Dear Editor:
In regards to the Centre Wellington meeting, where a developer requested a variance to build a five-storey apartment building at the corner of St. Andrew and Gowrie streets in Fergus.
The issues for the local resident/neighbours is the meeting had some nice presentations, and some garbled ramblings I’m not sure made any point whatsoever.
The people in favour of the thing were people looking for places to rent, not those neighbours whose current “small historic town feel”, lifestyle and property value will be negatively impacted by it. I’m one of the negatively affected, along with approximately 30 or 40 others that own residences within 70 or 100 meters. I have spoken with many of them; not a single one is in favour.
The “shell game” with the lack of parking is apparent. These nine spots at the other buildings Gillis owns are currently full most days of the week.
This is not a “good will” exercise to provide affordable rental units. This is an exercise in maximizing return of investment for a building; otherwise, build the allowable three-storey unit which will have more parking per unit.
Tell the four or five adjacent heritage properties on St. Andrew Street’s north side, whose back yards will be shaded out by this building from noon to dusk every day, that there’s low impact.
As for sight lines, the balconies on the currently not permitted fourth and fifth floors will be able to see right into my yard southwest of the building, destroying the privacy that was a big reason we purchased this property in the first place. NIMBY is right in this case! Put these tall buildings in neighborhoods where the space is designed for them.
To those looking for apartment rentals, go support the 100-unit apartment proposal near Zehrs in south Fergus. Furthermore, demand more apartments be built in each new subdivision, instead of the 800-plus single family/townhouse style units planned on the outskirts of Fergus and Elora for the next year or so.
I might add that most of these new developments are on farmland, so don’t play the “build up in town to save farmland” argument.
Please don’t shoehorn a building that doesn’t belong in our historic zone, and doesn’t fit the current bylaw rules.
Mike Baker and family,
Fergus