Waterford apartment decision shelved until July

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

A revised development proposal for Leamon Street in Waterford wasn’t revised quite enough for councillors to give it the green light. However, they also didn’t deny the application for a four-storey mixed-use build on the property. Instead, they’ll give the public another chance to offer their input on the updated plan. The decision made at the May 26 Norfolk council meeting does come with some risk in that missed deadlines to make a decision could allow the proponents to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal and take control out of local hands.

“I would like the community I represent to have a little more opportunity to have some input,” said Coun. Kim Huffman

When the application was initially presented in February, it was met with some concern from both councillors and members of the public. At the time, the plan was for a five-storey building that had 44 units, including five affordable housing units, and some ground floor commercial space.

Councillors and residents alike questioned the size of the building, and expressed concerns over traffic, parking, and privacy. In an attempt to alleviate those concerns, the proponents reduced the building to four storeys, which cut the unit count to 39, including four affordable housing units. This greatly reduced any concerns over shadowing, Vallee Consulting’s Eldon Darbyson said. It also brought many of the special provisions closer to existing limits.

Darbyson also said a reduction in the number of balconies will help protect neighbours’ privacy.

“The applicants took what they heard at the public meeting, they worked with staff. We brought the height down, we’re trying to address parking concerns, a better design, the entrance of Thompson Road is removed and instead of 44 units we’re still able to accommodate 39, including an affordable housing component,” Darbyson said.

But despite the changes, councillors still weren’t ready to approve it. Huffman said the project adds to a long list of developments the Waterford community has had to deal with in recent years.

“This is a big ask of the community that has already been hit with a lot of development over the term of this council,” she said. Coun. Alan Duthie, likewise, said while he appreciated the changes the proponents made, he was still uneasy with some of the aspects of the proposal, including parking shortages that remained.

The proposal is set to come back to the public hearings committee in July. Before the vote Huffman urged the proponents not to appeal to the OLT before the July meeting.