Developer asks to double height allowance on Richmond Road

An artist's rendering of the proposed mixed-use building at the corner of Richmond Road and Woodroffe Avenue. (Supplied photo)

Published on June 25, 2012

Courtney Symons

A new 14-storey mixed-use building could be built at the corner of Richmond Road and Woodroffe Avenue if the city's planning committee approves a rezoning application from the developer this week.

Westboro Point Developments Inc. is proposing an increased height limit from 25 metres to 47 metres on the northwest corner of the intersection to construct 92 apartments and just under 3,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

Currently, the property at 929 Richmond Rd. includes a two-storey building of apartments on top of a Pronto Mart convenience store. The neighbouring property at 108 Woodroffe Avenue contains an abandoned single-family residence. Both of these buildings would be demolished to make way for the new development, according to a planning rationale prepared by IBI Group Architects.

The properties contain nearly 37,000 square feet and include approximately 56 metres of frontage on Woodroffe Avenue and 30 metres on Richmond Road.

The design proposes three ground-floor townhouses and a communal amenity area at the rear of the building, but the documents make no mention of what the commercial space will be used for.

Also going before the planning committee on Tuesday:

- Mastercraft Starwood's SoHo Italia requires a zoning amendment to allow for construction to a maximum height of 95.5 metres. The rezoning application for the proposed 30-storey mixed-use building at 486-500 Preston St. is a revision from the developer's original request for a 113-metre height allowance to accommodate a 36-storey building. This was revised due to community opposition. Read more about SoHo Italia in the June 25 print edition of OBJ.

- Parthenos Developments Ltd., owner of three parcels of land at 4471, 4479 and 4487 Innes Rd., is applying to change the zoning from residential to general mixed-use with a height limit of 15 metres. The proposed four-storey building will feature one floor of retail and three-storeys of office and medical use space, as well as a two-storey building that will house an Arby's restaurant and drive-through.

Sections

About

SteveB: - June 25, 2012 at 23:25:38

I thought Watson was going to get tuff and force developer to respect the current Zoning regulations... Instead, we have them apply for one outrageous hight, then file a second request for a slightly lower outrageous height. 113 down to 95 Meters? Are you kidding. The original zoning was probably 35 Meters. Then the "City" approves the new zoning request???? Where do the planers live? In the burbs? Unbelievable. We will regret the current overdevelopment in 25 years!

Submit a comment

Harley

- June 29, 2012 at 14:43:53

we won't regret the 'overdevelopment', we will be angry that we didn't promote more height and density in the future. thanks to jaques greber we are extending utilities and services far beyond the average city of 1,000,000+ due to the greenbelt. Density within the greenbelt, especially on ideal lots like this, is exactly what this city needs.