Residents weighed in Monday on plans to build a two-storey commercial building and a five-storey residential building on Four Mile Creek Road during an open house hosted by the town.
The five-storey residential building, to be located at 1544-1546 Four Mile Creek Rd., would include 31 apartments and rooftop amenity space on the fifth floor. The development would provide 241 surface and underground parking spaces.
“The proposal will support new housing by providing a range of unit sizes to accommodate all stages of life,” said Lauren Saito, a planner with MHBC Planning.
A house and garage currently occupy the property.
The listed owner is Stephen Aghaei of Times Group Corp. in Markham, who attended the open house.
The developer has submitted a revised application that would allow for a larger project. The original proposal included residential and commercial buildings ranging from 3,600 to 3,800 square metres each. The revised plan calls for a 6,433-square-metre residential building and a 7,985-square-metre commercial building.
The updated proposal also increases the height of the residential building, as well as the number of parking and bicycle spaces, apartment units and overall density.
Lloyd Redekopp, who owns property south of the site, questioned ownership of the road allowance associated with the development. Resident Michael Watson also raised the issue.
Aghaei said they hold title to the road allowance through ownership of the property, but the town disputes that claim.
“It is ongoing discussion to resolve that as quickly as possible,” said Dana Anderson, a partner at MHBC.
Niagara-on-the-Lake resident and municipal heritage committee member David Snelgrove asked whether the units would be rentals or condominiums. Anderson said the developer is interested in rental units given current market conditions, but no decision has been made.
Snelgrove also cautioned about the design of the underground parking garage serving two buildings.
“Sometimes they’re required to be integrated together, so that’s just a caution for you to keep in mind,” he said.
Watson questioned the scope of the underground garage, particularly the amount of soil that would need to be excavated.
“It’s too far down the road to plan this,” said Aghaei.
Council will hold a public meeting on the proposal March 3 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Niagara-on-the-Lake town hall, near the proposed site.
