Report to: Development Services Committee                    Date of Meeting: December 12, 2006  

 

 

SUBJECT:                          RECOMMENDATION REPORT

                                            Rezoning application by Tri-Block Group Ltd to permit 6 semi-detached dwellings on White’s Hill Avenue in the Cornell Community

                                            (ZA 04-015352)

 

PREPARED BY:               Marg Wouters, Senior Planner, East District

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the staff report entitled “Recommendation Report. Rezoning application by Tri-Block Group Ltd to permit 6 semi-detached dwellings on White’s Hill Avenue in the Cornell Community,” dated December 12, 2006, be received;

 

That zoning amendment application (ZA 04-015352) to amend By-law 304-87 and By-law 177-96, as amended, submitted by Tri-Block Group Ltd for lands on White’s Hill Avenue, be approved and the draft implementing zoning by-laws attached as Appendix ‘A’ be finalized and enacted;

 

That servicing allocation for 5 semi-detached units (15.1 population) be granted to Tri-Block Group Ltd from the total servicing allocation granted to the Cornell Community to date by the Town and the Region of York;

 

That the Region of York be advised of the servicing allocation for this development;

 

That the Town reserve the right to revoke or reallocate servicing allocation at its sole discretion; and

 

That the applicant agree to pay their proportionate share of the Highway 48 flow control measures, to the satisfaction of the Director of Engineering.

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1. Purpose                2. Background         3. Discussion             4. Financial         5. Environmental

 

6. Accessibility       7. Engage 21st             8. Affected Units       9. Attachment(s)

 

 





The subject lands are approximately 0.15 hectares (0.37 acres) in area and are located on the north side of White’s Hill Avenue, west of Bur Oak Avenue, in the Cornell Community (Figure 1).  The lands are more specifically known as Block 126, 65M-3295 (142 White’s Hill Avenue) and Part 7, 65R-21662.  The lands are currently vacant.  There are no environmental features on the subject lands.

 

The lands were originally part of the Cornell Phase 1 holdings. However, only a small portion of the lands (Block 126, 65M-3295), required for a temporary lane connection for the Phase 1 Stage 4 lands, was registered.  The lands were also omitted from the subsequent sale of the adjoining lands to the north and east to Wykland Estates Inc., as they were considered to be part of the Phase 1 lands.

 

The lands are designated ‘Community Amenity Area–Corridor’ in the current Cornell Secondary Plan and ‘Residential Neighbourhood’ in the draft updated Cornell Secondary Plan.  The majority of the lands are currently zoned Agricultural (A1) in By-law 304-87. The temporary lane connection lands at the west limit of the property were zoned for residential uses (R3*5 in By-law 177-96, as amended) as part of the implementing zoning for the residential subdivision to the west.

 

The adjoining lands to the north and east have been developed with single-detached and townhouse units, respectively.  To the south, across White’s Hill Avenue, is a vacant place of worship block, and lands to the west have been developed with primarily townhouse units (Figures 2 and 3).

 

Proposed Development

When submitted in 2004, the proposed development comprised a plan of subdivision consisting of a 6-unit townhouse block and an associated public lane to the north and east.   Two of the lots were proposed to accommodate coach houses. The most westerly townhouse lot was developed as a temporary lane to serve the townhouse lots to the west. Since then, the required lands for the lanes have been conveyed to the Town and the lanes have been constructed as part of the first phase of the Wykland Estates Inc subdivision (65M-3767).  The temporary lane is no longer required. 

 

The proposed development now consists of 6 semi-detached units with detached garages, with a proposed lot width of approximately 7 metres (23 ft) each.  One coach house is proposed within the end lot, with parking provided in the side yard of the lot.   Access for all units is from the existing lane to the north (Figure 4). 

 



The proposed plan completes the housing pattern established in the adjoining plans of subdivision.

The proposal conforms to the land use designations, density and height provisions and established street pattern of the current Secondary Plan and the draft updated Secondary Plan and is consistent with the surrounding context.  Average net site density for the proposed development is 40 units per net hectare (16 units per net acre) which falls within the required density range (37.1 to 79.9 units per net hectare) in the Secondary Plan. 

 

The change in built form from townhouse dwellings to semi-detached dwellings is considered appropriate as it provides for a mix of housing types consistent with existing surrounding development.  Approval of the proposed development also completes the development in this area.

 

Plan of subdivision no longer required, lots to be created through consent

The proposed lot arrangement was contemplated when White’s Hill Ave adjacent to this block was constructed.  Service connections have been installed to serve the six lots. As public right-of-ways are no longer part of the proposal, staff are satisfied that the 6 lots (to be developed with 6 semi-detached units) can be created through consent and that any outstanding applicant obligations regarding the proposed development can be addressed as conditions of approval of the severance.  

 

Servicing allocation has been assigned

Servicing allocation for the proposed development has become available as part of the June, 2006 allocation by the Town to the Cornell Developers Group.  One unit of servicing allocation was grandfathered from the previous (Law Developments) subdivision.   Therefore, 5 additional units (15.1 population) of allocation are required to service the proposed development.  The proposed coach house does not require additional allocation.  The Town has obtained written notification by the Cornell Developers Group Trustee that servicing allocation is available from the total water and sewage allocation granted to the Cornell Community by the Town.

 

Issues raised in Preliminary Report and Public Meeting have been addressed

The issues raised in the Preliminary Report and Public Meeting have been addressed.  Servicing allocation is now available.  No concerns were raised by the public at the January 25, 2005 Public Meeting.

Zoning by-law amendment

The proposed zoning is similar to that of neighbouring lands, and permits both semi-detached and townhouse dwelling types.  Although the proposal presented to the public at the Public Meeting consisted of townhouse units, staff are satisfied that given the mix of low density housing types provided in the surrounding community, and given that the proposed zoning permits both semi-detached and townhouse dwelling types, further notice for the zoning of the proposed development is not required.  Additional opportunities for public input will be available during the consent process.

 

 It is recommended that the zoning amendment application to delete the lands from Rural Area By-law 304-87 and to add the lands in Urban Expansion Area By-law 177-96, as amended, to permit semi-detached dwelling units, be approved and the draft implementing zoning by-laws attached as Appendix ‘A’ be finalized and enacted without further notice.