Hastings projects move ahead
Good day for Grey Jay Developments at Trent Hills council
Grey Jay Developments Inc. went three for three at Trent Hills council on Tuesday.
The developer received approval for three separate projects that it is undertaking in Hastings. One was controversial, a second raised some serious questions, while the third sailed through.
The controversial one was Brenda’s Place, a townhouse condominium development at 192 Front Street West, the site of a former auction house and one time dance hall. Grey Jay, which is currently constructing the Lock 18 homes, wants to build 20 townhouses and four semi-detached homes on the site, which backs onto the Trent River.
Councillors had questioned the developer’s requests to shoehorn so many homes into the site and had deferred the proposal at the last meeting, rejecting a recommendation from planning staff.
Kent Randall, principal planner and owner of EcoVue Consulting Services Inc. of Peterborough, appeared before council in an effort to push the project across the finish line.
“This is a condominium development that shares common elements such as an access road, additional parking and waterfront access,” Randall said, insisting that those factors should be when considering the small individual lots.
He stressed that the proposal conforms with the municipality’s official plan and the company was only seeking minor changes so it can redevelop an existing site.
“It is not a high-density development, it is just a step above single detached,” he added. “It provides a form of housing that is encouraged by your official plan.”
Randall said the site narrows towards the road and that requires the smaller lots that meant the project needed an exception to minimum standards.
Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf said he supported the project because it was important to offer residents a range of housing options, including smaller, condo units that seniors might prefer because they wouldn’t need to worry about outside care.
In the end, after questions about parking and snow removal, council approved the project.
Later in the meeting it considered two other Grey Jay projects, the White Building at 79 Front Street East and the Hastings Tannery Lands at 87 Front Street East.
Council quickly agreed to rezone the While Building from general commercial to high-density residential exception holding. Grey Jay plans to add another storey on the currently abandoned building and construct apartments.
It then turned to the adjacent tannery lands and Grey Jay’s proposal to demolish the former factory and eventually construct two six-storey apartment condominium buildings.
“As a result of feedback from council, members of the public, and staff, the applicant is now proposing a commercial component to the Hastings Tannery Land development, and changed their Official Plan Amendment to the Mixed-Use Area for the entire project,” said a report by planner Cameron Law.
The holding designation will be in place until a number of reports have been completed looking at factors such as traffic and environmental impacts.
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