Controversial mid-rise development in east London being revised by developer

Neighbours opposed to a residential development at 929 Cheapside St. held signs in the public gallery of council chambers, expressing concern the proposal is too tall, inconsistent with the Carling Heights neighbourhood and lacks sufficient parking.

A developer has applied for several special provisions required to permit the six-storey, 105-unit midrise apartment building with 43 parking spaces, including requests to:

• permit a minimum exterior side-yard depth of 0.5 metres instead of the required 8.0 metres
• permit a maximum lot coverage of 50 per cent instead of the required 30 per cent
• permit a minimum landscaped open space of 20 per cent instead of the required 30 per cent
• permit a minimum of 46 vehicle parking spaces instead of the required 53
• permit a minimum of 32 long-term bicycle parking spaces instead of the required 95

On Tuesday, Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis opened council’s deliberations by asking that the planning application be referred back to city staff.

Lewis said the developer has revised the proposal.

“The applicant has communicated to me that they’re coming back with a reduced unit count, an increased parking count, and fixing the paratransit layby issue that was flagged in the original staff report,” he told CTV News.

Although the referral would delay council’s decision beyond a provincially mandated deadline for planning applications, the developer has committed in writing not to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal for non-decision within the next 90 days.

“It’s giving everybody — the applicant and our staff — time to do a proper technical analysis of a revised application, another opportunity for the public to come and speak to us, and then make a decision on this,” Lewis said.

The deputy mayor suggested neighbours’ expectations should reflect the building heights permitted on streets such as Cheapside, which are classified as neighbourhood collectors.

“It’s very clear that some residents are never going to accept anything. I’ve seen the emails — nothing over a three-storey walk-up,” he said.

Lewis said he will wait to review the revised application and city staff’s report before making a decision.

“Insufficient parking is going to lead to on-street parking. If that can be addressed in a meaningful way, I think that gets us much closer to a situation where there is going to be the opportunity for approval,” he said.