FERGUS – Another housing project has been proposed for St. David Street North (Highway 6) in Fergus.
This one, at 750 St. David St. N. at the corner of Parkside Drive, proposes a 12-unit stacked townhouse complex on the large lot where there’s currently a bungalow and garage.
Each unit would have two bedrooms and a private balcony.
Driveway access is proposed off Parkside Drive and there would be 18 parking spots.
The site is near transportation networks, within walking distance of shopping, parks and St. John Catholic School, and is in an area where other higher density housing has already been approved.
The proposal seeks a zoning change from R1C to R4 and some site-specific permissions, such as reduced front and side yard setbacks, reduced common/private amenity areas and reduced parking setbacks.
“In my opinion these are very minor reductions,” MHBC planner Pierre Chauvin said at a public planning meeting on Sept. 25. “This is a good way to maximize infrastructure.”
Lorna Bevcar lives around the corner on Parkside Drive and she saw trouble, not opportunity, with the proposal.
It’s already difficult to make a left-hand turn from Parkside Drive onto St. David Street, she said. Having driveway access to this proposal right at the corner will only make it worse, she added.
And the proposed parking lot would come up against a pedestrian walkway that leads to the church and school behind.
Bevcar said Parkside Drive is already a busy street and on-street parking is only allowed on the south side of the street, forcing many residents to park on their boulevards.
“Adding more residents will only increase the strain on on-street parking” and make it more dangerous for children walking to school, she said.
Resident Charity Curtis also spoke against the proposal, citing traffic and the dangerous intersection, and excessive lighting from the proposed parking lot.
Resident Bernice Robbina said council had recently approved several high-density housing developments in the area and should take a pause before approving another.
“Council needs an overall picture of this area,” she said. “There will be 218 units in a three-block area. More retail, more residents, more schools – this affects everyone, not just that little section.”
Chauvin acknowledged that St. David Street is a busy road “and this development isn’t going to tip the scale (on traffic numbers).”
Other issues raised – lighting, garbage, tree removal and the access driveway – would be addressed during the site plan process, he said.
Council asked no questions. The matter will return to council for a decision at a future date.
