Dear Editor:
RE: 733 Princess Street in Mount Forest.
In a 3-2 decision, Wellington North council voted to rezone this property to R3 to allow a 32-unit apartment building in a settled residential area that has single-storey residences.
The owner, Archcon Group, has agreed to plant trees in front of the second-storey balconies for privacy of the neighbours. When asked at the meeting how high the trees will be when planted, Andrea of Archcon Group did not respond. It may take years for the trees to give any privacy.
With 32 units, there is a possibility of 64 people living there with 64 vehicles and only 48 parking spots. When asked where the other vehicles will park, Andrea of Archcon Group did not respond. My guess? On Princess Street. All the neighbours have already complained about the traffic problem these units will cause and now there might be a parking problem as well. They are within the guideline of 1.5 vehicles per unit. Realistically, this may not be enough.
And visitors? Where are they to park? Either end of Princess Street is now in poor condition and it will only worsen. When asked when the street is going to be repaired, the mayor did not respond.
With these questions unanswered, Mayor Andy Lennox, councilor Lisa Hern, and councilor Steve McCabe still voted in favour of the rezoning.
This building is against the neighbours’ approval. The township is meeting their intensification goals. New residences are continually being built. In these circumstances, is it really necessary to foist all these units onto this property instead of single-storey apartments?
Andrea of Archcon advised they will be “attainable apartments” but would not admit to their cost. I doubt they would be building them if they didn’t know their return investment.
So beware Township of Wellington North, it could be your backyard next.
Penny Renken
Mount Forest