CENTRE WELLINGTON – Although it was two applications up for discussion at a Centre Wellington public meeting, it very much felt a single issue was on the table as both developers proposing to provide rental apartments downtown faced some push back from residents.
The main concerns revolve around wanting to build one storey taller than is allowed in heritage areas and parking issues those buildings would bring.
A public meeting was held Wednesday for two apartment proposals requesting to build four storeys high rather than the three currently allowed in downtown Elora and Fergus. Combined, they would add 55 rental units and ground-floor commercial spaces.
For the Fergus application, developer Eric Van Grootheest is proposing a 36-unit apartment building with a mix of mostly bachelors, one bedroom and two bedroom units at 350 St. Andrew St. W. priced from $1,080 to $2,100 depending on size.
Included in it will be a rooftop amenity area, balconies for some units, indoor bicycle storage and 21 parking spaces. The ground floor is intended to house commercial units.
Similarly, in Elora developer Dave Gillis is proposing a 19-unit building with a range of one, two and three bedrooms at 183 Geddes St. This would also have ground floor commercial, as part of a larger development that includes a three-storey 12-unit rental building previously approved. In total this development has 31 parking spaces.
Pierre Chauvin, senior planner for both applicants, noted the similar themes on both proposed buildings and what the aim to provide mid-market rental units he said is very much needed in the face of a province-wide housing crisis Centre Wellington isn’t immune from.
He cited reports and data showing locally a low vacancy rate and rising costs for rentals he said is due to a lack of supply in rental housing.
“Quite frankly, we need to provide more housing, whether it’s more rentals, condos, single detached homes, there is a need for more housing and affordability,” Chauvin said.
Both are asking to build taller than is allowed — said to be necessary to provide enough units for cost recovery — but Chauvin stressed tall buildings aren’t new. He showed photos of other developments, some under construction and some built. All had something in common.
“I think all of them in this image are condos, none of them are rentals,” Chauvin said.
Numerous delegates who spoke weren’t convinced building taller was the right move.
“What you give to one developer, you have to give to everyone and we know that there are five or six already lined up,” said Elora resident Ian Rankine. “Once you destroy the historic low-rise character, it will no longer be appropriate for Elora, or for Centre Wellington tourism, to describe our village as Ontario’s most beautiful village.”
Former county councillor Jean Innes acknowledged the housing shortage but said Elora is unique in the way it has grown as a village and it should be protected as is done in Europe.
“When people go to those villages to visit an escape place, a magical place and we are lumbered with the encumbrance of living in such a place,” Innes said. “If we start moving bit by bit with developments such as this one that’s been proposed to us now, slowly, as has been said several times today, we’re going to lose what is the magic of Elora.”
Parking was the other point of contention, as some pointed out the Fergus building does not have a space for every unit and the Elora building is likely to see tenants with more than one vehicle.
Sean Mulligan, a downtown business owner who is the property owner next to the Fergus building, said not providing enough parking spaces will end up with cars taking spots on the streets and in municipal lots.
“Parking for downtown businesses was already a big problem as it is and taking more spots away is just going to hurt businesses that already had a major struggle through COVID,” Mulligan said.
On the other side of the Fergus proposal is Melville Church with church trustee Richard Wright speaking on its behalf concerned about increased traffic impacting the many community groups who use the church on a regular basis.
Wright noted the church is not against the proposal but wanted changes to be made. He said the church has offered some lands to increase the parking spaces available at a nominal cost that wasn’t accepted.
He finished by saying the church was investigating legal options over a proposed easement used to enter and exit the apartment parking lot they claim may be invalid, but they’d prefer to work with the developer.
The proposed buildings had a few supporters too.
Former township councillor Ian MacRae was in favour of both proposals as they would provide a place for people who can’t afford to buy a home a chance to live and work in Centre Wellington. He also pointed out choosing not to build up or leaves building out to accommodate provincially mandated growth. Centre Wellington is expected to nearly double in population to nearly 60,000 people by 2051.
“We can choose Milton or Mississauga sprawling subdivisions and shopping malls that take farmland, promote car travel, increase travel times and discourage human interaction,” MacRae said. “Alternatively, our ancestors used a smaller, less car dependent scale which requires less infrastructure and land … why would we not embrace this approach?”
Resident Mike Nagy was blunt in expressing his disappointment in the community feeling threatened by a four-storey building and being more concerned about accommodating cars rather than people.
“For those who are under housed and house challenged, it’s humiliating and demoralizing out there,” Nagy said. “When I see two apartment buildings sitting on the back burner even to be reviewed for a long time, when I would say most people in this room have either one or two or three homes … I find it alarming to hear some of these comments.”
A decision on these zoning applications will come to council at a later date.
