Brant councillors reject boosting height of apartment building
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PARIS A request to increase a previously approved apartment building to 12 storeys from seven was rejected by Brant County councillors.
Councillors were unanimous this week in their opposition to the request by Grandville Inc. to increase the height of the proposed building at 1044 Rest Acres Rd. Their decision earned a round of applause from residents who crowded into the council chamber to voice their opposition.
“In the six years I’ve been sitting at this table I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much opposition to a proposal,” Coun. John Peirce said. “We have a lot of letters, we’ve heard from residents, we have a petition and they all have one thing in common.
“They don’t want 12 storeys. This proposal adds 36 units to this building and will bring more vehicles in an already congested area.”
Peirce said it’s possible that Grandville will take the issue to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal but added that’s a fight that he is willing to have. The tribunal, formerly known as the Ontario Municipal Board, adjudicates land disputes between municipalities and developers.
Peirce made his comments after several residents voiced their opposition to the proposal and after council received a petition that included the names of more than 250 residents.
Back in 2009, the county received an applications for an apartment building on the site. In April 2013,, the applications went to the Ontario Municipal Board and were approved for a seven-storey or 20 metre high building. When the applicant noted an error with the survey, council received a request from the applicant for a revision to amend the survey and a zoning application to have the building height increased.
Council previously approved construction of a seven-storey apartment building on land between Highway 2 and Powerline Road, east of the Brant Sports Complex. Northeast of the property is a subdivision of single-family homes that includes Cobblestone Elementary School.
Grandville wanted to increase the building’s height to 45 metres from 20 and the number of units to 161 from 125.
“Paris is a small town,” area resident Helen Heron told councillors.
“It does not fit that a 12-storey building, none of which is guaranteed affordable housing or housing for the elderly, should be built within it. A 12-storey building will dominate the horizon and spoil the character of the town.
“This is no Mississauga or Oakville. It is Paris.”
Heron and others said they are worried that approving the project would lead to more high-rise buildings in Paris.
But councillors also heard from Pierre Chauvin, of MHBC Planning, who spoke on behalf of Grandville Inc. The Rest Acres Road property Is zoned for use as an apartment building and the company’s application complies with requirements, he said.
“If council is serious about controlling urban sprawl and providing a broad range of housing for young up-and-coming professionals, as well as aging adults, you will approve this development,” Chauvin said. “This development is sustainable and provides a lot of housing needs.
“The rents will be at market rate and will meet a demand that isn’t being met in the community.”
But Coun. Robert Chambers spoke against a taller building.
He said a seven-storey apartment building will provide needed housing.
“It prevents urban sprawl,” Chambers said. “But I can’t support any increase at all in height for this building. It doesn’t fit with the surrounding area and we need to grow in a responsible manner.”
Mayor David Bailey, in a statement issued following the meeting, said he is pleased with council’s decision.
“I’m so pleased to see councillors from every ward supporting the residents of this particular area,” Bailey said. “There will be times, in the near future, where development will become an issue for other areas and I hope council will continue to support its residents, each other and vote in the best interest of the county.”
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