Townhouses, apartment building planned for Virgil a concern to neighbours

The development of a chunk of land behind Cornerstone Church, severed by the church last year, is now causing some concern to neighbours, who are worried primarily about the height of a four-storey apartment building and increased traffic to an already busy area.

The development is to include 14 townhouses and 24 apartments in the Virgil neighbourhood, off Eldon Road, and north of Field Road,

During an open house in July related to the same property , similar issues were raised regarding parking, traffic congestion and pedestrian safety, impacts from the height of the apartment building, density, trees, stormwater impacts, and the location of balconies.  

The public meeting Tuesday was one of four on the committee-of-the-whole planning meeting agenda.  

Senior planner John Federici explained the townhouse units are proposed to sit on a private road. Official plan and zoning bylaw amendments, as well as a draft plan of condominium are being requested.  

No decision was made at Tuesday’s meeting, but there was a healthy amount of discussion about the project.  

Town planning staff are currently reviewing the project, focusing on matters such as water and sanitary servicing, and stormwater management.  

Further information has also been requested by town staff related to impacts on trees located on neighbouring properties, and the Region is asking for an updated noise study, explained Federici in his presentation during the public meeting.  

Before members of the public shared their thoughts, Coun. Tim Balasiuk asked architect Emilio Raimondo if there was a possibility of including underground parking, instead of the entire first floor of the apartment building being used for surface parking. This would "bring the height of the building down,” said Balasiuk.  

The biggest challenge in construction is cost, said Raimondo, noting that “underground parking is extremely expensive,” and that if this was added to the plans, it would also make the cost of each unit more costly.  

“I’m not going to say we won’t look at it,” said Raimondo, adding it’s his opinion that this option is “probably out of reach.”  

He said the developer is expecting seniors and empty nesters to be the target market, and likely through rentals – not condo sales.  

“The condo market is dead right now,” said Raimondo. 

Kenneth Enns, a Penner Street resident, has lived nearby for 36 years. He is concerned about the protection of trees, as well as the scale of the proposed building.  

“If there’s anything we can do to bring the size down, that would be very much appreciated,” said Enns, referring to the apartment building.  

Dorothy Froese lives on Elden Street and said she’s “not opposed to development if the development makes sense,” and that she has no issues with the proposed townhouses. But a 52-foot apartment structure, which could also have a rooftop terrace, will “destroy the peace and privacy” of the neighbourhood.  

Nathan Cherney lives on Field Road and said if the project is approved, it will turn his property into a “fishbowl” that’s faced by a wall.  

He’s also concerned about the “excessive amount of traffic” that will exist in the area, noting that Niagara Stone Road is already a busy thoroughfare, especially since it holds the only grocery store in that part of town.  

Ingrid Regier, a resident of Pleasant Manor, also raised issues about traffic.  

“Why would anybody want to add to this to this degree?” she asked.  

Federici said the apartments will have one space per unit, and the townhouses will have two – one in a driveway and another inside a garage.