Lucan apartment decision deferred as council seeks lower building height

Discussions about reducing the height of a proposed Lucan apartment building will continue after councillors deferred a two decisions about the building to a future meeting in the hopes that the developers will be able to reduce its height. If approved, the new building would be built next to the MacEwen gas station on Richmond Street.

By Dan Rolph

A proposed new apartment building in Lucan on Richmond Street next to the MacEwen gas station has hit a delay as council looks to get a developer to reduce its height.

If the proposed building were to be greenlit with its current design, it would be a five-storey structure with 54 residential units.

“There’s no question that what’s in front of us is the highest building that could potentially be built in Lucan,” said Mayor Cathy Burghardt-Jesson.

However, councillors passed a motion during the June 16 council meeting that deferred a zoning bylaw amendment and an official plan amendment needed to move forward, aiming to revisit discussions between municipal staff and the applicant with the goal of shaving down the height of the building.

The project was first brought before council in March 2025 when the applicant, Farhi Holdings Corp., proposed a 58-unit apartment building with a commercial space on its ground level. That initial design has changed since it was first proposed with the elimination of the 5th storey on the building’s north wing, the removal of four rental units, an increased parking ratio and the addition of another visitor parking space on the grounds.

Despite the changes implemented in the design over the last year, the proposed apartment complex has continued to draw the ire of nearby residents. Four letters from residents opposing the application for the building were included in the meeting’s agenda, including one signed by 16 residents.

As well, several residents were present at the meeting to voice their opposition.

Hans Kranz, a neighbouring homeowner, spoke during the council meeting.

“We’re going to live in perpetual shade all year,” he said. “I didn’t buy the house to live in a dungeon. I wanted sunshine and fresh air.”

Kranz said the apartment building could also reduce the value of nearby properties.

“Who’s going to compensate us when we finally decide to sell? Anybody? Mr. Farhi? Of course not, and he’s using this excuse to build houses because the government mandate is ‘build, build, build’ because we need buildings. Nobody can afford the price of these buildings.”

Members of council also shared concerns about the building’s size and its potential impact on nearby residents, but they noted that the provincial government’s push for more development and intensification leaves council with fewer options to address concerns, particularly with the elimination of public third-party zoning appeals in 2024.

Under Lucan Biddulph’s official plan, the document that lays out and plans for growth in the community, the site does meet the requirements for a development to be taller than three storeys. In the official plan, such developments are limited to arterial roads and main intersections and must be located near points of interest like commercial sites or schools.

“When I look at what our official plan says and how the province is directing municipalities and planning, this kind of development is meant for this property,” said Burghardt-Jesson. “We have a provincial government that is incredibly aggressive when it comes to intensification. It is difficult for small municipalities to manage all of this.”

Deputy Mayor Dave Manders echoed the mayor’s comments about the municipality having limited options.

“If we push and deny this, then obviously the applicant can go to the Ontario Land Tribunal and then we use the taxpayer’s money to defend something that’s maybe not defendable,” he said. “It is a bigger decision today because before if the public didn’t agree with us, at least they could appeal it. Now they can’t. They’ve taken that right away, and I don’t like that.”

Mike Davis of Siv-ik Planning and Design, the firm that submitted the application on Farhi’s behalf, said the type of housing being built in small communities is often a point of friction in projects, including many of the ones they’ve undertaken.

“Our client remains open to further taking another look at this and seeing what can be done,” said Davis. “I know that stemming from the last meeting that the fifth storey was a point of contention. They did give an honest effort to taking a look at that to see what could be shaved back while obviously preserving the viability of the project.”

Though he said they would be open to further exploring ways of reducing the building’s height, he said he couldn’t commit to anything stemming from those efforts.

Coun. Jaden Hodgins acknowledged the concerns from the public, but also offered some positive thoughts on the proposed five-storey development.

“The site’s not very pretty right now,” he said. “We’ve got this old, abandoned lot there, and what’s being proposed looks like a good product. Yes, it’s big, but that’s in alignment with provincial policy.”

Council is expected to revisit the application after further discussions, but no date was set for the proposal to return for a decision.