Huntsville’s planning committee is recommending that council approve a site plan agreement for a 15-unit building at 5 West Road, pending all final drawings and plans being satisfactory to the Town.
According to Town staff the property has about 37 meters of frontage on West Road and an area of about 2,225 square meters.
Planning consultant John Gallagher was before the committee on October 12, representing the owner. He said the owner has worked with area neighbours to address concerns regarding proper vegetation and buffers as well as things like where the building’s garbage will be stored. He said the storm water management plan will require “substantive work” as drainage will be directed along Muskoka Road 2 and into a catch basin on the east side of the hydro substation located there.
Gallagher told committee the owner is eager to proceed. “He’s about a week away from obtaining all his final drawings to submit for the building permit and get this project started and work [on it] over the winter with hopefully some occupancy in early summer of next year.”
Committee chair Nancy Alcock asked Gallagher what market the development would be going after. Gallagher said seniors and couples. The building will consist of “fairly generous” one-bedroom apartments and contain an elevator.
According to staff the lands are “located within a potential area of influence of a non-operating, non-municipal waste disposal site (X4209). As such the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) Guideline D-4: Land Use On or Near Landfills and Dumps recommends that the applicant obtain a qualified professional to conduct a study consistent with their Guidelines.” A study was conducted by Soil Engineers Ltd. and “concluded that the likelihood that the closed landfill will have an adverse effect on the proposed development is low,” according to staff.
Asked about the look of the building, Gallagher said it is a block building but the proponent has tried breaking up the angular look of the building with balconies on one side, a lower elevation at the front and trees as buffers on the east side. He said stone and natural colour will give it more of a “Muskoka look” and “when you’re coming west along West Road there will be a significant amount of buffer together with the curve of the road that you likely won’t even see it until you’re fairly close to it. I think from an aesthetics standpoint, again, it’s a matter of letting the trees grow over the course of time.”
Councillor Bob Stone thanked Gallagher and the proponent for working with the neighbours to address their concerns. For more on this application turn to page 49 at this link.
Committee approved the site plan pending final ratification from Town Council.
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any luck on information if so can you share please
Many people are asking about these apartments. When they will be available and the cost? I would like more info as to how to put your name in for one of these apartments.
Thanks
Not sure about that hydro station right up front. Seems to me like it might be a potential health risk
It is indeed a shame that one of the few buildings in town with an elevator could not become “affordable” housing. Persons with ambulatory disabilities, but not to the extent of requiring wheelchairs or scooters, are constantly seeking such accommodation.
I quite understand that the property/construction costs dictate that the Owner would want “seniors and couples” as tenants/owners in order to receive a fair return on investment. My only regret is that the provincial and federal government place such a low priority on subsidizing this type of development.