City staff is recommending that Guelph City Council approve a large residential development for Whitelaw Road in the city’s west end.
A report heading to council’s planning meeting on Feb. 10 advises council to accept a 678-unit residential development planned for a 17.3 acre parcel of land at 361 Whitelaw Rd., on the southwest corner of Whitelaw Road and Paisley Road on the city’s western border.
The Armel Corp. project consists of high density apartments and townhouses, plus a neighbourhood park.
Staff approves of the Official Plan and zoning amendments needed to clear the way for the project.
First filed with the city in 2018 as an 800-unit proposal, it was downsized to 700 units following consultation with the public and city staff and now sits at 678.
The breakdown:
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Four apartment buildings closest to Paisley Road (two nine storey, two eight storey) totalling 445 units.
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Two apartment buildings in the middle portion (both five storey) totalling 107 units.
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126 stacked townhomes.
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A 3.5-acre open space parkland at the southern end of the development.
The property is currently vacant, with some of it being used for agricultural purposes.
Council will discuss and vote on the staff recommendation Feb. 10 then hold a final vote at the end of the month at the full council meeting.
The report to council says the project will bring in $11.6 million in one-time development charges and an estimated annual property taxes of $2.32 million.
The report says the developer has agreed to special restrictions in the approval process to ensure energy efficient measures will be taken during building.
"In order to be consistent with the City’s Community Energy Initiative the applicant has agreed to a Holding provision on the proposed residential zones that will require the future owner to complete an Energy Strategy Report and commit to incorporate specific energy efficiency features into their development that will contribute to the CEI before the zoning can be enacted.
"In this way, City staff can work with the future builder to determine exactly what energy efficiency measures can be taken on site based on their specific proposed site and building design."
