Waterfront wishes for Stratford
Public meeting held about application to rezone portion of land from public space to residential
Tim Banks says a $16-million apartment building development he is proposing will be good for Stratford.
The proposed construction is a 79-unit, five-storey apartment building located along the waterfront in the town.
The Town of Stratford received an application from Banks’ company, Pan American Properties Inc., to rezone a 1.32acre portion of land from waterfront public space to waterfront residential.
The parcel of land is located on the Southport Motel property.
“I’ve been eyeing this property for a number of years,” said Banks. “I’m hoping I’m bringing something to the community that will be very positive.”
Banks said his proposed building, called “The Shorefront,” will boast underground parking, large balconies, a common area room and a fitness centre. It will also have a sustainable design featuring solar water heating, low-flow toilets, low e-glass, higher r-value and LED lighting.
Each unit on average would be 1,125 square feet.
Rent would start at $1,100 and the building would be owned and managed by Killam Properties.
Banks said the building would bring around $150,000 a year in taxable income to the community.
More than 50 Stratford residents attended the public meeting Wednesday, with many of them voicing concerns over the proposal.
However, three residents did take to the microphone to say they were in favour of the development.
Derek Morrison said he likes the look of the building and the fact that it is sustainable. “I’m for it,” he said. Some concerns raised were by Doug Johnson, who lives next door to the proposed development.
Johnson says he sees many people enjoying the waterfront area daily.
“Any change to the public space that’s the topic of the application would negate any future lookout of this type,” said Johnson.
“If this is changed, we will never get it back.”
Johnson said he would be happy to see a P.E.I. museum, aquatics centre or marina at the location instead.
Mary Hughes said her biggest environmental concern is the lack of trees.
“If we are going to continue to build in Stratford, we need to clean our environment, and the only way we can do that is with trees.”
Hughes also raised concerns about traffic on Stratford Road and worries about the possibility of a fatal car accident as development continues in the area.
Banks says there will be trees and shrubs on the property, but people will be buying for a view of water.
Shaman Ferraro of Stratford raised concerns for council as to why the original 2006 plan for the Town of Stratford wasn’t pursued.
“If we are going to forfeit the prime real estate in our proposed waterfront commercial centre, what plan do you have to incentivize tourism and commerce to come to our community?” he asked. “Because right now I don’t see any reason why people would visit Stratford or spend money here.”
Coun. Keith MacLean, chair of the planning committee, admits to seeing flaws with the 2006 plan.
“It’s a vision and we didn’t get developers to buy into that vision, that is why some of that hasn’t happened so far,” said MacLean.
He said the next step for the application is to go before the planning board, which will make a recommendation, and then it will go before council.
Banks says the intention is to get shovels into the ground by May (pending council’s approval) and would be looking at occupancy for March 2019.