Posted Jan 27, 2019, 10:14 PM
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Stoney Creek residents reject 14-storey proposed condominium project for Green Road
by Kevin Werner | January 26, 2017
A proposed 14-storey high-rise condominium complex on the north side of Stoney Creek was nearly universally panned by local residents during a recent public meeting.
“It’s a great inconvenience and annoying to the people of this area,” said Mark Victor, who has lived in the Green Road area near where the 264-unit development would be constructed during the Jan. 24 public meeting, held by Stoney Creek Coun. Maria Pearson.
The application for the development, made by Gabe DeSantis, of Homes by DeSantis and currently before city planning staff, proposes to construct what is being called a “wedding design” building on the current 1.90 hectare Lakeside Plaza property that will include 336 parking spaces. The plaza contains a convenience store, a dental office and a few empty units.
“It is a negative impact,” said Victor. “It is not minor.”
John Ariens, of IBI Group, who made a presentation to the estimated 40 people who attended the Jan. 24 meeting at the Stoney Creek Municipal Service Centre on behalf of DeSantis, who was present, said the development is right for the area.
“It’s the ideal site for intensification,” said Ariens. “It has appropriate limits for high density, it has appropriate limits higher building.”
Ariens acknowledged there will be an impact to residents but it will only be a “nuisance.”
Across the street from the plaza, New Horizon is moving forward with a 207-residential unit development, which was announced in 2014, on 18 hectares of the last available shoreline property on Lake Ontario within the Golden Horseshoe.
Yet almost all homeowners in the area criticized the complex because it would increase traffic problems in an area that is already experiencing traffic gridlock because of the increase in development projects throughout the area.
The proponents argued there would be an increase in traffic, but it would be directed towards the North Service Road. Ariens said each condominium unit would have only one vehicle.
“We feel that is appropriate,” said Ariens. “Traffic will go onto the service road” while avoiding the neighbourhood. He said if there is any traffic increases within residential roads, then the city could install traffic-calming measures.
“If we can accommodate the rush (hour traffic), we can accommodate the rest (of the traffic),” said Ariens.
It was a statement that had residents howling.
“You can talk all about the damn traffic estimate,” said Robert W. Stringer, a homeowner in the area. “You have to get realistic.”
Stringer was riding a bicycle in the area when a vehicle struck him.
He was also critical the development will create noise issues and contribute to the poor air quality in the neighbourhood.
Pearson said a traffic light will be installed at the North Service Road and Green Road this year and another traffic installation is being planned for the North Service Road and Drakes Road, possibly in 2020.
Pearson also said her successful effort to reduce the speed limit along the North Service Road from 80 km to 60 km will also help address speeding vehicles.
“I’m trying very hard to address traffic concerns,” she told the gathering.
Pearson acknowledged there is minimal transit service for the community because there aren’t enough people to use buses. That could change as more residents move into the area, she said.
“It is being worked on,” she said.
Ariens said the 45-degree design of the development which creates the so-called “wedding cake” effect, is a “readily accepted planning principle,” that creates an “appropriate transition in height” within the neighbourhood.
Helen Millar, who lives near the proposed development, was one of the few residents who said she likes the design of the building. But she was opposed to the 14 storeys which could impact her residence.
Most of the people in attendance kept yelling that the development was a “done deal” and that both the councillor and DeSantis were only talking to residents because they had to. Residents also asked they could continue to track the development’s course through the planning process.
“We’re listening,” said Ariens, who suggested that the 14-storey height was not “locked in” to the plan.
Pearson responded that she “does care” about what happens to the neighbourhood and is willing to listen from residents.
“I want to hear your concerns,” she said. “If I don’t know about them, I can’t do anything.”
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