City council and citizens alike criticized a proposed Victoria Road South development as “overdeveloped” during a 2019 public meeting. Shovels never got in the ground.
Now, Fusion Homes and Gamma Developers Ltd. have come forward with a new plan for 855 and 927 Victoria Rd. S. – one that includes more units and two 10-storey apartment buildings.
The site is located between Stone Road and McAlister Boulevard on the west side of Victoria Road.
In a revised filing to the city, the proponents are seeking a variety of zoning bylaw amendments that would allow a mix of stacked townhouses and apartment buildings on the site.
If ultimately approved, the development would see a total of 497 dwelling units built on the 4.9-hectare site, along with 572 surface and structured parking spaces. Units include: 78 three-storey stacked townhouses, 32 3.5-storey stacked townhouses, 70 back-to-back townhouses and two 10-storey apartment buildings with 317 units.
The previous proposal featured two options – one with 156 stacked townhouses and 211 apartments in buildings of 10, eight and six stores, and the other included 108 stacked townhouses and 292 apartments.
"My sense is it's too much density and it's overdeveloped," Coun. June Hofland said during that 2019 public meeting, echoing comments made by fellow council members and public delegates.
Carrie Nethery, one of nine delegates who spoke about the proposal that day, told council the overall height is something that needed to be addressed.
"You can do better, especially at such a prolific and important site," she said.
The revised submission is under review by city staff, explained Lindsay Sulatycki, the city’s senior development planner, in an email.
“Since this is a revised submission that proposes the same built form (ie – towns and apartments) as the original application, a second public meeting is not warranted,” she wrote. “ A staff recommendation will be brought forward to council at a later date, yet to be determined.”
