Guelph Mercury - January 31 2009

Group backs Lafarge plans

Residents in favour of revamped design; matter still to go before board hearing

January 31, 2009

Scott Tracey
MERCURY STAFF

GUELPH

The current proposal to redevelop the former Lafarge lands is radically different from that submitted more than three years ago, with about half the commercial space and a hefty residential component.

"I think we've come up with a very acceptable solution," said Ron Foley, president of the Howitt Park Neighbourhood Residents' Association. "We wanted to come up with something that would be acceptable to the applicant and acceptable to us, and I think we've done that."

The neighbourhood group, which had initially opposed the proposed development, voted 61 to 3 Thursday night to accept a settlement reached through mediation. City councillors had also endorsed the settlement during a closed-door session Monday night.

The developer, Silvercreek (Guelph) Developments Ltd., had proposed to build 450,000 square feet of commercial space on the property along Silvercreek Parkway South.

The proposal was opposed by the city, the neighbourhood group and Armel Corp., a large local developer of commercial properties. A 40-day Ontario Municipal Board hearing had been scheduled to start with a pre-hearing conference next Wednesday. The pre-hearing conference is now scheduled for Feb. 11 and the hearing, to begin March 2, is now expected to last 15 days "so that in itself is a major step forward," Mayor Karen Farbridge said.

Armel remains opposed to any commercial development on the site.

"Our position hasn't changed," Armel vice-president Joe Wolfond said in an interview yesterday.

"I would say if there's any commercial there you're not going to see Armel pulling out."

Armel's objection is largely based on the impact the Lafarge project will have on Armel's West Hills commercial development at Paisley and Imperial roads.

"Any commercial (at Lafarge) we feel is damaging to us, damaging to the downtown and damaging to the city as a whole," Wolfond said.

Highlights of the agreement reached between the three parties include:

• 245,000 square feet of retail, instead of the original 450,000, including one big box store of up to 145,000 square feet, with an additional 100,000 square feet phased in over at least three other buildings;
• a high-density residential component of at least 340 units;
• a Town Square area, including 42,000 square feet of service commercial development spread over seven buildings;
• a realignment of Silvercreek Parkway to slow down traffic;
• about 30 per cent of the property -- that east of Howitt Creek -- will be deeded to the city and used for open space and stormwater management;
• an underpass will be constructed under the CN Rail line at the north end of the property, connecting it to Silvercreek Parkway North.

"We now have 60 per cent of the property, which will be locked in so it cannot become commercial," Foley said.

"From where we started, we've come an enormous way and we believe we can make it work."

Farbridge called the mediation process and resulting agreement "a monumental accomplishment."

"I've never seen anything like it," the mayor said, praising all the parties but particularly the neighbourhood group for the amount of work done on the matter to date.

Matt West, director of development for Fieldgate Commercial Properties Limited, said he was "encouraged" that the city and Howitt Park group had endorsed the agreement.

West said the application process "has been a long and challenging one, but the outcome will provide a development that is beneficial to the community."

"There will be a sense of place here that will become an extension of the existing neighbourhood," he said.

stracey@guelphmercury.com