`Big hurdle' passed for housing project

Town council approved a zoning amendment at a recent meeting to allow a 53-unit seniors' housing development addition to St. Andrew's United Church . The zoning was changed from a General Commercial Zone to a site-specific General Commercial Zone to allow for the construction of the four-storey affordable housing building for seniors. The existing church at the corner of Mountainview Rd. and Sinclair Ave., will also remain. "The big hurdle is over," said Grant Greenaway, chair of St. Andrew's Senior Citizens Affordable Housing work group in an interview. Greenaway said the work group planned to meet to look at the next steps in the building process including finalizing architect plans. Other steps for the work group, before receiving a building permit, includes getting site plan approval. Last year, the Committee of Adjustment agreed to a land swap between the church and Halton Catholic District School Board (St. Francis of Assisi School) for a triangular portion of land. Town council also agreed last year to waive planning fees. The planning report to council noted: · the proposed parking was adequate for the use · an amenity space of an outdoor courtyard or seating area for residents of the building must be included · HCDSB is not opposed to the plan, but has concerns with site access and the existing school driveway and potential traffic impacts and stormwater run-off-- that will be dealt with at the site plan stage. · concerns by an adjacent neighbour including privacy and stormwater run-off will also be dealt with at the site plan stage. · Halton Region has no objection but will require a water and wastewater servicing report to ensure that the sanitary sewer system will be able to accommodate the proposal. Council also placed an "H"-- a holding provision-- on the project, which means no building can commence until all the concerns are satisfied at the site plan approval stage and when adequate water and wastewater servicing capacity is available.

An artist's rendering of the planned 53unit seniors' housing addition to St. Andrew's United Church.