Station View Developments given green light by council

(BMI Group Image).

By Jeff Helsdon

LJI Reporter

A downtown development that initially resulted in pack council chambers was given the go-ahead by town council at the March 24 meeting with less fanfare.

Station View Developments, which the BMI Group owns, is proposing a development that will fill the block between Venison Street West, Bridge Street West, Rolph Street and Bidwell Street. It will consist of several buildings with a mix of residential and commercial uses and a courtyard in the centre. It will also provide a permanent home to the farmer’s market

The present design, with a nine-storey tower facing Bridge Street, an eight-storey tower facing Venison, a three-storey townhouse complex, and a two-storey commercial building facing Bridge, was a redesign from the original plan. The original design included a 12-story tower and would house 276 units, while the present design is for 188 residential units.

The issue was before town council for multiple zoning changes, including increasing the maximum height of an apartment building, reducing parking requirements, and changing the allowed uses in the commercial component of the building.

Planner Marc Davidson reported only one letter of objection from the public, which discussed the quality of life changing for existing residents. He also said the development would require 432 parking spaces, but it is only providing 293. Davidson recommended approval of the changes with pay-in-lieu-of-parking at the time of site plan approval.

Coun. Chris Parker said he was struggling with the reduction in parking spaces.

“We already have a lack of parking in the downtown,” he said. “We are now looking at dropping it by over 100 parking spaces of what is required.”

He questioned how multiple cars per unit will be dealt with, noting that parking is a struggle for the Tillsonburg Non-Profit Housing Corporation, which he is a member of. Parker asked what protection there would be for the town to maintain parking.

Davidson said that changes to the town’s comprehensive bylaw, lowering the number of parking spaces per unit from 1.5 to 1.25, would lower the number of spaces needed for the residential component from 282 to 235. He suggested cash-in-lieu parking to establish more parking downtown and mentioned an institutional parking lot to the west that could present an opportunity.

Answering Coun. Chris Rosehart’s question about what is a reasonable distance to walk when parking, Davidson said it’s relative but generally 75 yards.

“It does seem like a lot of parking that is going to have to be found,” agreed Coun. Kelly Spencer.

Rosehart asked how much parking would be reduced if the development was lowered to five storeys. Davidson said the application was for nine storeys, so that is what the calculations were.

Coun. Bob Parsons noted that other municipalities require less parking in the downtown area.

“If you talk to the applicants, they will say our standards are quite high,” he said.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy noted one difference is Tillsonburg doesn’t have a sophisticated transit system.

“We’re still a community that relies on the car and will be for a while,” she said.

Although he had concerns about parking, Parker said the development is positive for the downtown.

“As the downtown continues to grow, we need to ensure we have adequate housing for people working in the downtown,” he said.

Spencer said one of the benefits of intensification is that it eliminates the need to use farmland for development.

“I am concerned a little bit about the parking, but if it meets the standards than I trust the experts,” she said.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres said he was talking to a couple of seniors considering giving up their cars, and a development close to downtown could be part of the solution. He said it also presents an option for people working in restaurants who don’t have a car.

Gilvesy said she appreciated the redesigning of the development to address some of the initial concerns.

“I watched an eight-story going up across the road from me, I’ve been watching it storey by storey, and I can’t imagine it in the downtown core,” she said. “We do have some responsibility to preserve some heritage and height factors in the downtown core. I would love to see this building at five or six stories. I can’t see myself driving down Broadway and seeing a nine-storey building -  otherwise it’s a beautiful development in the downtown. The commercial development is much needed in the downtown.”

Council passed a motion approving the zone changes in principle, advising the county it approved of the associated official plan changes and directing staff to collect payment in lieu of parking.

Interviewed after, Sarah Senior, chair of the Tillsonburg District Craft Guild/Station Arts Centre, said board members were excited and fully support the development and the benefits it will bring to the community. She said it could be complementary to the vision “to create a dynamic, inclusive and progressive environment.” However, there are concerns about parking and accessibility.

“Many of our artists, especially potters, quilters, and other creators, frequently transport large and bulky items,” Senior said. “Given the nature of our operations, ensuring that all visitors can easily access our building is vital.”

She said many of the members are seniors, and it’s crucial the development design takes accessibility needs of the station patrons into account by not creating a long walk from parking spaces.