CENTRE WELLINGTON – Council has paved the way for a property to rebuild a retail store and build a large townhouse development in north Fergus.
At a Monday evening meeting, council approved rezoning for 950-960 St. David St. N. which is currently the New To You property run by the Groves Hospital Volunteer Association.
This move would facilitate a brand new retail store and a 112 stacked townhouse two bedroom units at the rear of the property.
Caroline Baker, planning consultant, said in a presentation to council the association has outgrown the existing store and the new 14,000 sq. ft. “L-shaped” building will provide increased storage, client access and receiving capabilities.
Behind this, Reid’s Heritage Homes plans to build the stacked townhouses four units on top of each other and six units across for a total of 24 units per building.
Based on comments received from a public meeting including traffic concerns, Baker said there will be a 15 metre southbound left turn lane from St. David Street into the site at the developer’s cost.
There will also be a sidewalk stretching from Gordon Street to the site and the developer has added accessible units near accessible parking spots.
Council was generally supportive of this project but Coun. Barbara Evoy asked for a price point to gauge if there’s room for affordable or attainable units.
Baker said, while noting there are some caveats like interest rates, Reid’s is aiming for a starting price of $650,000 for the 900 sq. ft. units.
“The way Bill 23 is looking at attainable and affordable, as I’m sure you’re familiar, is modified definition between affordable being 80 per cent of market value, we’re not quite sure on attainable yet I wish we had a quantitative way to assess it,” Baker said, adding it’s possible these may be considered attainable based on what’s mostly available in Fergus.
“Affordable and attainable housing is a discussion that I would hope that all builders would consider having at least some units so we can meet our goal of meeting the needs of our people,” Evoy said.
Brett Salmon, Centre Wellington’s manager of planning and development, explained the province’s current approach to housing is market driven to increase the amount available in general across all types and prices.
“They’re not asking for municipalities to ask every development to include affordable housing, we need more housing period,” Salmon said.
Before council approved the rezoning, Coun. Bronwynne Wilton put forward an amendment to have the developer to include an indoor bicycle storage facility.
Although Mayor Shawn Watters and Salmon said this could be encouraged at the site plan level, council approved the amendment 5-2 with Watters and Coun. Lisa MacDonald against.
