Plans for a large residential and development on the former Lafarge pit lands along Silvercreek Parkway South have been revised, with a slight decrease in the number of units proposed, increased buffer zones and more.
The revised proposal was filed with the city on Nov. 10.
If ultimately approved, the project would see the creation of 753 residential units, down from 772, on 16.5 hectares of largely triangular-shaped land bordered by CN Rail tracks to the north and south, the Hanlon Expressway to the west and Howitt Creek to the east. The official address is 35, 40 and 55 Silvercreek Pkwy. S.
“The big deal for me is to move that forward to … open up Silvercreek,” Ward 4’s Coun. Mike Salisbury told GuelphToday. “That unlocks that connection.”
Under the proposal, Silvercreek Parkway South would be reopened between Paisley Road and Waterloo Avenue and an underpass is proposed for the CN Rail tracks just south of Paisley Road.
The plan calls for 163 townhouse units, down from 166, and 297 apartment units, down from 301, as well as 293 mixed use units, up from 274.
Laneways have also been removed, in favour of 17-metre wide municipal roads, with alignment of an urban square and neighbourhood park.
The revised plan also includes a 30-metre buffer with Howitt Creek and additional open space areas to be conveyed to the city.
A public meeting on the proposal was held last spring, but because the revisions are “relatively minor” there’s no requirement for another, explained Katie Nasswetter, the city’s senior development planner. The plan will go to council for official plan and re-zoning approval.
“We haven’t reviewed it yet,” she said of the revised proposal. “I expect it will be reviewed over the next months.”
The development, which would be called Silvercreek Junction, also calls for 6,500 square metres (70,000 square feet) of retail space.
