The entrance to the West End of Town will look a bit different once plans are finalized at 234 Main Street West, the site of the Algonquin Café and Deli.
There are plans to demolish the existing building, which houses the 28-seat Algonquin Café, and replace it with a two-storey building with a 20-seat restaurant and four dwelling units further back on the property.
“The proposal requires a by-law amendment to change the precinct on the lands from a Urban Business Employment (UBE) precinct to Urban Business Employment with Exception (UBE-Exception) precinct to permit four dwelling units, one (1) being at-grade and three (3) being in the second storey; reduce the landscape buffer along the parking area abutting the southerly side lot line from 1.5m to 0m for the two (2) storey building; and reduce the northern interior side yard setback from 5m to 4.8m for the two (2) storey building,” according to the planning report submitted at the May 15, 2024 Planning Council.
Planning consultant John Gallagher and property owner Walter Grys were before Planning Council seeking permission for the plan.
“We’re here today to seek permission to allow a new building to be built in the West End. We’ve seen a lot of change in that area recently of which Walter has had a hand in,” said Gallagher. “What we’re going to end up with there is a building that’s very similar to the one that Walter built a couple of years ago to the east of this site. Having an accessible unit on the ground floor is a positive in this situation, and providing three additional units on a transit route this close to town, again, is another positive,” said Gallagher, adding that the application provides much-needed housing.
Gallagher said his applicant wanted him to raise the fact that previously under the zoning bylaw “you had the right to accessory structures above the unit; the new CPP (Community Planning Permit) limits that to one, and we would ask that any housekeeping bylaw be looked into would expand upon that just so people wouldn’t have to go through a similar situation both in time and money,” said Gallagher.
“First off, I absolutely support this proposal; that’s not a surprise at all,” said Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock. “I do want to let Walter know that we are constantly going through housekeeping with respect to the implementation of our new CPP so I know that staff will have noted the comment that you make John. But I really want to thank Walter for all of his contribution in the past at least a decade for the provision of so much rental housing that it kind of has gone unoticed, or maybe it’s noticed, I just know that much of it affordable and always a tremendous contribution,” said Alcock.
“So one of the things about this particular proposal I really like is the continuation of the cafe and so it continues the tradition on that site of mixed-use development. So real kudos, thank you for all you do, Walter,” she added.
Gallagher told the council that a landscape and elevation plan, as well as a stormwater management plan, will be submitted next.
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I will have to agree with Allen on these points.
Although bringing relief to the housing situation is always a good news, the scam that was perpetrated in Allensville was so blatant that it’s hard to believe our planning department fell for this.
I think that the evidence has shown in the last few weeks with heavy rains this spring that preserving the tiny marsh at the back of the old Beaver lumber site and perhaps even restoring it is very important.
The run off of silt into the bay was terrible, these areas are the filters for our lakes and provide spawning areas for many species. MNR may not care anymore but our town could certainly show initiative and pick up the ball in this regard. We have to stop using ours lakes as sewers.
There is a reason that a buffer is required between properties. It may be there will be no development on the land to the south of the property in question. Maybe not now, but maybe someday? Who ever believed that some powder monkey would blow the hell out of the property off Brunel Rd. Or build a wall reminiscent of a prison.
A wonderful idea, that “thinking outside the box” resulted in a rental duplex in a farm field. Ostensibly the building was to have housed farm labor. Produce from the farm was to go to a local food bank. But it seems it was just shuck and jive, to shine a council and get a building permit.
I read the mayor’s comments and think a little bit of objectivity could be in order. Might the whole-hearted endorsement of a certain businessman, forsaking all others, be a little over the top?
We need the housing for sure, but do we suck up to everything to get it?
All for this, with one exception. A 1.5m buffer to a 0m buffer? Given this particular development and location, I can understand, but it sets a dangerous precedent if the town were to allow it.