ELORA – A housing development proposal along Wellington Road 7 would see a strip of land transformed into a residential community, with the potential for an eight-storey apartment building, should zoning and official plan amendments be approved.
Elora 7 OP Inc. is proposing a large development of up to 273 townhouse units with the option for an apartment on lands municipally known as 350 Wellington Rd. 7 in Elora, across from the cemetery.
The current proposal consists of 34 blocks of three-storey townhomes — a mix of traditional, back-to-back, and live-work units — with a park block and parkette. The urban design brief noted Downtown Elora’s Dalby House as architectural inspiration for the development.
Each unit is intended to have its own garage and driveway for parking along with a 56-space visitor parking lot and 12 visitor bicycle parking spaces in a shared amenity space.
Part of the zoning and official plan amendments would pave the way for the option of an eight-storey apartment building to replace a few of the townhouse blocks and parkette.
Lynn Strachan, a community engagement consultant from Junction Group working on the project, explained in a phone interview the apartment is not set in stone but the developer is seeking flexible zoning to allow for it if market conditions make it feasible.
“We’re trying to look at different options, because we know that there is a need for attainable and rental housing in Elora,” Strachan said.
Current zoning would permit five-storeys in that part of the township but the proposal’s urban design brief stated additional storeys “simply ensures that any proposed development can optimize attainable housing options on the site.”
Strachan said the development will have a range of prices but there is a goal for attainable units and developers are also exploring options for rentals, if feasible.
One way Strachan said the developers are looking to do this is through the live-work units that will front Wellington Road 7.
“You may have had someone who needed somewhere to live and then needed a separate space for their work, now they would be able to do that in one space so that’s bringing down their costs,” Strachan said, adding she sees professional service type businesses as ideal for this community.
Overall, Strachan said the developers see this proposal as a good opportunity to add to the housing mix in Elora and give more people a chance to live there.
“We just see it as an excellent opportunity given its proximity to the downtown and to all of the community services that are available,” Strachan said.
The developers are holding an informal open house style meeting to answer questions and have a dialogue on the proposal on Dec. 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Elora Community Centre on David Street.
