There may be 21 new townhouses coming to the end of West Elliott Street. The proposal was before a joint meeting of Huntsville and the District of Muskoka’s planning committees on April 13. The application would require approvals from both levels of government as condominiums and subdivisions get approval at the District of Muskoka level.
The joint meeting was held to gather input from the public as well as the proponent, Superior Marble Works Ltd. and its agent.
The proponent wants to build 21 townhouses on about 1.7 acres of land made up of two parcels – one on West Elliott Street and the other fronting on 167 Main Street West. The residential development would be accessed off West Elliott Street through a private road. It would require approvals for a common element condominium road, storm water management pond, common green space, and a visitor parking area.
“The townhouses will be approximately 1,275 square feet with second-storey balconies and will be connected to municipal water and sewer, and the townhouses will be free-hold town homes, meaning that the owners of the townhomes will actually own the land that they sit on,” said District planner Scott Joyce.
Additional information provided by the proponent’s agent, planning consultant Lanny Dennis, stipulated that the two-storey townhouse development would include lots ranging from 1,750 square feet in size, up to 6,500 square feet, Each townhouse would also include its own attached garage.
“The proposal covers only about 22 per cent of the land. The present zoning would allow about 40 per cent of lot coverage so we’re about half of what would be allowed,” said Dennis.
The lands are currently vacant and surrounded by single detached residential homes to the east and commercial and mixed use development to the north; to the south are vacant lands that are designated residential in the Town’s Official Plan, explained Joyce.
According to the Town’s Manager of Planning Services Kristin Maxwell, the development would have to adhere to the following zoning stipulations, all of which would apply to the interior of the development:
- 4.5m minimum frontage and 150m2 minimum lot area for an interior unit
- 6m minimum frontage and 240m2 minimum lot area for an end unit;
- Minimum front yard requirement of 5.8m;
- Minimum parking space length of 5.8m;
- No parking space setback requirement from the condominium road; and
- Minimum interior side yard requirement 1.5m
The proposed development was advertised and notice was mailed out to adjacent property owners and circulated to internal and external agencies. Both the Building and Fire departments “commented that the fire access route must meet Section 3.2.5 of the Building Code,” said Maxwell in her report, adding that the alternative would be a sprinkler system. The Town’s Transportation department also noted that “snow storage” would not be permitted on the municipality’s road allowance on the east side of the lot. In addition, the Town’s Corporate Information department noted that the internal private road would have to be named.
In terms of public input, concerns included the loss of trees and wildlife being disturbed as the space is currently considered a green area in the neighbourhood. While other concerns involved additional traffic, room for passing vehicles and emergency vehicles, and snow removal.
Dennis said the proponent will further examine the road system in order to accommodate turnaround space for a fire truck as well as consider the option of a sprinkler system. He also noted an easement could be allotted to the Town for snow storage if required. He also noted that the Town’s Official Plan allows for intensification in the urban centre, which West Elliott Street forms part of.
The proposal is expected return to Huntsville’s May 4 planning committee, at which point the committee and planning staff are expected to make a recommendation on the proposal to Council for final approval.
Liked this story? You might like these ones, too!
Dock building and repair just got bogged down in red tape; Ministry approval now needed
New development charges now in effect for Huntsville
Huntsville’s planning department welcomes Blaine Yatabe
Don’t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our free, twice-weekly newsletter here.
0 Comments