'Don't let our neighbourhoods be carved up into smaller lots': Newmarket resident

Residents fight infill development

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 3, 2019
Teresa Latchford

Kathryn Avenue residents filled the seats in council chambers, backed by residents who don’t even live on their street, as they protest an infill development proposal.

Town council was considering an application for a zoning amendment submitted by Siavash, Zahar and Faras Kariminejad Nobari which would allow the division of the existing two properties at 247 and 251 Kathryn Cres. Into three separate building lots for single detached dwellings.

“Now, I agree a land owner can do what he wants with his property if the existing homes are past their life,” Kathryn Avenue resident Jim Arlow said while addressing members of council during a public meeting. “He can choose to replace them, but it must comply to zoning and building codes.”

He is sure if the lots are split into three, there is no way the properties will meet the 15-metre frontage requirement. He also pointed out that the existing homes on the street are all bungalows and side splits.

“This development is invasive, intrusive and does not fit with our neighbourhood,” he added. “The development will cram as much house as possible onto these lots and introduce two-storey homes that don’t exist on our street.”

He presented council with a petition, signed by the majority of residents on the street, opposing the idea of splitting the lots and allowing three homes to be built.

“Do not allow our neighbourhoods to be carved up into smaller lots,” he said. “Preserve our planning classifications.”

A number of other residents, including some who have had similar infill happen in their own neighbourhoods, shared similar concerns and feared this allowance would open the door to many more requests for smaller and smaller lots over time.

“We have seen it on Beechwood Crescent where a 120-foot lot was severed into two 60-foot lots and what’s to say they won’t ask for four 30-foot lots down the road,” one resident said. “You have to be careful of the domino effect here.”

The properties in question currently house two single-storey detached dwellings with five mature trees; one significant tree that is proposed to be removed. The surrounding land uses are predominantly low density residential.

Despite the properties being designated Stable Neighbourhood, town staff reports the proposal was submitted prior to the enactment of the Interim Control Bylaw, which prohibits the erection of, or additions to, a dwelling within defined areas of town, that results in an increase to the gross floor area of the existing dwelling by 25 per cent or more.

“However, compatibility remains an important theme in the town’s current Official Plan,” the staff report states. “The established exemption process of the ICB looks at the application against physical character and streetscape character compatibility.”

A presentation made by a representative from Sunrise Constrade Corp. stated the only changes to the current bylaws will be frontage and lot coverage. The heights of the three proposed two-storey homes meet the current allowances.

“The development of 247 and 251 Kathryn Cres. represents an opportunity for redevelopment that respects the surrounding community and maintains but also improves the existing concept that is compatible with the surrounding building stock,” the representative added. “This is in keeping with the efficient use of infrastructure and amenities that are already in place and promoting an efficient use of land that does not compromise the community.”

As far as the builder is concerned, the architecture and design of the homes will fit in nicely with the existing neighbourhood.

Council was not tasked with making a decision, but rather to listen to what both sides had to say.

Town staff will consider all of the comments provided at the meeting while creating a full report complete with recommendations that is expected to be presented to council for consideration in the fall.

Residents who were not able to attend the meeting can still submit written comments for the next month to the town’s planning department or their local councillor.