A developer is asking the Ontario Land Tribunal to review its proposal for a 40-storey building near Riverside Park in Cambridge’s Preston neighbourhood, as well as a modified 16-storey version rejected by city councillors. ABS Space Investments Corp. is looking to build at 210, 218 and 226 King St. E. and 229 Queenston Rd. Currently, the properties house a restaurant, mortgage office, garage and parking lot. A future transit station is expected to be built next to the site as part of the second phase of the Ion light rail transit system. The developer originally pitched a 40-storey building with 475 residential units and commercial space. At a statutory planning meeting in May, some city councillors questioned the proposed height. Planning consultant Scott Patterson said it was not an arbitrary number. “It just seemed like to optimize and maximize the development of this property and this land assembly that that worked out as a 40-storey building,” Patterson told council. When asked about a timeline, Patterson noted market conditions do not currently support such a project, but the intention was to get approvals in place so building can begin when the situation is more favourable. At the same meeting, a lineup of delegates raised concerns about density. “This proposal impractically seeks to shoehorn a thousand-plus residents contained in a single towering building and located on a tiny footprint into a community of significantly fewer residences living in single-family detached dwellings with a footprint measured in acres,” John McNie told councillors. “It’s far too dense for the site, it’s far too dense for the geographical location,” Carol Thorman said. “And that’s the problem with one-size-fits-all planning regulations. They don’t always fit.” In July, city staff returned with a recommendation that council approve a modified plan for a 16-storey building instead. A representative for the developer did not attend that meeting. Some councillors said they would support the modified plan, even reluctantly, given concerns the matter might end up appealed to the tribunal. “I think 16 storeys is a lot more amenable and feasible in this area and to bring the LRT in, than 40,” said Ward 7 Coun. Scott Hamilton, adding that should the matter end up at the OLT, “we’ll end up with who knows what height.” Others, including Ward 6 Coun. Adam Cooper, said they could not support it given existing traffic concerns. “There’s only really one traffic study I care about here, and that’s the one that anybody that drives through this area on any given day, especially at rush hour, experiences,” Cooper said. “The traffic there is appalling.” Council ultimately rejected the revised 16-storey plan in a 5-4 vote in July. The developer has since filed an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal, asking for a review of both the original 40-storey plan council did not vote on and the 16-storey modification it rejected. The application argues the project is consistent with official plans for the City of Cambridge and Region of Waterloo, and that it is in an area designated for significant growth and intensification next to the future Preston Light Rail Transit station. The appeal also says the project would bring new residents and jobs to the area. The Ontario Land Tribunal has yet to set a date or format for hearing the appeal.
