Hawkesbury council has adopted a Zoning Bylaw Amendment (ZBA) that would allow a six-unit, two-story apartment building to be constructed on Nelson Street East. The lot is currently vacant.

At a public meeting on Monday, May 11 held before that evening’s regular council meeting, Planner Gillian Henderson of FOTENN presented the ZBA which changes the zoning on the site from Residential R1 to R4 to permit a low-rise apartment building.

The ZBA allows parking in the front yard area and allows parking and the driveway to be located within six metres of a nearby habitable room window and permits a reduced garbage enclosure setback of 0.7 metres.

Nearby Montcalm Street resident Sarah Hupé asked if a design for the building exists. Henderson said it does but was not included in the presentation.

Hupé noted there are already nearby apartment buildings that were supposed to be two stories high but are instead three stories. Henderson explained that a two and a half story building is being proposed. The basement level basement counts as a half story. Half of it is to be above ground, and the other half below grade.

Henderson said it is possible further changes could be made during site plan process, but it would be within the right of the developer to change the plans slightly.

“It’s a quiet neighbourhood and you’re squeezing a lot of people into a small space,” Hupé said.

She said there should be a higher fence around the parking area. Hupé acknowledged housing is important but says the modifications will have a big impact on nearby families.

Another resident of Montcalm Street said an existing fence around the lot is already falling down. She also voiced concerns about the possible smell from garbage at the proposed building.

Henderson said the fence will have to be repaired and the garbage is to be positioned furthest from the other properties on Montcalm Street. She said the applicant had been asked to consider alternate placement, but it was not addressed. The previous requirement for the enclosure setback from the property line was six metres.

Mayor Robert Lefebvre said that concern could be addressed between the property developer and the town.

A letter from another resident was read saying they and her family moved there because of the quiet neighbourhood, and the good quality of life. They also said they received no written notification about the project as is required by the Planning Act.

Henderson said name of the resident was different than what they had in their records and that was the reason why they were not notified. She said rroper notice and supplementary information was subsequently delivered.

Lefebvre added that notice of the ZBA application was also posted on the property, as is required by statute.

Councillor Tony Tsourounakis said housing and more of it is necessary and sometimes modifications are necessary, but he did not understand the reason for reducing the height of the parking buffer fence to 1.5 metres, from the 1.8 metres specified in the zoning bylaw.  

“I don’t see a good reason to lower it,” he said.

Councillor Jeanne Charlebois agreed. She said developers request changes knowing housing is needed, but people around the neighbourhood need to be considered.

During the regular council meeting, Councillor Julie Séguin remarked that comments from residents had resonated with councillors. She asked if the developer would come back with changes to their proposal. Lefebvre said that option is there, but ultimately, any outcome is council’s decision.

Henderson said the residents’ comments were heard and suggested moving ahead with accepting the application and ZBA adoption and address issues of concern in the site plan control process.

Charlebois said she is concerned about adequate parking for the proposed building.

Henderson said it would have 11 resident spaces, two for visitors, one handicapped permit space, and nearby street parking.

“Not impressed,” Charlebois commented.

Séguin said she understands the issues and notes that apartments are needed but referred to the concerns about fence height and location of the garbage enclosure.

Tsourounakis proposed an amendment to remove the reduced fence height from being granted.

Seguin said she would support that if there was a change of garbage location. Lefebvre said it could be addressed through site plan control.

Director of Public Works Jonathan Wilson said the request for the reduced garbage enclosure setback request is for less than the usually prescribed distance because it will be beside the area, and not adjacent properties.

The bylaw granting the ZBA was adopted as amended.