SUMMERSIDE – Despite recommendations from staff, city council’s technical services committee is calling for a bylaw change permitting an increase in the number of row houses allowed for a development.
The committee received a request from developer Mike Fraser for a nine-unit row house development on the former Dominion Distributing properties at 489 Water St. and for zoning changes. The properties encompass two different zones; commercial 3 and residential 3. Both would have to be changed to residential 4 to accommodate the project.
City regulation allows for a maximum of eight row house units as provided in the city’s Official Plan.
Staff did not support the requested change.
Technical services director, Aaron MacDonald, along with city planner Murray Pinchuk, and development officer Thayne Jenkins told the committee if the project came forward with the maximum eight units as allowed under the bylaw, it would require no major variances to be approved.
But if the additional unit was allowed it would affect the size of the other eight requiring variances for each to be approved. The addition of the ninth unit would alter the plan to the extent that nine variances would have to be approved.
The city’s technical services staff felt the request to change the maximum number of units from eight to nine “is not justified from a planning principle or land use hardship. The request for nine units is an economic argument only that allows the developer to fully maximize the development potential of their property.”
Pinchuk said the reasoning behind the maximum requirements for the number of row houses allowed and the required setbacks from lot lines is so that people would not be building on top of the neighbour’s property.
“When we squeeze buildings to the maximum (to) the minimum setbacks on the side yards (and maximum height allowed) imagine then the neighbours on one side or the other are going to be faced with a three-storey building on their side yard when typically the buildings are one-and-a-half and two storeys,” he said. “If I brought you an application for a single-family (home) in a R-1 zone and was going to build right to the zero-lot lines and asked you for a variance you can expect that the neighbours might react to the fact that they’ll have a two-and-a-half or three-storey massive building (next to them).”
He said the principles are in place to balance the need of putting as much as you can on the property with the reaction of the neighbouring property owners.
Coun. Brent Gallant said he had no concern about increasing the number of allowable units and that a developer investing a large amount of money will want his property to be attractive to potential buyers.
Mayor Basil Stewart questioned why there is a maximum number of units contained in the bylaw and said perhaps the city should consider eliminating that restriction to help encourage development.
The committee directed staff to come up with recommendations about changing the bylaw. The matter will go to a public hearing before going to city council for final action.
Well I find it interesting, that yet again people here in Prince Edward Island always have something negitive to say about most needed changes here. No wonder so many people are turned off from starting businesses and much needed housing units here. becuase everytime we begin to see some change, theres always so many people fighting against it. For instance, Driftwood Heights B&B is wanting a small atractive sign, on the outskirts of the city, letting potential customers know their whereabouts, but oh no, thats not allowed either. When tourist stop into the information center, they are all directed to Charlottetown or Canvendish, they never really suggest Summerside, Why is that? Summerside has lots of potential to become a booming city, but its not, and I believe its because we need some new members sitting on our city council, someone who understands that this city needs change. Maybe if they opened their eyes, they would see and understand why so many of the younger generation is moving away from here. There is no work, there is no housing, and anytime someone trys to start new businesses or housing, they have millions of obsticals in their way. Time for change around here, and fast.