The stop sign to nowhere near Walmart in Owen Sound may soon turn into a busier intersection.
You know that stop, right? The one as you approach Walmart from 10th Street East near Chapman House. There’s now a development proposed for the vacant land south of the dead end at that intersection, as well as an extension of the road.
City council received a technical report at its meeting on Monday night and approved a recommendation to have staff continue to process Planning Act applications for a proposed two-phased residential development at 1555 18th Avenue East.
A city staff report says the property is located at the southern portion of the Walmart site, which is currently vacant. It’s about 5.5 hectares of land.
Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust (SmartCentres) is applying to build a mix of apartment and cluster townhouses — 477 units in total.
The first phase of the build would include two, four-storey apartment buildings, as well as 10 townhouse blocks. In all, there would be 156 apartment units and 87 townhouse dwellings in Phase 1.
Phase 2 of the development would feature three, four-storey apartment buildings and another 234 units.
More than 400 parking spaces for the apartments, and a two-lane pedestrian and bike path would also be included in the development. There would be traffic calming measures on the internal roads. It also includes the extension of 10th Street East from where it currently ends at 18th Avenue East (the stop sign to nowhere near Walmart).
A SmartCentres spokesperson told councillors they haven’t decided yet if the units will be condos available for purchase or rentals, or a mix of both.
A public meeting was also held at city hall Monday night for official plan and zoning by-law amendment applications for the development.
Grey Bruce Hospice (Chapman House) sent a correspondence raising concerns about how the proposed development could impact the privacy of Chapman House residents.
“The main one for us, is the physical privacy for the residents and families that we care for … We are requesting the consideration of a fence along the property. We are also requesting the consideration of a six-foot berm, lined with trees along the property line.” says Grey Bruce Hospice Executive Director Janet Fairbridge.
Fairbridge adds: “Our request of the developers is to work with us.”
Heather Jenkins of SmartCentres told councillors “SmartCentres does acknowledge the importance of Chapman House and the service it does provide to the community. We have been very mindful in the design of this building.”
She adds: “We’re more than happy to work with Chapman House and to make sure the residents there are actually being respected and the privacy there is maintained.”
Owen Sound Deputy Mayor Scott Greig says it was good to hear from the proponents speaking to their willingness to work with the community in moving this forward.
“It’ll be a good investment in the community if we can move this forward,” Greig says.
A recommendation report is expected to come back to council at its May 8 meeting.