Councillors question proposed Waterford apartment

Kim Huffman, Ward 7 Councillor

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

A proposed five-storey apartment with ground floor commercial space in Waterford has been met with hesitancy among several Norfolk councillors and members of the public.

Eldon Darbyson, a consultant with Vallee Consulting, presented the plan at Norfolk’s Feb. 3 public hearings meeting. The building is planned for Leamon Street, on the property that currently houses the Waterford Home Hardware.

It includes a total of 44 units, with five being classified as affordable. The ground floor will include commercial space. For the development to move forward, the proponents require several zoning bylaw amendments. They include increases to maximum building height, a reduction in front yard landscaping requirements, and various changes to parking requirements.

While Norfolk, like municipalities throughout Ontario, are working to increase housing options and rental opportunities for residents, councillors expressed skepticism that this project is the right fit.

“I just don’t see this fitting into the space of Waterford,” said Coun. Kim Huffman.

“It seems to me the piece of land is too small… and it’s a square peg going into a round hole.”

Coun. Alan Duthie agreed.

“Why is it so big? It just seems so big for that site,” he said.

“Economies of scale, trying to produce something that will work, adding an affordability component is quite costly,” Darbyson replied, adding it’s a project they believe works for a growing community.

Several residents also voiced their opposition to the proposal, citing concerns over building height, traffic, parking and privacy. Amy Duckers said the plan represents far more than a modest change.

“(It’s a) major shift in height, density and activity level and it’s proposed directly beside single family homes,” she said.

“I’m willing to support redevelopment of this site if and only if it’s fundamentally redesigned to fit the existing single family neighbourhood.”

Duckers said any development on site should respect strict height limits of two storeys, parking rules, and include buffering, and a binding drainage and storm water management plan.

Size and parking remained a problem in the eyes of councillors. Coun. Chris Van Paassen encouraged the developers to come up with a solution for the parking issue.

“One way or another, come up with the required parking as part of your application and I think it would be much more favourable in my opinion to get approval that way,” he said.

No decisions were made at the meeting. Staff will now form a recommendation report, which will be presented at a future meeting.