CONCERNS RAISED OVER CONDO DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL BESIDE GO STATION

Town staff and residents recently reviewed a proposal to build three condo buildings steps from the Georgetown GO Station.

While noticing several positives in the development planning process, residents also expressed concerns about the proposed construction of 640 condo units at Rosetta and Saint Michaels Streets in Georgetown.

"Having 640 additional cars in this very small tightly spaced area is a lot of cars," said a property owner based around Rosetta and Carolina Streets.

Echoing similar concerns, a John Street resident said "Georgetown has got a population of about 44,000 people, so this would mean putting about five percent of the population in a very small area. It is putting an awful lot of pressure on the resources already in the town."

The three residential buildings — proposing a range of one to three-bedroom units — are mapped to offer 707 vehicular parking spaces and 472 bicycle parking spots.

Scott Cotton, a member of the project planning team, said they are working on council recommendations to help address capacity concerns.

"We identified some existing capacity issues at Mountainview and River Roads ... and those are not a direct result of site generated traffic, but rather existing traffic and the expected growth in non-site related traffic," said Cotton.

Considering the area permits up to eight-storey buildings and the proposed project consists of one 12-storey construction, a longterm resident of Queen Street said "we oppose this development."

Another resident added "I think the addition of two 12-storey buildings and an eight-storey building is kind of pushing the envelope a bit."

Residents and town staff recognized other concerns with the proposal, including environmental assessment, possible shadowing

and visual impacts, relationship of the buildings to the street, pedestrian connectivity, parking, vehicular access and additional noise/vibration.

The capacity of the town's hydro electric grid and stormwater and sewage systems were also addressed.

The approximately 3.55-acre subject land, located steps from the train station, has a proposed frontage on Rosetta Street, Caroline Street, Saint Michaels Street and River Driver.

Land uses to the north of the site include single-detached dwellings, a trailhead to the Wildwood Trail off John Street and Meadowglen Park. East of the site connects to the single-detached, townhouse and other multi-unit dwellings, a commercial self-storage facility, open space and John Street Park.

Railway tracks, Georgetown GO Station and single-detached dwellings lie south of the subject lands. To the west is the Georgetown GO Station parking lot, single-detached and multi-unit dwellings, Silver Creek and Ewing Street Park.

With the site included in the north prescient of the Georgetown GO Station Area Secondary Plan, the proposal applications seek to obtain the necessary land use approvals for the development.

During an open house, town staff noted public comments for a recommendations report will be presented for the council's consideration later. For more information about the proposed development, visit haltonhills.ca.