By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
New two-building retirement home gets closer to construction
DUNNVILLE—An overhead conceptual look at a proposed retirement home to be built on Broad Street in Dunnville.
—Photos courtesy of Haldimand County.
DUNNVILLE—An application presented to Council last week is seeking amendments to the County’s zoning bylaw to facilitate the construction of two new, four-storey retirement buildings at 726 Broad Street in Dunnville.
“The Official Plan supports special needs housing, including retirement residences in all residential, commercial, and hamlet designations. Staff are comfortable that the proposed development meets the intent of the Official Plan and conforms to those policies,” said Senior Planner Neil Stoop. “We’ve also been provided with several technical documents speaking to the functionality of the development.”
The amendments in question relate to reducing the minimum required unit size from the required 40 sq.m. down to 30 sq.m. and to lift a holding provision on the property, which currently zone the lands for ‘General Commercial’ usage, initially put in place for the construction of a No Frills grocery store in 2005 that did not come to pass.
On the reduced unit size: “This is ultimately brought forward by the proponents. In their facilities, most residents will eat in a communal cafeteria, where the meals are prepared for them. The majority of the units don’t have full-scale kitchens, so this reduction in unit size reflects that,” said Stoop, adding the building would be rental only, with no options to purchase a unit.
Since the initial report on the proposal was presented earlier this year, an archaeological assessment on the grounds has been completed and both Phases 1 and 2 of the assessment have been reviewed and registered with the Provincial government.
A site plan application has also been completed and is currently under review; the GRCA has given no objections to the planned development.
On the timeline for the project, Stoop said, “The applicant is fairly motivated to get going on at least Phase 1 of the project within the next calendar year, pending approval of the site plan and the issuing of building permits.”
He concluded, “This is an identified need. Creating these spaces will certainly provide more than we had before.”
Council voted unanimously in favour of the changes.
Byng Subdivision enters draft plan approval phase
BYNG—A look at how the 13 residential lots proposed for the Byng Subdivision could sit.
BYNG—Staff and the public had a chance to debate a proposed development, named the Byng Subdivision, being considered for a 9.45 acre plot of land located at 7253 Rainham Road in Byng.
The lands are surrounded on one side by rural residential properties and on the other by the Byng Island Conservation Area. The proposal aims to split the land into 13 residential lots, with one of those lots housing an existing home and another containing a barn that will be converted into an “residential accessory structure,” according to Senior Planner Ashley Crosbie.
“This lot necessitates a new public road, extending north from Rainham Road and terminating in a cul-de-sac. Each lot would be privately serviced by a cistern and a private septic system,” said Crosbie.
She said the development fits within the provincial and municipal policies, adding, “This is the last large developable property in the northwest quadrant of the Hamlet of Byng. There are other large properties within the hamlet in other areas, but this is the last one beside the Conservation Area, which acts as a logical boundary to the hamlet.”
The lands, currently zoned ‘Agricultural’, will need to be rezoned ‘Hamlet Residential’ for the development to proceed. Additionally, a number of special provisions are being sought for the subdivision, including reduced lot frontages for five of the 12 available lots and tapered driveways with widths below the standard.
“If no additional concerns are raised that need to be addressed, our general manager, Mike Evers, would have the authority to produce the draft plan conditions. We would look at things like detailed design, such as grading storm water management at a very fine level,” said Crosbie.
Council voted unanimously in favour of forwarding the project to Evers, who will then advise Council when draft plan approval has been granted.
