Eight-Storey 'green' condo development in the works for Stouffville

LivGreen Condominums proposing 91-unit, 'landmark' building at former Lion site

Yorkregion.com
November 7, 2019
Simon Martin

The Lion and Main Street Burger vanished from one of the busiest corners in Stouffville recently.

Just what is replacing the popular eatery and watering hole is becoming more clear. An eight-storey 91-unit LivGreen Condo project is being proposed for the location with some commercial units on the ground floor.

President of LivGreen Condominiums George Le Donne said the new condo would be a net-zero development with the most cutting edge-technology.

“I think what this project speaks to is more on its performance from an energy perspective and the zero impact that it will have on the environment operationally,” he said.

“It will be the most sustainable building of its kind, and will house the most advanced sustainable building technologies available.”

The laundry list of environmental features include sustainable geo thermal heating and cooling system, solar roof panels, triple glazed fibre-glass windows and every owner will have a car charging station tied to their solar panels.

“We won’t build a building if we don’t have these features,” Le Donne said. “That means the result is lower energy costs, low condo fees and net zero which means that there’s zero impact on the environment for an operational perspective.”

Le Donne made the presentation about the new building at a public meeting requesting changes to the zoning bylaw Oct. 22.

There are five site specific regulations that LivGreen requested to be changed. They've asked for reduction in the front yard setback to one metre. They've asked for an increase in the floor space index. The density again to be increased 230 units per hectare. Additional height on the building to take it from 20 meters maximum height to 29.25 meters and to be allowed to build on a angular plane.

“My goal here is to build a landmark building in Stouffville on this property and set an example for every development after this one, both in appearance and sustainable performance,” Le Donne said.

Many interested local residents turned out to hear about the new development and not all were pleased. While Kim Stark applauded the environmental features of the building she had a problem with changes being requested to the bylaw.

“I can already think that I’m going to be claustrophobic with that huge eight-storey building that close to the roadway blocking out any view if they have any left for Parkview village,” she said. “What I don’t appreciate is the fact that a builder would come in and push the boundaries by asking to double and triple the current bylaws. I’m sorry I find that disrespectful.”

Sharon Brown has bought one of the units in the condo and is worried about her balcony being to close to the wires

Reaction from council was cautiously optimistic about the project. Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban like the environmental features but had some concerns. “The outside green amenity space I found was very limited” she said. “For the people living there where would you go outside to kind of just chill and enjoy the community.”

The eight-storey building is the density needed to help the town meet its growth targets, Ward 4 Coun. Rick Upton said. “If we start making two or three storey buildings we are never going to make it to our population goal,” he said.

“I think that this is a good building that is in the right place,” Ward 3 Coun. Hugo Kroon said.

Le Donne brought up climate change in pitching the development to council and the public. He told the assembled crowd that it is time to act. “The federal government has set a goal to be net zero by the year 2050. That's 30 years from now. In my opinion, that's too late.” he said.

“I don't have all the answers right now by any means. I'm not even close to having the answers, but what I do know is I have a nine-year-old daughter, and for me to burden her with the problems that we've created is unfair.”