Developer submits proposal for 750 units on Chedoke browlands

Height of buildings will be lower than initial proposals

Mark Newman, Hamilton Mountain News

A diagram of the proposed development of the Chedoke browlands by Deanlee Management. The numbers indicate the number of storeys for each building.

(Aug 24, 2007)

There won’t be any skyscrapers, but development plans for the Chedoke browlands call for at least one eight-storey building and two other complexes that could reach the same height as part of the proposal to build 750 units on the site.

If each unit has two occupants, the new development will bring another 1,500 residents to the west Mountain community over the next several years.

The request for an official plan amendment and by-law amendment were submitted early last week by Deanlee Management of Mississauga, who purchased the 9.6 hectare (24 acre) property from the Chedoke Health Corporation last spring with the deal expected to close in December 2008.

According to a concept drawing included among the box of documents submitted by Deanlee, the developer wants to build an eight-storey condominium complex in the middle of the browlands north of Scenic Drive and two, four- to six-storey condominium buildings on either side of Sanatorium Road at Scenic. According to the diagram, two six- to eight -storey condos are planned within the footprint of the two smaller units further back from the intersection.

In addition, an L-shaped, four- to six-storey building is planned for the north-west side of the property and a couple of rows of two- to three-storey condo townhouse units are planned along Scenic Drive, west of Sanatorium.

Several residents in the area sounded alarm bells earlier this year when previous development options floated

by Deanlee included three or four 12- to 14- storey buildings near Scenic and Sanatorium.

Deanlee director Ron Starr said they backed off from the higher structures following public complaints.

“It’s medium density,” Mr. Starr said. “We listened to the folks in the area.”

Regarding the number of units planned for the development, Mr. Starr called the 750 proposal “a good number for the site.”

All of the units are expected to be targeted at the high-end market, selling for upwards of $300,000 each.

The former long-term continuing care building near the brow that dates back to 1917 will be incorporated as part of the L-shaped building. Mr. Starr said they are hoping to save part of the structure.

Most of the other buildings on the site are expected to be torn down although the Long and Bisby building will be maintained. Mr. Starr said the daycare service currently operating in the building will likely remain there for at least the near future. He added the building could become home to a social agency some time down the road.

Mr. Starr said the green belt near the middle of the property west of Sanatorium will be expanded and left open as a rain-water catch pond and the woodlot east of Sanatorium will be turned over to the city and public access to local trails on the browlands will be maintained.

Deanlee, Mr. Star said, has spent about $500,000 preparing its submission to the city. The submission was expected to contain a number of reports including: an environmental impact statement, traffic study, archeological assessment, heritage assessment, a planning justification report and a functional servicing report.

“Hopefully we don’t have to go to the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board), but if we do, we’ve generated all the information we need to go ahead,” Mr. Starr said.

The developer is hoping to begin construction next spring, with the work being done in two or three phases, probably starting with the redevelopment of the former long-term continuing care building.

Mr. Starr said Deanlee has heard from about 12 area residents who have expressed interest in buying one of the units.

Brenda Khes, project manager of community planning at city hall, confirmed Deanlee’s application has been received.

She said the proposal will be reviewed by city planning staff to see if any issues need to be resolved. The proposal will also be sent to a variety of departments and community organizations such as the Niagara Escarpment Commission and Hamilton Conservation Authority for comment.

By late August or early September, the city will notify residents living within 120 metres of the site of the development proposal and provide a number to call for more information.

The next step would normally be for city staff to forward the proposal to the planning and development committee with a recommendation for or against approval.

But, at the request of Ward 8 councillor Terry Whitehead and with input from local residents, the city has begun a modified secondary planning process for the area that is expected to govern the size and scope of future development on the browlands.

Ms. Khes said nothing will go to committee until after the secondary plan is done and the public comments gathered as part of that process will be taken into account when Deanlee’s proposal is reviewed.

Under provincial law, the city must respond to Deanlee’s proposal within six months of receiving the application.