A proposed 48-unit apartment building in Strathroy is drawing criticism from local residents.
The municipality held a public meeting during March 7 to provide an opportunity for residents to express concerns to councilors.
According to a report presented by senior planner Tim Williams, the three-storey building proposed by The Good Life Building Co. would include 48 units and a 65-space parking lot. For the development to move ahead, council would be required to rezone the property to a site-specific high-density residential zone.
The property sits across the street from Strathroy District Collegiate Institute and Holy Cross Catholic School within the boundaries of the North Meadows Secondary Plan, which councilors passed last year to help guide the development of northeastern Strathroy over the coming years. That plan includes preferred locations for residential areas, parks and streets.
Williams said the proposed 48-unit apartment building would initially be built with an entrance on Second Street, though that entrance would eventually be replaced as the surrounding areas are developed, providing an alternate route to the south end of the property.
“This is an opportunity for the municipality to create a sense of community from the first property on,” said Williams.
In addition to the report from Williams, a letter from a local resident was included in the meeting’s agenda.
“While the current residents are aware that the neighborhood will eventually grow and change, we are not prepared to accept a drastic change in zoning,” wrote Maybeth Tyler in the letter. “We invested in our primary residences with the understanding that our small, quiet community would grow over time with the addition of single-family residences. The proposed rezoning and the subsequent development of the land to a high-density apartment building constitutes undue harm to our investments, our safety and our quality of life.”
Several residents of the neighboring properties also spoke during the meeting and expressed concern about additional traffic, pedestrian safety, noise and property values.
Mike Camara said he lives across the street from the proposed development and said it would be better suited for downtown Strathroy as opposed to the proposed location at the northeastern edge of town.
“If this is rental units, there’s a lot of people downtown that actually live on the streets,” said Camara. “I don’t want to see all these people moving up towards this area of town. I don’t want my kids to see all of that. You’ve got a high school here. What’s going to happen?”
No decisions were made by council during the meeting, though the meeting did provide an opportunity for councilors to share their opinions and ask questions about the development.
“Certainly, there’s a lot of issues that need to be dealt with on this one yet, but this is the type of rental property that is sorely lacking in our community right now, and would certainly be in great demand,” said Coun. Frank Kennes. “From that standpoint, I look forward to a mutual resolution to make something like this possible.”