Condos draw big crowd
Port Dalhousie developer aiming to launch project in spring
The city got a mix of opinions about the proposed development for Port Dalhousie when 270 people crammed into a public meeting Wednesday night.
Concerns about parking, traffic and the size of the building were raised, while others praised the project’s design and potential.
Both city staff and land owner Fortress Real Developments answered more than 35 questions during the 2½-hour meeting at Port Dalhousie Lions Club hall on Main Street.
Fortress senior project manager Travis Nolan said afterwards he thought it went well.
“Part of this process is listening to people in order to make sure we didn’t miss something,” he said, adding people can still contact him for information and no question is too small.
Fortress is proposing a 14-storey terraced building with 220 apartment units with a public courtyard in the heart of Port Dalhousie called Union Waterfront.
The property currently has a sitespecific plan for a 17-storey tower with 80 units, a theatre and hotel that’s been on the books since 2010 due to an approval by the Ontario Municipal Board.
Fortress, which acquired the property in 2015, wants to change that plan by lowering the storeys and redistributing the mass. It also wants to remove the required theatre component and hotel.
Its commercial space would be 2,150 square metres instead of the approved 3,600 square metres and it would include 258 underground parking spaces accessible from Main Street.
The city meeting was to gain public input on the requested amendments to the city’s official plan and zoning bylaw.
Some residents expressed concerns about the height and size of the building.
“Right now it just looks so darn dense,” said resident Nancy Beckon, adding there was a time before the OMB hearing when only low-rises were permitted.
“We’re looking at big, big towers and I don’t know how that evolved so quickly.”
Beckon said she doesn’t feel residents are getting a lot out of the development.
“A group of people are getting very, very wealthy and the rest of us have to compromise,” she said.
“I’m very worried.”
A big issue for many people in the crowd is increased traffic in Port Dalhousie’s core, particularly with other possible condo plans in the immediate vicinity at the legion building and Lincoln Fabrics.
A Fortress traffic consultant said a traffic study was undertaken and the current system can accommodate the new development without new lights or stop signs, which led to loud groans from the audience.
Some residents said conditions this year with a flooded Lakeside Park would not have given a true representation of how much traffic is in the area.
City planning and building services director Jim Riddell said the roads around the development are regional roads and the studies will be reviewed by Niagara Region before a decision is made on the application.
He said the city is including other proposed developments when it studies the entire area.
Others in the audience said they think the concept is better than the last design and business owners in particular were positive.
Port Dalhousie property owner Al Visser said they’ve tried to create a business community.
“As most of you know, it’s not working,” he said, adding the area lacks a mass of retail and shoppers and many merchants have tried and failed in the area.
He said the development gives the area that mass of retail that will make Port Dalhousie a place people want to shop.
“My concern is the lack of traffic,” he said. “We need more traffic. By and large our merchants are struggling.”
Business owner Jeff Mackie also said he believes the project is important to the business core.
“It gives us a chance to be 365 days a year,” he said, adding that’s preferable to three months.
He said housing 220 people is not the same as having that number of people going to bars in the core.
Other residents just want to see some movement — any movement — on the property that’s been empty since demolition in 2012.
“We are all hoping to get something done,” said resident Michael Scott. “For crying out loud, let’s do something. I’m not sure this is it, but let’s do something.”
Nolan of Fortress said the company wants to launch the project in spring 2018 and get it sold as soon as possible. Its target is 65 per cent sales before the company goes in for a construction loan.
“I candidly believe this project will be very successful, very viable,” Nolan said.
City urban design planner Scott Ritchie encouraged residents to fill out comment sheets and send them his way.
Staff will continue to evaluate the proposal and get comments from the public. They’ll then prepare an information report and hold a public meeting in December or January. A recommendation will be prepared for city council and will go to council likely in January or February.
Additional approvals will also be required.
Residents who want to submit comments can send them to Ritchie at sritchie@stcatharines.ca or phone 905-688-5601 ext. 1722.