ROCKWOOD – A 50-unit townhouse development in north Rockwood is closer to fruition as council approved proceeding with a public meeting.
The applicant, North Rockwood Developments Inc., had previously proposed a housing development at 5150 Wellington Rd. 27 with a total of 40 semi-detached units but were asked to revise their plan.
There were concerns about a lack of additional parking, no sidewalks and the hammerhead style end of the street.
The revised plan has changed to 51 townhouse units fronting onto a private cul-de-sac with visitor parking, a sidewalk and a common amenity area. This requires the area be rezoned to a Village Residential Medium, or an R2 Zone, with some site specific regulations.
Planning consultant Trevor Hawkins noted in his presentation to council on Monday that a bylaw amendment is necessary. Bylaw currently allows only for townhouse dwellings to front onto public streets and the developers are looking to reduce the minimum allowed lot size from 200-square metres to 156-square metres.
Hawkins said that at the required public meeting, the applicant will be able to provide a presentation and a more detailed report will follow the meeting.
Councillor Mark Bouwmeester expressed his appreciation for this development and what he understands are the developer’s intentions.
“The intentions of the owners are to set the price point of the units ... lower than you normally see in Rockwood,” Bouwmeester said to council. “That’s a good thing, I’m looking forward to the follow-up report.”
Councillor Corey Woods said he liked the new design, particularly the change to a cul-de-sac turnaround in case a fire truck needed to come through, but had some questions about the proposed size of certain features.
He acknowledged that he is used to talking in acreage when it comes to lot-size but felt a three-metre wide driveway and a less than seven-metre backyard seemed small to him.
“Maybe that is regular for this type of townhome,” Woods said. “When it comes to the public meeting, I find if I have these questions members of the public will have these questions.”
Mayor Chris White told Woods that these will likely be answered at the meeting or in the follow-up report.
Council unanimously approved the report and a joint public meeting with the county will proceed in the future.
