At its planning committee meeting on Monday, February 23, North Glengarry Council heard that developers requested changing the zoning of the lot on Kincardine Street East between Dominion and Bishop streets in Alexandria from institutional to residential. The request also included reducing parking requirements from 1.5 spaces per unit to one and decreasing the setback from the property lines.
The cleared lot previously held a Christian mission and a small school.
The project would feature 27 single-storey, one-bedroom units of about 56 square metres, each with a dedicated parking space in front. Five units would be wheelchair accessible. Developers Ron and Nadine Theoret, who recently revitalized a long-abandoned building on Bishop Street, plan to spread apartments across the lot, preserving green space and adding trees.
Some neighbours have said the lot feels too dense and worry that limited parking could spill onto busy streets.
Councillor Jacques Massie suggested a smaller design might be a better fit, while Councillor Gary Martin stressed the need for affordable housing close to local amenities.
Deputy Mayor Carma Williams said that compromise is key to providing accessible housing while allowing Alexandria to continue to grow.
North Glengarry’s Director of Planning, Jacob Rheaume, noted the design is not final and could be adjusted to better fit the lot.
Council will review the zoning changes at an upcoming meeting and continue working with the developers on the project’s density.
