A nine-storey condo project on Barrie’s Dundonald Street hill is expected to face steep opposition from neighbours at Tuesday evening’s public meeting.
John and Pat Hargreaves want to rezone 19 Dundonald for a nine-storey condominium development with 58 units and two levels of underground parking, with 99 spaces, on just less than an acre of land north of Collier and Blake streets, south of Theresa Street, in the city's east end.
There is opposition and support from correspondence the city has received about this proposed development leading into Tuesday’s public meeting.
“Condos are going up everywhere and progress is good,” said Dave Cumming. “However, shoving a large building into this hillside lot is insane.”
“There are already areas zoned for high density. I don't see the need to wreck another beautiful area with another unnecessary rezoning,” wrote David and Lisa Won.
“The proposed development at 19 Dundonald St. would be a shame,” said Thomas Mills. “We would lose one of Barrie's few remaining century homes and the tower would be very out of place in the only ‘old’ neighbourhood in the middle of Barrie's steepest hill.”
“This proposed nine-storey complex is totally out of scale and character for this area,” wrote Diane and Dale Loyst.
“Please look at what is being done to destroy the beautiful neighourhood and how it goes against the wants of people who live and work here,” said Donna Winfield.
“The beauty of this neighbourhood is that it is a little bit of country in the city,” said Nadine Carr. “Let’s not destroy the feel of the neighbourhood.”
But there was also support for the nine storeys.
“There are a number of reasons why this property should be developed, one of which is it is the right step to take to curb the housing shortage as well as it is already serviced,” said Julie Dlugokecki.
“Given the current housing shortage, this additionally creates opportunity for additional housing in a desirable neighborhood with access to the lake, hiking trails, schools and close to downtown,” wrote Kim Thompson.
“I have visited Barrie many times with my girlfriend, specifically the area and street right where this project is as it is such a convenient location to walk along the water into downtown Barrie,” said Alexander Lefebvre. “As a young couple planning on getting married and raising a family in the near future, we would love to see a project like this follow through. A lower-rise building with nearby water access on the east end is exactly what we are looking for.”
There is an existing single-detached home located on the northern half of the triangular property. Its southern half is vacant with considerable vegetation. This property contains a significant grade change of approximately 18 metres from north to south.
This application is to rezone the property from residential single detached dwelling, second density (R2) to residential apartment dwelling first density, with special provisions (SP-XXX) and site specific provisions.
City planning staff say a portion of this property may need to be rezoned to environmental protection (EP), pending the outcome of a review of the environmental impact study submitted in support of the application to establish the limits of development on this land.
Should a portion of the subject property be rezoned to EP, the developable area of the site would be reduced, thereby necessitating an application for an Official Plan amendment to permit a density in excess of 150 units per hectare outside of Barrie’s urban growth centre.
The property is not located within a designated city intensification area.
Planning staff have targeting late 2022 or early 2023 for a report for planning committee’s consideration of the zoning-bylaw amendment application, which would require final approval from Barrie city council.
Tuesday’s planning committee meeting, in the council chambers and online at 7 p.m., has three public meetings and 19 Dundonald St. is the third.
