New 77-unit development ‘phenomenal’

Mayor welcomes new housing supply but neighbour raises concerns about backyard privacy

A proposal for a 77-unit residential development in Peterborough’s south end — including a four-storey apartment building, plus some townhouses — received councillors’ unanimous support on Monday night.

At a committee meeting, councillors offered a preliminary rezoning approval (which needs a final vote at a city council meeting June 26).

Coun. Lesley Parnell didn’t vote, however — she declared a conflict of interest, since her son owns a house close to the property.

The application is for a rezoning and Official Plan amendment to redevelop the vacant portion of 550 Braidwood Ave.

That’s on the northeast corner of Braidwood Avenue and Monaghan Road in the city’s south end.

There’s a warehouse and various businesses taking up much of the property to the east of the intersection (the Habitat for Humanity ReStore is there, for example).

There’s also a landscaped open space at the northeast corner of the property, and the new application — from landowner Global Point Logistics Inc. of Peterborough, which owns and runs the warehouse and logistics company on site — is to build housing there.

“I think this is a phenomenal development on this property,” said Mayor Jeff Leal, who grew up nearby.

“We are going to do our best to get shovels in the ground ... and accelerate these types of developments, which will be very impactful on our housing supply,” the mayor said.

The proposal is for a four-storey building of 71 apartments fronting Monaghan Road plus a series of six townhouses fronting Braidwood Avenue.

“We need approvals for all types of housing,” said Brad Appleby, a planner working for the city.

Apartments are especially needed, he said: “This is what planning folks like to call the ‘missing middle.’ ”

Kent Randall, the planner hired by the landowner, also commented on Peterborough’s apartment shortage.

“This is the type of housing that, in my lifetime in the city, we haven’t seen much of,” he said.

“This is the road to sustainability, a housing development like this ... It’s an ideal size, it’s an underutilized site.”

However, neighbour Kyle Chamberlain had concerns. He said he bought a house for his family (including two young children) on Edison Avenue a year ago — and what attracted him to the home is that it backed onto green space.

No one — not the realtor, and not the previous homeowner — ever told him there could be development there someday. And if someone had told him, he said, he wouldn’t have bought the house.

He told council that he’s concerned about the tenants of the new four-storey building being able to see into his backyard.

“Your backyard is your serenity,” Chamberlain said — and also the place where his children play.

He further wondered where dumpsters will be placed, and whether he’ll get odour in his backyard.

“I want to make sure my backyard isn’t just taken from me, essentially,” he said.

Appleby told him that these considerations and more would be worked out during the site plan process (when council gets to determine the exact placement of buildings, parking and driveways on the site, and they can discuss details such as privacy fencing).

Randall said that privacy for the neighbours “is top of mind — we understand,” and that fences and landscaping will help keep the neighbours’ backyards private.

Nancy Jackson, who said she’s lived nearby on Rose Avenue for 37 years, told council that while she’s supportive of the project she’s concerned it doesn’t offer enough green space — or even courtyard space — for kids and adults to be outdoors.

“Let’s really get it right — let’s add what we can,” she said.

Randall said there are small patios and greenspaces for each of the ground-level apartments, and that there are parks nearby.

It may not be ideal, he said: “But it’s something folks in many cities get by with.”