The City of Guelph and developer have reached a settlement that clears the way for an 81-unit apartment building at the former St. Matthias Church property in the city's south end.
The agreement averts an OMB hearing that was set to take place at the end of the month.
Although it still needs to be ratified by the OMB, the city and developer have agreed on what can be built on the controversial development on the northeast corner of Kortright Road and Edinburgh Road. Details were recently distributed to the concerned neighbourhood group.
The settlement will see a five-storey apartment complex consisting of 81 one and two bedroom units. A total of 25 per cent of the units will be one bedroom.
Previous incarnations of the project called for six stories and stacked townhouses.
HIP Developments purchased the property from the church diocese and has been seeking a rezoning from its institutional designation. When the city didn't rule on its application, they took the matter to the OMB.
The Waterloo-based developer, whose most recent city projects are Solstice 1 and Solstice 2 on Gordon Street, first applied for the re-zoning in 2014.
HIP president Scott Higgins politely declined comment, saying that he could not do so until confidentiality restrictions are lifted.
The city did not immediately reply when asked for comment.
Linda Davis of the Friends of McElderry Community and Friends neighbourhood group said they are clearly disappointed the location wasn't kept for community or institutional use.
"We're happy it's not being geared to students and we're happy it's going to be smaller rental units, but we aren't happy the city has agreed to alter the designation," Davis said. "There's a moral value to this."
Due to potentially-high legal costs, the McElderry group downgraded its status before the OMB to that of participant. They will have their say on April 28 when the OMB is asked to ratify the agreement, but Davis said there isn't much they can do.
"Our position has always been that it be preserved for use of the community," Davis said.
Nearby residents opposed a possible student-geared residence at the location. Most of all they opposed it being switched from institutional to residential zoning.
The written agreement between HIP and the City of Guelph that was distributed to the McElderry group goes to great lengths to make sure the apartments are not converted into larger units by using other rooms as bedrooms. Such use will be restricted under the zoning by-law amendment.
As part of the agreement the developer will provide sidewalk access between McElderry Road and Edinburgh Road.
