Huron County Council approves new Wingham apartment building
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
The development of a new apartment complex in Wingham that has faced plenty of opposition is moving ahead after receiving approval from Huron County Council.
Council discussed the issue at its March 9 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom. While the upper-tier council often leans heavily upon the lower-tier recommendation in planning matters, North Huron Reeve Bernie Bailey had recused himself from discussion due to a conflict of interest on the matter. North Huron Council had, however, voted to approve the project as a three-storey apartment building at the site of the former Wingham trailer park, rather than a five-storey structure, which is what was proposed.
Planner Hanna Holman spoke to the issue, telling council that the Huron County Planning and Development Department was recommending approval of the project, by way of an official plan amendment, despite significant objection from community members and neighbours.
The amendment Holman recommended and council approved changes the designation of the property from “parks and open space” to “residential” and included a corresponding zoning bylaw amendment. She said the department’s recommendation is supported by phases one and two of an archaeological assessment, an environmental site assessment, an environmental impact study, a functional servicing brief, an urban design brief and a shadow study.
She stated that the official plan amendment is required to be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and the Huron County Official Plan, which it is. Holman told council that there were no concerns from North Huron staff, the Huron County biologist, the Huron County Public Works Department or the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, while the Morris-Turnberry Public Works staff did comment on the potential increase to traffic, recommending the completion of a traffic brief.
Holman said the department received a number of concerns from those in the community about the project, saying the prevailing themes among the correspondence were: loss of green space and removal of trees; potential loss of recreational opportunities, impacts on natural features and proximity to river; impact of residential development on surrounding neighbourhood as it related to shade, privacy and traffic; serviceability of the lands, and public circulation of the proposed amendments.
In regards to the environmental concerns, Holman said the application had been reviewed by both the Huron County biologist and the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and neither returned with concerns. Furthermore, she said the site plan control phase of the project would ensure that any landscaping at the site would be submitted by the applicants and then approved by council.
She also told council that it has been determined that the site has sufficient water and sewer capacity to support the development and that public information circulation was done according to the provisions laid out in the Planning Act. She also acknowledged the applicants for hosting an open house of their own last October to address concerns at that time.
For those reasons and because the project fits with the Provincial Policy Statement, Huron County Official Plan and North Huron Official Plan, the department recommended approval.
Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn asked about residents’ concerns about losing recreational opportunities, saying that lamenting the loss of recreational opportunities on land owned by someone else would be a “bold statement” for someone to make. Holman, however, said that, because the property had been owned by the township, it would often be used by people for walking or picnics and that the Wingham Community Trail goes through the property. The trail property, she said, would continue to be owned by the township to ensure the trail continues through the property uninterrupted.
Central Huron Deputy-Mayor Dave Jewitt said he was mindful of the concerns raised about the development, but felt that any remaining concerns would be dealt with later in the process.
Council approved the official plan amendment, allowing the project to go ahead.