Closer to breaking ground
Charlottetown council gives first reading to application for 300-unit housing project behind mall
A major housing development behind the Charlottetown Mall is a step closer to happening.
City council recently gave first reading to an amendment to the zoning and development bylaw that would see the property between the mall and Mount Edward Road changed from low-density residential to concept planning area and comprehensive development area.
Council voted 7-3 in favour of the rezoning application that could bring more than 300 units to what the APM Group, the developer, is calling Sherwood Crossing.
The plan calls for two, fivestorey apartment buildings with a total of 88 units, a fivestorey apartment building containing 78 units, a fourstorey apartment building with 60 units, seven townhouses with 36 units and a commercial building that will house a medical centre.
Coun. Mike Duffy, chairman of council’s standing committee on planning, said while the matter passed first reading there are conditions.
Duffy said the project cannot conflict with the city’s traffic master plan.
“We wanted to ensure this particular development was in no way going to be negatively affected by the city’s master plan,’’ Duffy said, noting that the master plan covers the entire city and not this one project.
The councillor said it was determined that the Sherwood Crossing project won’t have a negative impact on traffic flow in the area.
Coun. Mitchell Tweel attempted to have first reading deferred and the matter sent to a public meeting to give residents a chance to voice their concerns.
However, Duffy said there has already been a public meeting on the issue, which was held in August, and that it’s not common practice to hold more than one public meeting per issue.
When Tweel persisted at council’s regular public meeting on Nov. 9, Mayor Philip Brown said his request was out of order.
Tweel voted against first reading, as did councillors Jason Coady and Bob Doiron.
Doiron said many residents are concerned about the size of the development and about the project’s impact on traffic at the end of Towers Road where there is a four-way stop connecting to the mall.
Tim Banks, CEO of APM, told The Guardian the whole project will provide homes to 350 families over the next five years. In addition, the construction phase will provide employment to 40 local sub-trade contractors and 400 on-site personnel.
There will also be a road built that links the neighbourhoods of Sherwood and West Royalty through a public link road.
The road would connect Ash Drive, at Mount Edward Road, with Spencer Drive, taking some of the traffic pressure off Towers Road.
“The new road network has provisions for a sidewalk and a biking lane and provides for a future link to other lands in the immediate area,’’ Banks said. “It gives residents lots of housing options through a variety of designs, such as three-bedroom townhouses, one- and two-bedroom affordable rental units and market rent options.’’
The matter is scheduled to come back to council for second reading at the Dec. 14 public meeting.
It could happen sooner if deemed necessary by the mayor.