FERGUS – For a brief moment, an application to build a five-storey apartment building in downtown Fergus was defeated by Centre Wellington council on Feb. 12.
But when councillor Denis Craddock learned his vote to abstain meant a vote against the motion, he requested that council reconsider its decision.
And on reconsideration, council approved the proposal.
The property is located at 223 St. Andrew St. E. and currently has a house and a garage on the site.
Developer Dave Gillis received all kinds of feedback at a public meeting last summer and revised the plan for the building.
It’s still five storeys with two commercial units on the ground level.
But the whole building has been shifted west, to provide a greater buffer between the building in the existing residential neighbourhood to the east.
And the fifth storey has been stepped back to reduce the visual impact and shadowing from the street.
The proposal is for 17 residential rental apartments: one three-bedroom unit, nine two-bedroom units, five one-bedroom with den units; and two one-bedroom units.
Four of the units will be barrier free and the building will have an elevator.
One unit will be at ground level to further buffer between the commercial units and residential homes further down the street.
Pierre Chauvin, a planner with MHBC who spoke on behalf of the developer, said the upper level balconies have been internalized in the redesign so they feel less intrusive to neighbours.
And in terms of building materials, the architect will take its cues from the historic buildings downtown, using the same muted colours and materials, with windows that mimic the shapes and configurations of the historic downtown streetscape.
Marianna Iglesias, the township’s manager of planning services, said according to existing zoning, “a four-storey apartment building is permitted now” to a height of 15m. She noted 1.7m in additional height “is what’s being asked.”
Councillor Barb Evoy said while she supports intensification, infill projects and barrier-free rental options, her concern is there will be two other big projects going on at the same time and in the vicinity as this build: the St. David Street North reconstruction project and construction of another apartment building at 350 St. Andrew St. W., beside Melville United Church.
“I’m concerned it will seem overbearing to residents. I will be voting no,” Evoy said.
Councillor Kim Jefferson said she is concerned about parking.
According to the proposal, there will be 13 parking spots on the site and an additional nine spaces across the street on property also owned by Gillies, bringing the total to 22 parking spaces.
“I could get behind a reduction in parking if there was transit there,” she said.
“That’s where I’m struggling. This will create a bigger parking issue after it’s built.”
Mayor Shawn Watters noted St. Andrew Street and St. David Street are transportation “spines” on which public transit, when it comes, will be built, making this a prime location for a rental apartment building.
Councillor Jennifer Adams noted a lot of developers are buying up property in Centre Wellington and not doing anything with the land.
“So when a local developer comes in, listens and changes their plan – I find it hard to go against what’s happening here,” she said.
Watters called it a “watershed moment” when the proposal was voted on.
And on first pass, it failed when Evoy and Jefferson voted “no” and Craddock voted to abstain, which counts as a “no” vote.
He quickly requested council reconsider the vote, which it did.
And on the second round it passed, with Jefferson and Evoy voting against, and Craddock, Adams, Watters and councillor Lisa MacDonald voting in favour.
Councillor Bronwynne Wilton was absent.
