The developer behind an application to build nine street-fronting town homes on just over half an acre of land in Hespeler has been asked to reduce the scope of the project to appease neighbourhood concerns about density.
The revised application that came to council Tuesday night was the result of changes made following a March public meeting on the original proposal and a further meeting with neighbours on Guelph Avenue and Fletcher Circle.
It still seeks permission to demolish an existing home and shed at 355 Guelph Ave. to construct nine street-fronting townhouse units, but to address concerns about separation between neighbours, setbacks have been altered and the height of overall structure has been reduced.
Four of the units would front onto Guelph Avenue and the remaining five units would front onto Fletcher Circle.
Up to 18 metres would be between the east property line and the Guelph Avenue fronting units, while the eastern most unit on Fletcher Circle would be 3.5 metres from the property line.
The revised proposal also includes a plan to save three additional existing trees on the properties in addition to new plantings along the northern and eastern property lines.
Each unit will have individual garages and driveway access to accommodate up to three vehicles, although the two end lots on Fletcher would accommodate up to four vehicles. The overall density of the development would be 38 units per hectare.
All of the units would be freehold and none of them are considered “affordable.”
The applicant intends to divide the existing properties into nine individual lots through future severance applications.
In recommending the proposal, city planner Michael Campos said the proposal is compatible with the overall character of the surrounding neighbourhood and is appropriate for the site specific zoning requests for density.
Craig Oliver said despite the work that’s been put into the revised proposal, neighbours are still “vehemently opposed to the size and scope of the project.”
He wants the project limited to seven units to increase the distance between the neighbouring property and save more of the mature trees.
But when asked by Coun. Pam Wolf if that could be done, Campos said the applicant is firm in the number of units they want to build on the property.
“I think that corner would be a little busy with the nine units,” Coun. Mike Devine added, suggesting staff try to work with the developer to reduce the project’s size and indicating he’d support a motion to defer the recommendation.
“I believe the density is too high. It’s not about putting 15 sardines in a sardine can, we have to respect the community, we have to respect the building, we have to respect the neighbours that are already in there.”
In voicing her support for the proposal, Coun. Donna Reid said she knows nine units are what’s allowed in the city’s official plan and believes that’s what needs to go there. She went on to cite the desire of the local business community in wanting more density in the city’s cores to drive customer traffic and said most of the issues heard from neighbours could be worked out in the site plan.
She also feared deferring the project further could either prompt the developer to appeal the proposal to the Ontario Land Tribunal or take their business elsewhere.
Mayor Kathryn McGarry warned that reducing the number of units would increase the cost of each unit and do little to help the city achieve its provincially-mandated density targets to meet the demands of population growth.
“If we keep reducing the number of units on each site, it means that we’re not going to achieve our density targets while we’re trying to protect the hard, countryside line,” she said.
Regardless of that, Coun. Devine asked for deferral to February and in a recorded vote won the motion 5-4.
