An older neighbourhood west of downtown Guelph says its fight against a proposed development is a battle for all the older neighbourhoods in the city.
The Beechwood, Chadwick, Hearn Neighbourhood Association formed in July to fight a proposed development at 89 Beechwood Ave., located just west of Edinburgh Road and north of Waterloo Avenue.
Granite Homes purchased the .40-hectare lot a year ago. It was the former home of the Optimist Club of Guelph. They have applied for a zoning amendment to allow for a three-storey, 34-unit stacked and cluster townhouse complex.
A public hearing on the application will be held at City Hall Sept. 11 at Guelph City Council’s planning meeting.
The neighbourhood group plans on being well represented to get their message across to council and eventually get the application turned down.
“If we can’t, then we’ve got problems for future development in the city, because this becomes a precedent for the kind of intensification that happens in mature neighbourhoods,” said area resident Sally Humphries.
“This could destroy some of the character of the old neighbourhoods in Guelph if this goes through.”
The neighbourhood group formed when it became clear that a development they anticipated was going to happen proved to be much larger than anticipated.
“We have supported development on this property, but we oppose what they’re bringing forward,” said Byron Cunningham.
“This is going to have an impact on the rest of the city. This is not a one-off,” Cunningham said.
Humphries said that if the development was to have the same density as the rest of the neighbourhood’s general residential zoning it would have meant 14 units on the site, not 34.
“That was what we understood was going to happen and nobody was opposed to that. We thought ‘absolutely fine',” Humphries said of 14 units.
“We were completely on board with that idea,” she said. “But they’re going for 34.”
Residents have concerns that include parking and traffic issues, setback issues, proximity to nearby Howitt Park and that it is not compatible with the neighbourhood.
Granite Homes did organize a meeting to outline its plans to the neighbours in June.
They are seeking a zoning by-law amendment to change the property from Commercial Recreation Park zoning to Specialized Residential Cluster Townhouse zoning.
They also want the building to be allowed to cover up to 70 per cent of the lot. The current limit is 40 per cent.
Higher density, less open space and reduced setback allowances are also part of the application.
The units would be two and three bedrooms, include terraces and have one level of underground parking with 57 parking spots.
The neighbourhood group wants to have another meeting with the developer.
Following the Sept. 11 public meeting, city staff will look at the application and return to council with a recommendation. Some discussion and adjustments to the application may take place.
