Dear editor:
RE: Residents object to apartment complex, Aug. 26.
The 32-sewer credits were approved through improper procedures. Wellington North’s bylaw allows the credits to be approved in April only.
Prior to that, the zoning change from R2 to R3, approval of building plans, and public notice should be completed. Didn’t happen.
The plans are dated June 2021 and still not approved. The public meeting was Aug. 23, 2021. Our two local councilors opposed the credits for these reasons but the mayor and other councilors supported them in order to push the building through before next April.
Multiple letters opposed the plans. None supported them. Those living on the second floor will have visual access to all our yards, leaving us with no privacy and no pride of ownership. Our properties will lose value.
Sinclair mentioned a large building that used to occupy the now vacant land. She didn’t mention that the building was commercial, didn’t compromise privacy of neighbours because there were no balconies overlooking backyards, and the upper floor was used for storage. But that still prevented sale of our home for quite some time before we purchased it, proving that a tall building will devalue our homes.
When the building was removed, the land reverted to R2 zoning. All surrounding buildings are zoned R2 and are one storey.
Nowhere in this neighbourhood is there a building higher than one storey. This has clearly been followed when surrounding homes were built. That the proposed building height meets R2 requirements isn’t relevant when that building won’t enhance our small-town character.
Another concern is traffic on Princess Street. Archcon did not conduct a traffic study. All letters submitted to the township mentioned the pedestrian traffic on this street and our concern for their safety.
With a hospital, medical centre and long-term care facility at one end and the sports complex, park and a playing field at the other end of Princess Street, the extra traffic from a 32-unit building will aggravate the situation.
The road is in ill-repair now near Dublin Street and at Cork Street.
Access for fire equipment in an emergency is another concern. There isn’t any place for a three-tier response with fire, ambulance and police to have a turn-around access. This might concern an insurance company.
At the public meeting, it was admitted that Wellington North’s intensification targets are being met.
Nearby there is a proposal for multi-type housing including 36 townhouses. Growth is inevitable. We don’t oppose apartments being built, but we are asking for single-storey units to ensure our privacy, only increase traffic slightly, and keep our small-town ambience, which is why we live in Mount Forest.
Archcon states the building will be “compatible and the integrity preserved.” Totally false. Once ill-suited buildings are allowed to be built in the middle of neighbourhoods, our town will lose its charm. It will then be too late to recapture. They should keep the current design to build on a larger property in an area better suited for its size.
We thank our two local councilors who work diligently both on our behalf and the township’s.
Hopefully, Archcon will submit a more suitable plan which will accommodate all concerned.
Penny Renken,
Mount Forest