Planning representative for the developer of 18 Legacy Lane was before Huntsville’s planning committee at its August 20, 2020 meeting with a revised plan to access the development off Hanes Road instead of Centre Street, as previously proposed, as well as reducing the project density.
Originally, the plan for the estimated 1.8-hectare lot at 18 Legacy Lane called for a four-storey multi-residential building, townhouses, and semi-detached dwellings. Access to the development was also planned from Centre Street through a right-of-way on Legacy Lane as the property has no road frontage.
Surrounding residents expressed concern about safety due to an increase in vehicular traffic, the overall density of the proposed development as well as how high the multi-residential building would be.
Last week planning representative Wayne Simpson, on behalf of the developer, presented the committee with a new plan. The plan is now calling for a maximum of 33 townhouses, the maximum allowed under the property’s existing zoning, no multi-residential building, and access to the property from Hanes Road. The developer has also purchased 46 Hanes Road and is requesting a land swap with the Town for a small piece of property owned by the municipality which is located between 18 Legacy Lane and 46 Hanes Road. In exchange, the developer would give the Town a strip of land on the west side of 46 Hanes Road, which would be more conducive for a walking trail along that side, according to municipal planning staff.
“The advantage to the Town of the land swap is the trail alignment would be allowed to be a straight line from Kinton Avenue to the north all the way to Hanes, rather than jogging across between the Legacy Lane property and the Hanes Road property,” explained Town manager of planning Richard Clark.
Committee also heard that 18 Legacy Lane would comprise the first phase of a larger condominium development which would now include 46 Hanes Road and that the existing right-of-way on Legacy Lane would serve for pedestrian foot traffic only via a path to be built by the developer and approved by planning staff through site plan control. The path would connect to a similar walkway on the Chartwell property.
“Given these changes, many of the previously noted concerns with the development, which focused on building heights, traffic impacts, and pedestrian movements and safety have now been addressed,” stated Clark in his report to committee.
“This project has been delayed for quite a bit of time, but profitably delayed. We’ve been able to work with the abutting property owner and Mr. Goodfellow was able to acquire 46 Hanes Road… so it’ll allow for the future expansion of the development and it’ll alleve [sic] the neighbours’ concerns about additional traffic,” noted Simpson.
Simpson was looking for planning approval in order to move the 18 Legacy Lane development forward and said an application to develop 46 Hanes Road would follow soon.
Committee approved the zoning with a holding provision to ensure that the development is properly serviced and that access from Hanes Road is secured.
Huntsville Mayor Karin Terziano was adamant that that caveat be put in place as she said she could not support the development if access to it were through Legacy Lane.
“So what I want is assurance that the access will be off Hanes Road, and that this land transfer will take place, or that whatever we pass today is invalid,” she said.
Clark said if access provisions are not finalized then the holding on the property could not be lifted in order for development to proceed as planned. The applicant would have to return to the committee with a new plan.
Staff recommended approval and committee concurred.
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As a part of this new development could a sidewalk be made on Legacy Lane. The residents of this area have no sidewalk and are vulnerable to vehicular traffic. Most residents of Chartwell walk because of necessity.
A seniors residence with no safe walking access is a design to be improved on.
Thank you Mayor Terziano on behalf of the folks living at Chartwell Muskoka Traditions!
My sister who is a resident there will be happy!
Glad to see that the town and planning commitee has finally realized that a private lane is just not capable to accomodate the vehicular traffic in an older adult community. Thank you Karen and staff.