A public/private initiative to create more affordable housing continues.
At its February 16 meeting, Huntsville’s planning committee approved the site plan for a phased multi-residential development of up to 171 units on Sabrina Park Drive.
The estimated 2.5 hectares on which the development is proposed were donated by the Town of Huntsville in 2018 with the hope of facilitating the construction of more affordable housing (defined as 10 and 20 per cent below market) in the community.
Through the years several amendments and completion date extensions have been requested by the developer due to stormwater management requirements, delays because of COVID, and other issues.
The approved development consists of 16 townhouses (eight separate townhouse parcels fronting on Sabrina Park Drive were severed in 2018) and 147 dwelling units to be located in five separate three-storey buildings.
While the development was previously approved under the Town’s 2006 Official Plan, the development does exceed the allowable density in Huntsville’s 2019 Official Plan which sets out density in urban residential neighbourhoods at between 20 and 60 units per gross hectare. However, Huntsville manager of planning Richard Clark also noted that densities in the OP may be exceeded “for medium and high-density residential development where community benefits are provided by the developer to the satisfaction of the Town and are legally secured by appropriate agreements with the Town. Such community benefits may include the provision of attainable housing.”
Overall, between 40 and 60 per cent of the units will be affordable, according to Huntsville director of development services Kirstin Maxwell, who also explained that the development will be a mix of rental and ownership housing.
Clark also noted that in order to “achieve compatibility with the surrounding neigbourhood character, the proposed development positions the higher density, three (3) storey multiple residential buildings towards the rear of the property, and includes the lower density, lower profile townhouses adjacent to an additional eight (8) unit townhouse block along Sabrina Park Drive.”
Significant natural features were identified on the property such as a wetland, stream, deep slopes, and potential habitat for species at risk.
“RiverStone [environmental risk consultants] has confirmed that the realignment of a stream onsite can occur without resulting in any concerns from a fish habitat perspective,” Clark told committee, adding that an updated environmental impact assessment would still be required to address the modified development proposal and to address potential impacts on species at risk.
Clark said the site plan submitted may require ‘minor revisions’ to address any impact avoidance or mitigation recommendations in the environmental impact study as well as site servicing and stormwater management and drainage.
There is some light trespass associated with the development, which Clark said staff would work with Craig Developments to address.
Committee passed the site plan approval unanimously without comment. Planning committee chair Councillor Nancy Alcock told Theresa Oliver of Craig Developments that she was happy about seeing a site plan go forward and wished her good luck.
“Thank you everyone, I appreciate it. Yeah, me too,” responded Oliver.
The following is the latest timeline for the project to be completed in three phases. The first phase is expected to construct the townhouses, and the second and third phases the multi-residential buildings:
- Phase one, part one – August 30, 2022
- Phase one, part two – August 30, 2023
- Phase two – August 30, 2025
- Phase three – November 30, 2029
You can find staff’s full report here.
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Time will tell just HOW AFFORDABLE these homes will be ???
Congratulations to the Town, for this affordable homes project which is so desperately needed in Huntsville. But I had thought that affordable prices were 15% below market.
It may be that details of the homes have not been finalised. Before that happens can we ensure that these homes are also affordable to operate and will be for decades to come with heat pumps, not only to provide efficient heating but also cooling. As the climate continues to warm and summers become hotter and hotter there will be an ever-increasing need for indoor cooling which heat pumps provide at low operating cost and without need of additional infrastructure.
Let’s see these houses set a high bar for future new builds in Huntsville. Add induction stove -top cooking, to save on energy without emitting greenhouse gases, and install EV chargers for homeowners to avoid the increasing carbon taxes that will push up gasoline prices.
Sounds okay but wondering about how much difference 10 to 20 percent below market will really make for persons seeking housing. Moving a stream sounds challenging, considerations about deep slopes, wetland and species at risk assessment too.This is the only site for affordable development?