OUTCOMES FROM THE PUBLIC MEETING • MAY 17, 2021

The message was unanimously clear: SkyDev’s proposed development fails to align with the intent and vision of our Official Plan.

Common concerns expressed by informed residents:

 

  • GENERAL CONCEPT IS INCONGRUENT WITH THE OFFICIAL PLAN & MEAFORD’S COMMUNITY VISION

  • INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

  • HEAVY MASSING & SCALE

  • INCOMPATIBILITY WITH BORDERING NEIGHBOURHOODS

  • HOTEL IS NOT A SURE THING

  • OVERDEVELOPMENT

  • WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT

  • TRAFFIC

  • DENSITY

  • PARKING FOR 335+ VEHICLES

  • WATER TABLE ISSUES FOR UNDERGROUND PARKING

  • 5-STOREY HEIGHT

  • LIMITATION OF PUBLIC SPACES

  • BARRIER TO THE WATERFRONT

  • NOT PEDESTRIAN-ORIENTED

  • ECOLOGICALLY IRRESPONSIBLE

  • INCREASED TAXES FOR MEAFORD

Residents proposed:

  • A Community Workshop take place and with direction from our Council where the developer and their architect—together with Meaford’s planning staff and some very invested residents—join together to design something Meaford can be proud of. It was suggested that SkyDev commit to a working session with all stakeholders, prior to submitting their site plan.

  • Municipal planning staff to use an ‘H’ holding designation to ensure the commercial aspect (hotel) of the SkyDev proposal is actually delivered, prior to full residential build-out of this community.

  • Elected Officials act based on the INTENT of Urban Special Policy Area #1.

  • Definition of “public good” be critically assessed prior to considering SkyDev’s application for bonus zoning required for 5-storey development.

  • Consider an alternative location for the apartment portion of this development where height, massing and density would be more suitably situated.

What we heard from SkyDev:

  • They will take another look at the design—they will “go back to the drawing board”.

  • That they want a zoning commitment from the town.

  • That density is a need in order to make the development worth it for them.

Next steps:

  1. If you deputed at the May 17th meeting, please send a written copy of your deputation to the municipality and the county to ensure they have a record of your speaking points. You can email them to: planning@meaford.ca and cc scott.taylor@grey.ca

  2. If you didn’t make a deputation on May 17 but have specific concerns and want to preserve your right to appeal any decision made on the application, it isn’t too late. You can write to planning@meaford.ca and to planning at Grey County and ask to be kept informed of any decisions made on this application.

  3. If you wish to be notified of the decision of the Municipality of Meaford in respect to the Zoning By-law Amendment, sign-up to be notified. Email msmith@meaford.ca or call at 519-538-1060 ext. 1115

NOTE: If you missed the opportunity to attend the public meeting of May 17, 2021 and hear the presentations and deputations, you can view it at http://www.meaford.ca/youtube

SkyDev Development: definitions & status

 

DESCRIPTION

The formerly industrial lands at 226 Boucher Street and those adjacent lands to the northwest, along Fuller Street, are zoned Development (D-2; allowing existing uses only) with a small area of Environmental Protection (EP) in the southeast corner. These lands, comprising a triangular block bounded by Boucher St., Fuller St. and the municipally-owned waterfront, are designated by the Official Plan as being part of Urban Special Policy Area #1 which are earmarked for mixed-use redevelopment.

ZONING AMMENDMENT

The requested zoning amendment (Z04-21) proposes the lands be rezoned to the Residential Multiple (RM-Exception) zone to facilitate the construction of a five storey hotel and spa, three two-storey townhouse buildings, three five-storey waterfront townhouse buildings, and two five-storey apartment buildings on the lands. The Development Concept includes 90 hotel units, 14 two-storey townhouse units, 72 waterfront townhouse units, and 120 apartment units (proposed as rental tenure) for a site-wide total of 206 residential units.

EXCHANGE/SALE OF LAND

A related request has also been submitted regarding the proposed exchange/sale of 647.5m2 (0.16 acres) of municipal land for amalgamation with the development lands. The property requested is the extension of the Bridge Street road allowance, on the east side of Fuller Street (illustrated below/on reverse). The applicant proposes fair-market value compensation for the lands based on a partial exchange of property and a cash payment based on the formal appraised value of the lands. Consideration of land transfer requests are required to follow the procedures outlined via Municipal ‘Sale of Real Property’ By-law #104-2007.

  • APPLICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED

  1. Future Site Plan Application

  2. Plan of Condominium Applications

Residents, let’s stay updated and informed about this development!

Write to planning@meaford.ca and to planning at Grey County and ask to be kept informed of any decisions made on this application.