The development will see stacked townhouses with 62 units built on currently vacant land, with hopefully construction starting this year
After 10 years of back and forth, council has given the go-ahead to develop vacant lands on Clair Road West.
The project will see nine blocks of stacked townhouses with 62 units built on 132 Clair Rd. W., currently vacant land spanning about 0.97 hectares and fronting Clair Road, Gosling Gardens and Poppy Drive West.
During Tuesday’s planning meeting, owners Mattamy (TruVilla) Limited sought several zoning and official plan amendments to carry the development forward, primarily allowing for reduced on-site density from 100 units per hectare to 60 units per hectare.
All amendments were approved unanimously, with Coun. Dominique O’Rourke and Coun. Michele Richardson absent.
The original applications for the zoning bylaw amendment and the draft plan were filed in 2015, featuring commercial uses fronting Poppy Drive and a corporate business park between Poppy Drive and Clair Road but no residential space.
It was revised in 2018 to include stacked townhouses and apartment buildings.
The overall development was approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal in 2021, but did not include specific density requirements.
At the time, the area was zoned for a maximum of 60 dwellings per hectare, but that changed in 2023 when the city passed a zoning bylaw requiring a minimum density of 100 units.
To move forward with the development, a lower density requirement is needed.
The owners also sought to permit a minimum front yard setback of 4.5 metres from Poppy Drive and a minimum front yard setback of 4.4 metres from the sight line triangle at the intersection of Clair Road West to Gosling Gardens.
“The primary purpose of these applications is to reduce density,” said Andrea Sinclair on behalf of Mattamy during Tuesday’s meeting.
“I know usually you’re hearing applicants wanting to increase the density, but the reality is, with the stacked townhouse Mattamy wants to build here, you just can’t make it work with the density that’s in the official plan.’
She noted they’ve gone through two rounds of site plan pre-submissions with a detailed review by staff.
“Having gone through that, we’re confident that we’re at the right stage in this site plan to request the various provisions ahead of you today,” she said.
They hope to have the subdivision registered in May or June, followed by the construction of Poppy Drive.
“We know the city’s anxious to see building permits happen. There is a real desire of Mattamy to see this project come online as soon as possible,” she said.
Each unit will have a minimum of one parking space in the garage; some will allow for additional driveway parking space, and 14 visitor spaces are proposed.
They will also use a shared garbage collection system, as opposed to every driveway having three bins.
There is to be 750 square metres of amenity space for residents.
Coun. Leanne Caron questioned what the development would do to help the city reach its net zero goals and community energy initiatives.
While the proposal isn’t aiming for net zero, Sinclair said they are “actively going to be participating in the city’s other initiative on green building standards.”
She also said there will be secure and sheltered bicycle parking and EV-ready parking that exceeds what is required.
Coun. Ken Yee Chew asked whether the road construction would be finished around the same time as the proposed opening for the rec centre, which they’re hoping to open in 2026.
Sinclair said they are hopeful the construction on Poppy Drive would be finished before 2026, but added she doesn’t believe the construction will impact construction on the rec centre.
“I think there is enough separation between the two,” she said.
Since the area is currently designated as mixed commercial use, Sinclair noted it could have been an entirely commercial development with no minimum residential requirement.
“That site could have been developed with no units. Instead, we’re planning more than 60,” she said.
