New long-term care facility proposed near Park Lane Terrace

Artist's rendering of a proposed five-storey, 256-bed long-term care home planned for 295 Grand River St. N. in Paris. The facility, proposed by Omni Quality Living, would be constructed north of the existing Park Lane Terrace home and forms part of a broader development application that also includes lands for future residential and mixed-use development.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

A proposal that would pave the way for a new 256-bed long-term care home in north Paris generated questions from residents and councillors last Tuesday, with much of the discussion focusing on what future residential development could eventually look like on the remaining lands.

County of Brant council held a statutory public meeting June 9 regarding a zoning bylaw amendment application for 295 Grand River St. N., a 12.6-hectare property owned by Omni Quality Living (Southwest) LP, the operator of the existing Park Lane Terrace long-term care home.

The application seeks to establish zoning permissions and create four development parcels through future severances. Those parcels would accommodate a new long-term care facility, future mixed-use development, and future residential development, while retaining open space and natural heritage lands.

Under the proposal, one parcel would be retained for the existing long-term care facility, while a separate parcel would be created for a proposed new long-term care home. Additional lands would be zoned to permit future residential and mixed-use development, including apartments, commercial uses at grade, and a range of housing types such as single-detached, semi-detached, duplex and triplex dwellings.

Ryan Cummins, senior planner with the County of Brant, presented the application and emphasized that the presentation was for information purposes only.

He noted that if approvals are ultimately granted, construction of the new long-term care facility could proceed relatively quickly, while development of the remaining lands would require additional applications, studies and public consultation.

The applicant is highly motivated to get that portion of the application up and running, Cummins said of the long-term care component.

According to information presented to council, the proposed five-storey building would contain approximately 256 long-term care beds and would be located north of the existing Park Lane Terrace facility. Access to the building would be provided from Ann Wilson Way, adjacent to the Paris Fire Station.

Much of the public discussion centred on lands identified as Parts 7 through 11 on the concept plan, which would be reserved for future residential and mixed-use development. Residents expressed concerns about density, traffic impacts, building heights and what future zoning permissions could mean for homes backing onto the site.

Marc Burns, a Bradbury Crescent resident, told council he supports the need for additional long-term care beds and recognizes the community's need for housing and infrastructure.

"My concerns tonight aren't about whether development should occur but understanding what should be approved and that residents have right to participate before changes happen behind our homes," Burns said. Burns questioned what zoning would ultimately apply to lands behind existing homes and what portions would remain open space.

Cummins responded that the lands are proposed to accommodate a broad range of residential uses consistent with the property's Community Node designation in the County's Official Plan, including mixed-use apartments, commercial units and various housing forms. He added that more detailed questions would be addressed through future planning applications.

Coun. Steve Howes said several constituents had contacted him with questions about the proposal and sought clarification on references to future development contained throughout the planning documents.

"Throughout this document there is a reference to the word future a couple of times," said Howes. "I think it would help for everyone to understand just what future means." Howes asked whether development on the residential lands could begin as early as next year.

Cummins said the severance application must first be processed and satisfy a number of conditions, including requirements related to improvements to Ann Wilson Way. He estimated the earliest severance application could return to council in September, while a draft plan of subdivision for a development of that size could take several years to complete.

The proposal also requires future improvements to Scott Avenue and Ann Wilson Way and must demonstrate conformity with the Grand River Street North Corridor Class Environmental Assessment before additional development proceeds. No decision was made Tuesday. 

The public meeting forms part of the planning review process, with staff expected to return to council at a future date with recommendations on the zoning bylaw amendment application.