A six-unit row house development is being proposed on Murray Street in Wallaceburg.
Chatham-Kent Council is set to vote on staff recommendations at their Monday, March 20, 2023 planning meeting for zoning by-law amendments, which would pave the way for a development at 594 Murray Street.
“The purpose of the application is to permit the redevelopment of the subject lands with a medium density residential use,” said Anthony Jas, manager of development and planning services, in a report.
“Specifically, the proposal is for a new six unit row house dwelling, intended to be a two-storey structure with each unit containing an attached garage and one additional parking space.”
Jas said the property is located on the west side of Murray Street, south of Reaume Avenue, and is currently vacant.
The dwelling located on the property would be removed, Jas said in his report.
Staff is recommending to rezone the land from residential low density third to a site-specific residential medium density first, including regulations for a Southerly interior side yard width minimum of three metres and a rear yard depth minimum of six metres.
“This proposal will facilitate infill development on a vacant and underutilized site, that is located within an established neighbourhood consisting of a range of low and medium density residential uses and institutional uses,” Jas said in his report.
“The subject site has access to full municipal services (municipal piped water; sanitary and storm sewer infrastructure) and maintains frontage on an Urban Arterial road where off-street parking can be appropriately accessed.”
Jas added: “In sum, the proposal will increase the total number of available residential units in a primary urban centre and supports the Municipality’s intensification targets and considerations.”
Jas said “it is important to note” that due to recent changes to provincial legislation, specifically Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, the proposed redevelopment of the subject parcel will not be subject to site plan control.
“This change in legislation presents challenges for the Municipality where it formerly had the ability to control development of this kind through a development agreement,” Jas said.
“This agreement would place obligations on the developer to meet the Municipality’s development standards, in particular servicing. In considering this legislative change in the context of this proposal, it was determined that medium density residential development could be appropriately accommodated by the municipal services available to the site.”
Read the full report, here.
Monday’s Council meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
