Proposed Arrowdale housing development ‘not set in stone,’ says planner

Residents opposed to development plans for the former Arrowdale golf course property crowded city hall council chambers on Thursday to fire questions at the project planner.

The neighborhood meeting arranged by Ward 4 councilors Richard Carpenter and Linda Hunt was meant to provide some details on the plan for Elite MD Developments to construct 750 residential units on 32 acres of land at 282 Stanley St. and the vacant lands fronting Elgin Street.

Applications have been received by the developer for a zoning bylaw amendment and a draft plan of subdivision for the property.

The city’s decision in 2020 to sell the municipally-owned golf course land to the developer was controversial and began a campaign by a group of residents who wanted it maintained as a golf course. The nine-hole course had been operating for more than 90 years. In the winter, it was a popular spot for tobogganing.

“I am adamantly and wholeheartedly opposed,” said Tammy White whose home is across from the property. “It has been greenspace all my life. It’s a part of who I am.”

Martin Quarcoopome, vice president of Weston Consulting and a planner hired by Elite Development, fielded questions about the proposed development, which includes 40 single-detached dwellings, 163 three-storey freehold townhouse dwellings, 114 three-storey stacked townhouses, 18 three-storey townhouse blocks, a six-storey residential apartment building with 141 units, an eight-storey residential apartment building with 274 units, and various privately-owned, publicly-accessible open space areas.

Jeff Mederios, a senior planner with the City of Brantford, said Thursday’s meeting is the first opportunity for the developer to gather public opinion.

“This is not where it stops,” said Mederios. “There will be lots of opportunity for input.”

A parade of speakers raised concerns about the proposed development, which will cover nearly 32 acres in the largely residential area.

Among the issues raised were whether there will be sufficient parking, the increased traffic, the burden of the increased population on emergency services and schools, increased crime, depreciated property values ​​in the area, loss of mature trees on the land, and disruption of wildlife .

Quarcoopome said the development will be completed in four phases. The first, which will take about a year, will be construction of infrastructure, including roads and a storm pond. Phase 2, which will take two to three years, will include the freehold properties on the perimeter of the property and “hit the market first.” Phase 3, which includes construction of the stacked townhouses, will take two to three years; and Phase 4, construction of the apartments on Elgin Street, will take three to four years.

“It’s not all coming at once,” said Quarcoopome.

Concerns about the location and density of the apartments were raised by several residents. Lisa Harding, who has lived on Campbell Street for 37 years, said apartment dwellers will be “looking down into our private backyards.”

Kailee Poisson, president of the Friends of Arrowdale organization, offered a number of proposed alternatives to the planned housing development, including renegotiating a land trade with the City of Brantford for other vacant property elsewhere in the city with a value of $14 million, the price paid by Elite for the Arrowdale land. Poisson also suggested Elite could donate the land to Friends of Arrowdale, the Brant Land Trust, or “the rightful stewards of this territory, the Onkwehonwe community of Six Nations of the Grand River.”

“Or, if you don’t like any of those, at least scrap the six- and eight-storey developments and leave it as greenspace,” said Poisson.

Quarcoopome said he would take resident feedback to the developer.

“This plan is not set in stone. I understand the community has some reservations about this project. This process isn’t done by any means. We’re here to listen.”

The city is directing the proceeds of the Arrowdale land sale to affordable housing elsewhere in Brantford and tax revenues generated by the development of the property will be transferred annually into a reserve fund dedicated to affordable housing initiatives.

The city also is developing a 17-acre park on a portion of the former golf course land.