TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT GETS GREEN LIGHT

A piece of land along Wilson Street near Highway 403 where a gas station was located will now have a 10-unit townhouse development integrated into the neighbourhood.

The project, by the new owner Rudy & Associates, at the corner of 281 Hamilton Dr. and 356 Wilson St. W., near the roundabout and across the street from a fire station, will include one townhouse block that will contain four units and another block will have six units. The original plan had 11 units.

"I'm supportive of this project," said Ancaster Coun. Lloyd Ferguson, during the Jan. 12 planning committee. "It is a vacant lot. It has been for a long time. The current owner has done a nice job maintaining it. It was right for redevelopment."

Council will vote on the recommendation at its Jan. 19 meeting.

There will be a minimum of two parking spaces per unit, with seven parking spaces for visitors. Parking will be at the rear of the development off a private road.

The development will be two-and-a-half storeys, but, said planner Daniel

Barnett, it will "have the look and appearances of a two-storey building." The project initially was three storeys in height.

Ferguson said while the owner is increasing the density of the property, "which is one of the objectives that council decided to do with the urban

boundary expansion," the building will still look like a two-storey structure even though it will actually be 2.5 storeys.

The planning changes to the property were needed to reduce the lot minimum, lot frontage and to accommodate the 10 units on the 0.268 hectares. The

land has been vacant since 2007.

Barnett confirmed the front yard setback for the building on Wilson Street will be 0.8 metres, a significant change from the required 7.5-metre setback that is required. But because of the "curve of (Wilson Street)," planning staff allowed the minimum front yard setback allowance.

Ferguson, though, did have a concern with the setback and the building's façade. Even with the assurances from planning staff, the structure will seem to be encroaching onto Wilson Street.

As for the façade, Ferguson encouraged the owner to "meet the character of the area. It is really a nice area."

Michelle Cutts, representing the owner, said during the meeting they will "make sure the design is compatible with the neighbourhood.

The property changed ownership in August 2021 when Rudy & Associates took over the land from 1172875 BC Ltd. c/o A.K. Sangha.

An amendment to the recommendation suggested by Ferguson included the councillor taking part in the site plan application process and to prohibit construction vehicles along Hamilton Drive.

A single-family house had been located at 281 Hamilton Dr., while a gas station was situated at 356 Wilson St. W. The property has full municipal services.

Several neighbours in the area objected to the development, arguing it will "make a traffic situation worse and more dangerous" because of the nearby roundabout and the high volume of traffic that is accessing Highway 403, said Valerie Chevannes and Leonard Reddick.

Jane and John De Zoete stated in a letter the development "does not allow for adequate parking" and will create further problems on an already busy Hamilton Drive.

"There is no serious traffic calming for this busy street," they state.

But there were Ancaster residents in support of the development.

Nancy Hurst, a co-ordinator for stopping the urban boundary expansion campaign, said in a letter the town "is famously lacking in density and I would welcome having more residents in this part of Hamilton.

"If we are to preserve our farmland, wetlands and habitat on the mountain, we must end our fixation with single-family zoning."

Anka Cassar also expressed support for the development in an effort to slow climate change and save the city's natural areas.

Cassar stated in a letter allowing only single-family homes "is not sustainable, the supply of land is not infinite."