property, just east of Franklin Boulevard and surrounded by single family homes in the Green Gate subdivision, has considered the surrounding land uses by locating the apartment building on Main Street and the townhouses adjacent to Ferncliffe Street to ensure an appropriate transition to existing homes and open spaces.
The proposed development has also been designed with sidewalks and pedestrian walkways throughout the site.
A central community amenity space is proposed with the development, with additional private amenity spaces to be provided in the form of balconies for the dwelling units. Additional amenity areas may be provided within the apartment building, and is to be determined through the site plan process, reads the report.
A locally significant natural wetland feature was identified in an environmental impact study for the property, so the plan is to create an "area of naturalized wooded features surrounding the wetland" to act as a "wetland buffer, to greater protect and enhance this feature."
The development proposes 276 private parking spaces, with 102 on the surface and 174 in an underground garage.
A single-detached home, garage and surrounding driveways and structures would be demolished if the development is approved.
The city has yet to schedule a public meeting for the proposal.
More detailed plans are available on the city's website.
