Neighbours gave a final pitch to try and stop a six-storey, 102-unit condo building proposed for south Guelph on Wednesday. And it might have worked.
Guelph City Council's vote on the project was a 6-6 "non decision," meaning the proposal will return to council's planning meeting in November.
The tie was made possible due to the absence of a councillor due to illness.
As a result of Wednesday's vote, the same proposal will come back to council for reconsideration at November's planning meeting.
(Voting in favour of the development as proposed: Christine Billings, Cathy Downer, Dan Gibson, Mike Salisbury, Cam Guthrie, Mark MacKinnon; Against: June Hofland, Dominique O'Rourke, Bob Bell, James Gordon, Rodrigo Goller, Phil Allt; Absent: Leanne Piper).
On Thursday morning the mayor, on Twitter, called the vote a win for NIMBYism.
The Reid's Heritage Home development is proposed for the southwest corner of Gordon Street/Lowes Road.
It was downsized from 102 units to 86 units as council followed the recommendation by city staff to permit three zoning amendments needed to move forward.
That's what was on the floor Wednesday night.
Many who live in the area, as they have for almost two years, remain critical of the proposal.
"It's wrong for this community and it's wrong for many reasons," said Peter Wechselmann, one of four delegates speaking against the proposal on Wednesday. Many letters have also been written.
Wechselmann said there are 16 homes that back on to the new development.
Taking away view, privacy concerns, "emotional fall-out," losing daylight to a "monolithic monster" of a building and diminished housing value were some of the concerns Wechselmann said.
"Somebody else is profiting from the diminished value of my property and I think that's wrong as well," Weschselmann said.
He added that while all the planning boxes are checked off, "what I want to know is when does that supplant 'is this the right thing to do?'"
Peter Kastner, who heads the condo board of a neighbouring townhouse development, said two years ago council agreed that six storeys didn't fit in this community, yet it is now being recommended.
What I'm hearing is "The fix is in. This deal was wrapped up three years ago.' Prove that a lie," Kastner said.
He said there has been changes, but likened them to lipstick on a pig.
"I'm here with a heavy heart and I'm very troubled," Kastner said. "It's the height of the building."
Michele Berg asked "how can this building be considered compatible?"
The official addresses of the proposal are 1533, 1541, 1549 and 1557 Gordon Street as well as 34 Lowes Rd. W. The 2.15-acre property previously held five detached homes.
The proposal that has seen some tinkering since first coming before council about 18 months ago.
To accommodate concerns about the size of the project, the developer has reduced the total number of units by 16 and dropped the two upper stories on the north and south ends, reducing the building length by 17 metres on those floors.
City development planner Michael Witmer, under questioning from Ward 6 councillor Dominique O'Rourke, said planning staff felt a six-storey building "was compatible with the area" despite being the only building that tall in that area.
Planner Hugh Handy, on behalf of the developer, said other options were looked at, including stacked townhouses, "but we came back to a six-storey apartment."
He said adjustments were made to try and address some of the concerns expressed by nearby homeowners.
"This is about implementing your official plan along the Gordon Street corridor," Handy said.
He described the type of apartments as "attainable," not "affordable" housing.
"We've come a fair way from what the proposal was initially to what we have now," coun. Bob Bell said.
What needs to be asked, Bell said, is whether or not the development is appropriate for the location and council understands it has to intensify the Gordon Street corridor.
He said he felt the building was still too long and did not have enough articulation in its design.
"I just don't think it's enough."
