Proposed 258-unit subdivision disabled by Woodstock City Council: ‘Too dense’

A proposed 258-unit subdivision with Two Seven-Storey Towers in Northwest Woodstock was released in an unanimous vote by Woodstock City Council, with one coucillor saying it is “way too dense.”

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City Councillors vote 6-0 Against A Motion to Rezone 401 Lakeview Dr. at a meeting feb. 20.

London-Based Company Farhi Holdings Corp. Owns the 3.9-Hectare Site at the Northeast Corner of the Intersection of Vansittart avenue (Oxford Road 59) and Lakeview Dr. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Previously Owned the Property Before It Was Declared Surplus.

Bernia Martin Was the Only Woodstock Councillor Who Didn’t Voting On The Motion. Martin, who is the provincial liberal candidate in the riding of oxford, Didn’t awaits the meeting.

Farhi Holdings Applied for the Rezoning To Build A Five-Block, 258-Home Subdivision. COUNCILLORS CITED DENSITY AS A PRIMARY AT THE MEETING WHERE Spectators Filled COUCIL CHAMBERS AND SAT IN HALLWAY.

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A Proponent of Constructing More Homes to Address the City’s Growing Population, Mayor Jerry Acchione Said on Monday Woodstock Needs Greater Housing Densit but Felt Consideration of Residents Who Live Near The Propdivision Required Heeding.

“We do have to add up housing here in the city of Woodstock, but i think it needs to be appropriat in surrending neighborhoods the best possible way,” acchione said.

“That Property does Need Density of Some is out. . . If Any Future Development Plans Are Put Into Place, I WOULD WELCOME them. ”

The Property is Surrounded on All Side by Subdivisions With Single-Family Homes.

The proposed five-block subdivision include 26 semi-detached units, 68 stacked townhouses and two seven-storey buildings with 80 units in each, Said a report by Eric Gilbert, The City’s Development Planning Manager. The Plan also included Land Set Aside for A Park and Stormwater Management.

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Coun. Deb Tait Tabled the Motion Opposing A Rezoning of the Site, Citing Infrastructure concerns and noting also that it was “Way too dense for this community.”

Community Opposition to the Subdivision was evident at a Woodstock Planning Meeting Held Feb. 18. ABOUT 90 PEOPLE Wait the meeting HELD AT OXFORD COUNTY’s Administrative Building Rather Than City Hall to Accomodate the Large Crowd, Nearly All of Them Drawn by the Subdivision Propés.

Woodstock Resident John Bell Spoke at the Feb. 18 Planning meeting.

“Our goal, there, is not to stop the development, but rather initiate five changes withn the innt of the planning act, the formal plan and our zoning bylaws to make this proposition safe and appropriatly integration it with our surrounding community,” he said .

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Some of bell’s concerns include the protection of trees that would require removal, Traffic Safety and a Reduction in the Heights of the Townhomas and Buildings.

Bell was Among Seven People Who Spoke at the Planning Meeting and He Addressed Council Again on Feb. 20 to Reiterate his concerns about the new subdivision.

Bell NOTUD HIS Support for Development of the Site and also ACKNOWLEDGED The City’s Need for More Housing.

Paul LEUVERINK, Another Resident Who Lives Near The Propéd Development, also Spoke at Tuesday’s Planning Meeting.

He said he recognized the city’s need for more housing but growth should be balanced.

“Our expectation is that any intensification is therefore thoughtfully in a way that protects the quality of life for existing as well as future residents of our neighbourhood,” LEUVERINK Said.

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Despite The City Council votes, The Door is not closed on the proposed subdivision.

The Request by Farhi Holdings for a Rezoning of the Property to Allow the Development Will Go Before Oxford County Count, Acchione Said.

The Application Can also Still Be Bruge Before Ontario’s Land Tribunal, Which Acchione Naded Would Be “Difficult to Defend.”

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