There was significant opposition during public input on a new apartment building proposed for the west end of Belleville on Monday.
The application was discussed during the City of Belleville’s Planning Advisory Committee meeting.
It called for rezoning of the area of 239 Dundas Street West to allow for a five-storey, 39-unit apartment building.
Currently, the property holds a house and a shed, which would be demolished to make way for the apartment building.
Eleven residents spoke during the opposition portion of public input with a number of concerns about the proposed rezoning application.
Some of the concerns raised by residents include the density, height, and fit with the neighbourhood of the building, with residents citing the Bayshore Planning Area section of the city’s Official Plan.
Resident and local realtor Patricia Guernsey was among those who spoke against the application.
“Although I support reasonable growth and understand the need for additional housing in our community, my concern is not the growth, but ensuring new development respects that character of scale, privacy, infrastructure, and quality of life to the existing neighbourhood remain,” Guernsey told the committee.
“I respectfully ask council to consider carefully whether the five-storey apartment building is compatible with that established nature of this area.”
Another resident, Shane Harris, who introduced himself as a professional engineer with experience in capital projects across the world, also expressed the concern of the density and height of the building.
“It dwarfs all surrounding residents and buildings with no consideration for transition between zones and building types,” Harris explained during public input.
“This clearly undermines the concept outlined in the official plan, and it demonstrates the need to jump up two levels in zoning and significantly reducing setbacks and reducing landscaping.”
Other concerns raised during public input emphasized property values and taxes, traffic and safety (specifically around Dundas Street West and Sidney Street), and noise and privacy.
Guernsey noted that she was only aware of the public meeting after being informed by neighbours.
No action on the property was taken at this time as the committee approved receiving the information from public input.
Councillor Barbara Enright-Miller noted that she was not in support of the application.
“It’s a tough spot traffic-wise, and I can understand their frustration with the size of the building and impeding their light and all of that good stuff,” Enright-Miller told the committee.
“So I would not recommend the zoning change.”
City staff will put together a report that will be brought forward to a future committee meeting.
