Varsity View brownstone building approved by planning commission

The city’s municipal planning commission has given its stamp of approval for a three-storey townhouse building in the Varsity View neighbourhood.

Axbridge Construction Corp. is seeking approval to build a fourunit brownstone-style townhouse on the corner lot at Clarence Avenue and Osler Street.

The proposed structure would replace a 1,482-square-foot home built in 1926 that occupies the corner lot. The proposed 10-metre building exceeds the limit of 8.5 metres for the property, so rezoning would be required for the project to move forward.

“We are very much against this zoning change,” Jack Lebrecque told the commission Tuesday.

Lebrecque said he and his neighbours bought houses in the area because they wanted to live in a heritage neighbourhood with character homes.

“Rezoning sets a precedent for other properties in the neighbourhood,” he said. “We implore you to listen to the people who will be affected by this zoning change.”

City hall contacted 71 property owners within 100 metres of the property to inform them of the proposed zoning change.

In October, 15 people attended an information session at Brunskill School.

The commission’s recommendation will proceed to city council, where the rezoning request will be considered at a public hearing.

The property is located a couple of blocks south of the lot at Clarence and College Drive, where city council approved rezoning a year ago to allow a 12-storey, 171-unit condominium building to proceed.