A large residential development in Chelmsford, a four-storey retirement home and an infant food bank are among the projects up for debate at tonight's planning committee meeting.
The first item is returning to the committee after it was deferred in October, when no representatives from the company were present to answer questions.
In an email to Northern Life earlier this month, developer Martin Belanger of Vytis Lands Ltd. said the company knew the meeting was taking place, but were unaware it wouldn't be approved unless someone from Vytis was there to answer questions.
“It was our understanding that there was no objections to the application and, as a result, there was no need for a representative to attend,” Belanger said in the email.
Vytis Lands Ltd. is based in Kagawong, but has an office in Chelmsford. The company hopes to build 370 homes and a 10-unit apartment building on its 129-acre property, located west of Errington Avenue.
Part of the land is near a flood plain associated with the Whitson River, so the development must conform to the city's flood plain regulations. While recommending approval, the staff report on the development includes 30 conditions that must be met first. They include choosing appropriate street names for the major development, contributing to the cost of building sidewalks along the western side of Errington Avenue, and paying for all street lights.
“The lands are relatively flat, with no significant changes in elevation,” the staff report on the project says. “Whitson Tributary III crosses a northerly portion of the site, draining in a southwesterly direction.”
Considering the size of the development, the report said it would have a significant impact on traffic in the area.
“A development of this size is expected to generate approximately 3,450 vehicle trips on an average weekday,” the report says. “A traffic impact study … indicates that the majority of traffic will access the subdivision via Errington Avenue.”
By 2019, that part of Errington will see 300 cars an hour during peak traffic times, five times as many compared to current traffic levels. The land is currently zoned for future development. Vytis wants it partly rezoned for low density development, and medium density for the apartment building.
Also on tonight's docket is a proposal by Fred and Katia Ellero to build a 137-unit retirement home on vacant land on Second Avenue in Minnow Lake. The facility would include a common dining area and would be built south of Ellero Monuments and west of the city's dog park.
“Retirement homes do not generate high traffic volumes,” says the staff report on the application, which concludes a southbound turning lane would not be required.
The developer would have to contribute to the cost of installing sidewalks, and share in the cost of installing a storm sewer outlet the city is planning for Second Avenue in 2014. Once complete, about 64 per cent of the almost three-acre property would be landscaped as open space.
Staff is recommending approval, but advises uses of the land be restricted to the 137-unit retirement home, and that there be a 7.5-metre buffer to provide a buffer between existing residences to the east of the building.
Also on the agenda, Paul and Riitta Caruso are seeking a rezoning to allow them to operate a pregnancy care and infant food bank on land they own on Lasalle Boulevard. If approved, the rezoning would mean the land could only be used for those purposes.
It would also mean that previously approved uses – residential and a sewing/upholstery business -- would no longer be permitted.
The meeting at Tom Davies Square begins at 5:30. Follow along with reporter Darren MacDonald who will be tweeting from the meeting.
@darrenmacd
