Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Bill Bradley
After four hours of hearings and debate, the city's planning committee agreed at their meeting Tuesday evening to allow contruction to proceed on a 94 unit, eight story residential building on MacKenzie Street.
Options For Homes Sudbury, an affordable housing project, was
seeking to demolish the former St. Aloysius Separate School and
put up the building, as well as convert the former St. Louis
Gonzague School into offices.
Some residents are opposed to the development. A letter by Chad and Nikki Bizier of 230 College Street said the project will add to the overall lack of parking in the neighbourhood.
"We greatly disapprove of the construction of an eight
storey 92 unit residential building. We already have a parking
problem. The city plow has a hard time getting through the side
streets even during the day. Not to mention when Sudbury
Secondary
has night performances, you can barely drive through. The
addition of another building which would bring in an additional
50-100 vehicles," states their letter.
Many residents at the meeting complained they had had enough of the heavy traffic and lack of parking in the area overflowing from the library on MacKenzie Street, Sudbury Secondary School and other educational institutions in the area. Buses were parking everywhere on the street.
Fire hydrants were commonly blocked from vehicles present for events at the school.
Having a residential building with inadequate parking on site was frustrating to them. Again and again, residents demanded why the city's own bylaw regarding parking space was not being followed.
The bylaw stipulates that there be 1.5 parking spots per dwelling unit in a residential building. The applicants proposed one parking space per unit, meaning there was no visitor parking available unless a section of green space was paved over.
City staff argued that the building was beside a bus route, was within easy walking distance of city services and shops and that other nearby buildings were granted similar relief from the bylaw.
They also argued that there was off-use parking spaces in the adjacent building that was to be be converted to office space. They also argued the city badly needed this type of housing which was based on an ownership model that was cost effective for lower and middle income first time home buyers.
Residents also complained that the area near the library and further north was one of the oldest areas of the city and had heritage value. They noted that the proposed architectural sketch of the building was drab and did not fit into the aesthetics of the neighbourhood.
Councillors said construction could proceed provided there was a cross agreement on title with the adjacent building for shared parking and access.
They also strongly recommended the applicants work with the residents to make the building more appealing.
Resident Francis Thorpe was disappointed at the outcome.
"I am completely displeased. I think this city has no respect for the history of this city."
Thorpe said the mayor had already made up his mind about the project, saying the project should not be sideswiped by the concerns of residents.
"To me this is insulting to the constituents of this ward," he said.
