Council deferred a tough decision on Monday night at a public meeting held to consider the downscaling of the Curve Rock Developments property in Mount Forest.
A meeting was held to consider an application to replace one of the previously approved 24-unit apartment buildings with six other residential units. Those units would either be cluster townhouses or semi-detached units.
Senior planner Mark Van Patter has no concerns with the proposal.
However, the board of directors representing the current operation do have issues.
Van Patter cited a letter from the legal counsel of the condominium corporation that asked for a deferral of the application He said what is being proposed is the second 24-unit apartment be replaced by either a six unit townhouse or three semi-detached dwellings.
As a result of his review, Van Patter wrote the bylaw so council can allow either.
However, as cited in a letter forwarded by Don Cherry, of the board of directors, there is a potential impact to current residents – primarily in the area of shared costs. As a result, recommended that council not make any decision that night.
He also recommended the applicant and the condominium corporation try to work out any differences they have.
“If they can resolve it and come back with no differences,” he said council could make its decision.
He said the application will remain open pending council’s decision.
Van Patter noted if the amendment is allowed, the applicant will still need to apply to Wellington County to change the terms of its plan of condominium development.
“I don’t have a lot to say beyond what’s covered in the letter,” Cherry said.
He did apologize for the late timing of the letter, which arrived the date of the public meeting.
The letter stated that owners are concerned that it seemed the nature of the development is changing from primarily home ownership to rental properties “without apparent consideration for the possible negative implications such changes may have on existing owners.”
Currently all costs of the corporation are being borne by the owners of only 10 units.
The board of directors is looking for a formal agreement to the use and costs of upkeep of the common elements until all the phases are implemented.
In the original proposal, the three phases included 10 townhome style residential condominium units, a 24 unit low rise apartment style condominium, followed by another 24 unit low rise apartment style condominium.
Originally, all the units were proposed for individual ownership.
He agreed the issues are complicated, and it will take more than one night to sort everything out.
Cherry believes there are issues that have not been considered.
A representative of the applicant, a numbered company, said that since the company did not receive the letter until 10am on Monday, it still recognized there are issues to be addressed. So the applicant also supported a deferral. He also promised to make every effort to resolve the issues.
Councillor Ross Chaulk asked what sort of deferral time is being sought.
“Within 60 days,” was the response.
Councillor Dan Yake was glad to see both parties are willing to accept a deferral to resolve their issues.
He, too, agreed this is a fairly complicated document that needs additional time for consideration. “With both parties working together, they should be able to get it resolved.”
The item was subsequently deferred.
Mayor Mike Broomhead declared a conflict of interest prior to the public meeting, and was not in the chambers during the discussion. He is an owner of one of the Curve Rock units.
