SRDC asking for rezoning of waterfront property

A public meeting on the issue is scheduled to take place in the city council chambers on July 19

A developer is examining the feasibility of building an apartment or condominium complex at 565 Water St.

The property is owned by the Summerside Regional Development Corporation (SRDC) and has been an empty lot for decades.

Its only use in recent years has been as a parking lot for special events and as a place to dump snow in the winter.

A potential buyer has contacted the SRDC to express interest in building some kind of high-density housing development on the site.

However, the property is currently zoned medium density residential, and an apartment building would require a change to a High Density Residential.

Arnold Croken, executive director of the SRDC, said the organization has applied to city council to make this rezoning change.

Croken said that even if the current proposal for the property does not materialize, the SRDC considers it sound foresight to rezone the property to a higher density anyway.

“We’ve had a lot of people in Summerside over the past six months. There’s a growing number of foreign and local investors that have been in and kicking tires, looking at property.

“There’s been some uptake; hopefully, it’s a sign of things to come.”

Attracting multi-unit residential development to the waterfront was also one of the key action items outlined in the Summerside Urban Core Plan, a long-term revitalization plan for the downtown that was completed in late 2016.

The SRDC was one of the organizations on the steering committee for the plan.

A public meeting regarding the SRDC’s rezoning request is scheduled to take place in the city council chambers on July 19 at 6 p.m.

The public will have an opportunity to review the rezoning proposal, ask questions and make comments.

Comments can also be submitted to Linda Stevenson, development officer, by mail, in person at city hall or by emailing linda.stevenson@city.summerside.pe.ca.