North Cambridge Business Park approved — finally
CAMBRIDGE — It has taken 15 long years full of studies, reports, public consultations and meetings, but city council has now approved development of the first stage of the Eastside Lands in north Cambridge.
Last week, Cambridge council approved the Official Plan and zoning amendments necessary to move forward with the development of the North Cambridge Business Park.
The park is part of a much larger industrial development, regionally referred to as the Eastside Lands.
In general terms, the property is inclusive of the farmland bound by Highway 7, Highway 401, Highway 24 and Highway 8.
The approval will permit largelot employment uses (eight hectares or more) for the lands south of Allendale Road that make up part of the new business park.
Sandy Acchione of Intermarket Real Estate Group reminded council of the need for the development.
“There are only a handful of industrial sites left” for development in Waterloo Region, he said.
“We want to see this whole area go,” he said. “This creates factories, jobs and taxes for the community.”
Identified as “quick start” lands, the 77.2-acre property approved for development Tuesday is on the south side of Allendale Road, near River Road, and can be serviced through the existing road network without having to wait.
Area residents Hans Weiss and John Hoffstetter say “it’s time” to develop the Eastside Lands.
“We have spent 15 years — that’s half a generation — working on this land. The planning discussions have taken a toll on everyone. Plans have come and gone. We’ve missed lots of opportunities. It’s about time we come to an end to this,” Weiss said.
Hoffstetter’s family has farmed the land at 215 Allendale Rd. for generations, but he told council it’s time his property evolves.
“It’s time that it changes,” Hoffstetter said.
“My fear is that we keep dragging our feet doing studies on studies. Everyone is frustrated that’s been a long time.”
Not everyone is happy to see the development proceed. A number of homeowners on Riverbank Drive have concerns about new factories being built in their backyards. To ease those concerns, city planners are creating a 70-metre buffer zone behind their homes where fences will be built and trees planted to help shield the homes from the new development. Restrictions have also been placed on the types of development that can occur adjacent to the homes, such as noise restrictions, a ban on outdoor storage and limits on trucking operations.
That buffer zone will also be extended north of Allendale Road to Middle Block Road to protect the rest of the properties on Riverbank Drive, which is considered a cultural heritage asset by the city and has been designated a scenic drive.
City staff will be calling a further public meeting shortly to discuss plans for the Cambridge North Business Park north of Allendale Road.
City staff at last Tuesday’s meeting said they believe the northern section of the new business park will be approved for development this June.