A proposal for a residential-commercial building at Norfolk Street South and Decou Road has been rejected by Norfolk council.
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“It’s a nice-looking building,” said Coun. Alan Duthie at a meeting on Tuesday. “I just don’t think it should be there.”
Council decided earlier this month to defer their decision to Tuesday’s meeting in order to obtain additional information about the development from the proponent, The Ventin Group, and address concerns raised by councilors and residents.
The proposal calls for a three-storey building on about one hectare of land at the corner lot fronting onto Norfolk Street South and Decou Road, across from the Sobeys plaza.
The first floor would have commercial space to a maximum of 15,000 square feet, and two floors with 42 rental units, a mix of one- and two-bedroom. The plan calls for 112 parking spaces.
The county’s planning staff recommended approval of a zoning bylaw amendment for the proposal.
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“It’s important to note that these units are for rental,” said Norfolk planner Andrew Wallace. “It’s not a condo development. We have a mandate to try and achieve about 25 per cent rental housing within our housing supply, which we’re not achieving.”
In a presentation at Tuesday’s meeting, David Aston of MHBC Planning, addressed many of the questions and concerns raised at the earlier meeting, including those related to the building’s height, grading of the property, protection of existing trees and the creation of a landscape buffer .
Duthie thanked the applicant for their willingness to make changes based on feedback they received. He said he’d like to see the development in another location.
“This is the wrong approach for that end of the community,” said Duthie. “I’m concerned about pedestrian and vehicular traffic in this area. I still have a lot of concerns and I’m certain the community does, too.”
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Coun. Doug Brunton said he doesn’t support more commercial space when there is already a number of vacant buildings in downtown Simcoe. He also noted three high-rise projects currently in the queue.
“I just think the density here is a little too much,” said Brunton.
While Coun. Kim Huffman said there were aspects of the proposal she liked, she, too, doesn’t support the location.
“I avoid at times going to that end of town because of the infrastructure there,” she said. “It’s not responsible of us to put in another large development.”
But Mayor Amy Martin said the development would provide an opportunity to “build up instead of out” and help meet the county’s rental housing needs.
“We can’t speak out of both sides of our mouth and try to save land here, provide housing here, meet density requirements and take provincial money to do housing and not support reasonable infill when it comes our way,” said Martin.
The applicant has the opportunity to appeal council’s decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
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