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Wed, November 1, 2006

By JOE BELANGER, FREE PRESS CITY HALL REPORTER



London's planning committee is recommending approval of three new apartment towers in a west-end neighbourhood.

Residents in the area opposed the proposal by Old Oak Properties to build 12-, nine- and five-storey buildings at 610 Beaverbrook Ave.

But the committee gave the OK with some reservations over traffic and protection of a woodlot on the property.

"I think this was a good compromise for the applicant and the neighbourhood," said Coun. Roger Caranci, committee chairperson. "The committee felt this development fits in well with the area . . . good for intensification."

Staff are reviewing a traffic study and trying to find a way to permanently protect a woodlot and will report back to council Monday.

Residents complained the area is already congested.

They say the area is overpopulated with highrises, including 34 within two kilometres of the area.

They're also concerned about traffic, which they say is 4,000 vehicles over street capacity of 15,000 cars a day.

Old Oak wants the land, south of Proudfoot Lane and north of Riverside Drive, rezoned from medium to high-density use.

The developer agreed to build three apartment buildings with higher densities instead of four to protect the woodlot.

Ward 1 Coun. Judy Bryant, who also sits on the planning committee, said she's pleased the woodlot will be saved, but worries others may look to develop highrises in the area.

"Just because it's open space doesn't mean it's safe," she said.

A 1991 study of that area suggested limiting development to medium-density units and apartments to eight storeys.