Zoning amendment deferred for former school
A proposed amendment to change the zoning at Ecole Monsigneur-Jamot on Romaine St. to make way for a 46-unit complex planned by the building’s soon-to-be new owner was deferred by councillors during Monday night’s planning committee.
Mayor Daryl Bennett first brought up the idea of a deferral, questioning if it was premature to move forward when there is a masonry wall on the property that may require a heritage designation for its long-term preservation, for example.
Coun. Lesley Parnell, disagreed, calling the proposal well-planned and in line with provincial requirements such as the Places to Grow program.
Councillors sitting as the planning committee eventually voted to defer. Staff, who recommended council approve the zoning bylaw change from public service district (PS2) to residential district (R5), were asked to work with the developer to make changes to address some concerns.
Ten area residents expressed concerns over traffic control at Romaine and George, the existing masonry wall, preserving trees on the western border of the property and the impact of the proposed addition on a neighbour’s property, city planner Carolyn Kimball said.
The building was purchased by Parkview Homes after the Diocese of Peterborough was unsuccessful in its attempt to buy it for Sacred Heart College, which borders the site to the west.
Parkview has proposed to add a four-storey addition to the gymnasium area and to mimic the building’s existing architecture, including its flat roof. They also propose to change the entrance location from Aylmer St. to Romaine by adding a driveway.
The site, because of its proximity to George St., falls within a city intensification corridor. Pointing to another nearby example, Kimball said its not uncommon to have a taller building with much smaller ones in the central district.
The addition will be home to 12 condominiums that could sell for about $320,000, planner Kevin Duguay told the committee. Depending on the outcome of the meeting, he said a site plan application could be filed in time for work to begin this year.
Heather Sadler of EcoVue Consulting, retained by the Diocese, spoke against the plan, saying the development is being “shoe-horned” into the property.
The proposed special district would provide for reductions in five of the zoning provisions applicable to the R5 district, she said.
The reductions include changing the minimum lot size from 140 to 125 square metres, reducing the side yard between the west side of the building from 15 metres to four metres and reducing the number of parking spaces from 81 to 56, for example.
“This is a significant change to the residential requirements,” she said.
The Diocese is not trying the obstruct the process, rather work with the building to come up with a “Canadian compromise,” Sadler said. “We’d like to have a discussion about scaling things back so that the proposal fits more appropriately into the neighbourhood.”
Westcott St. resident Jesse Gottliebe Jacob said it would make neighbours feel better if the proposed amendments “weren’t so severe.”
Coun. Keith Riel criticized the amount of parking.
Duguay, who lives in the area, said he sees the amount of foot traffic and said 1.2 parking spots per unit is adequate. “This is a site that does take advantage of those municipal assets.”