Second try succeeds for seniors complex
Holyrood councillors appreciate change to making units wheelchair accessible
HOLYROOD, N.L. – A proposal for an eight-unit apartment complex for seniors in Holyrood now has the local council’s support.
Council voted 5-1 in favour of approving in principle an application to develop eight wheelchair-accessible units at 136 Conception Bay Highway, a vacant building lot. The property is zoned residential medium density, with a building of this sort allowable as a discretionary use. The motion to approve the application was passed at the Tuesday, Aug. 27 council meeting.
A similar proposal came before council at the previous meeting held July 30. At that meeting, a tied vote on a motion to approve a seniors independent living complex resulted in the application being rejected.
According to Coun. Kevin Costello, chairman for the planning and development committee, the town went back to the developer after that meeting to further discuss the proposal.
“The major change with the proposal is they’re proposing to make these units accessible – wheelchair accessible,” he said, after introducing the motion to approve the application.
Costello went on to point out councillors would be in general agreement that seniors housing is a big issue for the community. With the addition of wheelchair accessible units, he felt the proposal for 136 Conception Bay Highway offered something new and necessary.
“In my opinion, that’s a very positive development for our town,” Costello said.
Costello had supported the previous application tabled at the July 30 meeting, as did Mayor Gary Goobie and Deputy Mayor Curtis Buckle. Coun. Roger Myette did not, and at Tueday’s meeting he asked CAO Gary Corbett whether there would be anything binding to make these apartments exclusively rentals for seniors. Corbett said that aspect would ultimately be beyond the town’s control. This time around, Myette did ultimately support the motion to approve the application.
Coun. Kim Ghaney, who missed the July 30 meeting, also supported the motion Tuesday.
“Given the demographics of our region, the aging population and mobility issues, there’s a huge gap not only in the town of Holyrood but in the surrounding area. So for me, I think this an absolute need for the community and I support it 100 per cent.”
Sadie King was the lone council member to vote against the motion to approve the development, maintaining her position from the previous meeting. Coun. Jim Joy, who had also voted against the motion to approve at the July 30 meeting, was unable to attend Tuesday’s council meeting because of a prior commitment, according to the mayor. At the last meeting, Joy had questioned the suitability and compatibility of the proposal for the zoned area.