It will likely be a first for Huntsville’s planning committee. At its upcoming August 11 meeting, it will be asked to approve a site plan for a Hindu temple at the former Capitol Theatre location.
According to planning documents, the site at 8 Main Street West would be redeveloped to include a place of worship, a restaurant, a tourist commercial use, and 14 apartments. While the footprint of the building would remain the same, an additional storey is being proposed.
The property is about 1,012m² with 15.8m of road frontage on Main Street West. The comprehensive zoning bylaw provides relief for existing buildings on the main street “to not conform to parking provisions if the building was in existence prior to the date of passage of the Zoning By-Law. However, in instances where the floor area is proposed to change, parking spaces shall be provided, for the proposed change only. In this instance, the applicant is proposing an additional storey containing 7 residential units. As the Zoning By-law requires 1 space per unit, the proposed development is deficient for 7 new spaces,” according to the Town’s planning department.
As a result of the parking deficiency, staff are recommending that the approval of the application be conditional on the cash-in-lieu for parking provisions in Huntsville’s Official Plan, at a rate of $3,000 per parking spot.
Fees collected for cash-in-lieu of parking are placed in a special account to be used to address parking in the Central Business District “in a more comprehensive manner,” states the planning report.
While a lighting plan has not yet been submitted in support of the redevelopment, planning staff have noted that they will ensure that the site plan drawings state all lighting will be dark-sky friendly.
Staff are recommending approval of the application. You can find the full document here (pdf). Huntsville’s planning committee meets at 1 p.m. this Wednesday, August 11. You can watch the live webcast here.
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Ralph Cliffe says
So the old Capitol Theatre is no more.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Who remembers the Friday, Saturday evenings with that special somebody.
It’s like loosing an old friend. Time marchs on.
Susan Bobyk says
Really? There will be no movie theatre in Huntsville. No matinees for the kids on rainy days. Very sad to see it go. Sounds like parking is going to be a real issue. That’s already a summer issue.
Linda Tone says
I will miss the theater and the memories I have from there. Understand change is good and inevitable but does there have to be the huge front on the restaurant that will undermind the local small town look…
George Rethy says
Sounds like a great addition to the town. Welcome.
Derek Shakespeare says
I think the artist rendering looks pretty great. Great use of the space, and very welcoming to our Hindu neighbours and new residents.
That old theater was pretty dumpy, sure it was somewhat renovated but the lingering smell of urine was always present.
Times have changed, we watch movies (for the most part) at home now.
Will be great to see some new development in town, like seriously how many real estate or insurance offices do we need on main street??
Hooray for change!!!
Rick whitehead says
Looks great, only odd thing I see is a Buddhist monk leaving a Hindu temple with Buddhism Ohm symbol above the door…. Are we sure it’s not a Buddhist temple??? In Huntsville it wouldn’t surprise me if that got lost in translation???
Rick whitehead says
An addendum to my earlier comment, I stand corrected (thank you 20 year old yogi daughter), the Ohm symbol is sandscrit and is a symbol in both cultures.
Once again, a great addition to our amazing town. Thanks for coming here!!
Brenda Begg says
Re Ohm: Sanskrit. Also, you will see monks in both Buddhism and Hinduism wear Saffron coloured garments. The temple will be a wonderful and welcome addition to Huntsville! We will miss the theatre. How odd to not have a movie theatre in Huntsville. Such is the state of impermanence.
Juliah Kelsey says
I hope this is not the case. Huntsville needs a movie theater. Our community was so proud of our little original theater and the kids really looked forward to going. It would be a crying shame to see this become anything else!
Juliah Kelsey says
To piggy back on my comment…..I do welcome change and development and improvements but it just breaks my heart to see a theater go. I also love our small town feel and always worry that development and tourism will take over.
Brian Samuell says
Looking forward to a colorful Holi Festival.
Ryan Vallentin says
I have no issues with the Temple, I’m just sad to see the movie theater is gone, Orillia is a far drive just for a movie.
To the other person who posted that we mostly watch movies at home now…. for those of us rural that isn’t an option. Even our satellite provider now requires us to use the internet for on-demand and PPV titles. Previously we could just order by phone. Internet availability is very weak in Muskoka.
Nancy Long says
The development proposal includes parking fees at $3,000 per spot. I’m suggesting that this isn’t nearly enough. If the development needs 15 spots, that’s only $45,000. Our development fees seems too low. Maybe $10,000 per spot would actually buy an empty lot in Huntsville.
Jacquie Howell says
Could be a wonderful improvement to Main West. Must express concern over parking. 7 residential units represent a minimum of 7 cars on a permanent basis – plus how many visitors. Back streets are all ready full especially when school returns.
Chris Mathews says
With a temple, restaurant and residential units isn’t there a need for more parking spaces? My understanding is there isn’t really enough now especially when school is open? Are the planning staff just recommending another exemption? Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Martha Muntz says
Glad to see the new development. Welcome to our Hindu friends. I do agree that the facade should remain in keeping with the small town feel and that for all development $3000 is not enough for parking spaces not provided, especially with rental units where people have a car parked somewhere most of the evening. But good to provide more rental units.
JuneBanks says
14 apartments, 14 cars, plus church, plus restaurant where are all these people going to parking. Let’s not change the rules again and not face the problems.
Charlene Stewart says
I have suggested this before and will again. If the lot between Mitchell funeral home and the Bell building, across the street from the back side of Town Hall, is used for parking now, can it not be considered to buy this lot by the town and put in a multi-level parking garage? I would think that solves many, many parking issues for all of Downtown Huntsville.
Dianne Adams says
What is the fate of the former Empire Hotel lot? That would have been an ideal spot for a multi level parking garage right in the centre of town, designed to fit in with the small town look of Huntsville and being a central parking point for all directions of town activities. I will miss our movie theatre across the road from that corner.
Brett Moore says
Well screw that, we have been going to that theatre for over 60 years. A theater is a place of community. It should stay.
Harriet Hutchinson says
I will miss walking to the Capital Theatre, Reel Alternatives, the privilege of viewing first run movies early and dining on the best popcorn I ever tasted.
The sad reality is that The Capital Theatre was never supported enough for the 20 years I’ve been going to it to compensate the owners for all the hard work and renovations they put into it.
I join Huntsville in welcoming the new congregation. I love the folksy welcoming look of the artist’s rendering of the Temple. It would give our new cityscape and interesting look.
brian tapley says
So many memories from the Capitol theater and that is all there is now. I know some folks consider change to be good, maybe we should be looking for a place for a drive in theater again. We seem to be doing ok with all the other drive in/drive though systems in town.
On the other hand, so many “new” movies are such sad productions, a 50 million dollar special effects budget and the plot written by a grade 5 class, that maybe the old Capital passing on is not so terrible after all. Sadly, going into theaters is now in a class with cruise boats as far as Covid is concerned and neither of them seem likely to be very popular in the future.
As for Juliah’s accurate comment about losing the small town feel of Huntsville. We have already done this.
Monika Hoffmann says
I have been raised to embrace all races and religions with respect and dignity. I have attended services at Catholic Churches, Protestant Churches, Synagogues and Orthodox Greek churches with respect and awe. I would like to confirm that I as a woman, along with my daughter-in-law and 10 year grand-daughter will be able to attend a service at the temple when in is completed in Huntsville. I tried googling the question, with no definitive answer. Again, I would like to only ascertain that we three will be welcome in the temple during a service.
With kind regards,
Monika
Sandy McLennan says
“Fees collected for cash-in-lieu of parking are placed in a special account to be used to address parking in the Central Business District”
7×3,000 = $21,000 : special, indeed
Ruth Huxtable says
As several have already commented, a big concern is with the ongoing problem of lack of parking in town. So, where will the tenants in the 7 new apartments and their guests, with no spaces allocated, park?
Elizabeth Chester says
I think this is a wonderful addition to Town and look forward to its presence. My only concern (as I live so close) is the parking. Lorne St is already dangerous with vehicles parking on both sides with no respect given to the “no parking” signs, creating dangerous situations for pedestrians and vehicles try to navigate the road with reduced visibility. The side streets, Caroline and Minerva, are not suitable to handle overflow parking at the best of times, let alone in winter.
If this is to be approved then the Town should step up and ensure the parking issue is properly addressed including enforcement of parking regulations on a 24/7 basis
Rod jones says
We already have a parking problem in town we don’t need any more they are willing to pay for 7 spots that’s not nearly enough they wouldn’t be buying there if they only have 14 people to come to church and the back road is in front of the school it’s busy enough they should find another place that’s not in town
Len Ross says
My wife and I have lived in the Huntsville area for well over 25 years and we have certainly seen many changes in the community. We believe that most of the changes have been positive. Was it wrong to lose a general store and gain a box store or to move all incoming weekend traffic from Main St to Hwy 11 and Hwy 60. It is easy to say yes or no, but I believe that the Town has prospered and grown by change. So now it appears that we are losing a movie theatre and gaining a temple. Is this bad. I don’t think so, we are growing and changing. Change is a necessary part of growth and it is this growth and change that will bring business, development, jobs and prosperity to Huntsville.
Paul Johnston says
I have grave concerns as to the proposal to build a temple at the old movie theater site on main street. First the owners have a right to sell however the zoning change is totally in appropriate. The council’s approach demonstrates their lack of vision and lack of planning. We have an official plan which is lacking vision for the future of Huntsville. Also right now development throughout Huntsville appears to be dysfunctional at best. The Hindu Temple has a right to be built on an area zoned for that purpose and an area that can support the traffic/parking. It is a shame that Huntsville is squandering their location as a gateway to the various parks.. Council needs to provide better leadership for the future.
ed woolven says
14 apartments,, where is parking for them plus visitors? Representative says many will not have cars,, and can easily walk on main street to obtain their needs,,, unless they happen to need groceries ! Winter parking near the public school will be interesting. And if 50 people want to attend services, plus restaurant ?
Brenda Begg says
I agree; clearly, there won’t be enough parking spots for those attending temple, the restaurant, and – 14 apartment dwellers (and visitors). There already is inadequate space for Huntsville Public School staff to park. I wholeheartedly welcome a Hindu temple, but this may not be the best location.
Ralph Cliffe says
Not to worry our town planning committee and council have all the answers!
The town can just add more of those $3000 invisibl;e parking spaces.
People attending services or the restaurant can park behind the lawyers building or use the teachers parking
or the nurses clinic or commerce bank parking.
I am sure our town council will approve the site plan and the bedlam can begin.
Never a dull moment in the City of Huntsville