City to consider appeal on Wellington Crescent development

A city committee’s decision to reject a controversial development on Wellington Crescent is being appealed.

In a lengthy effort to build a multi-family condo building at 514 Wellington Cres., property owner Jeff Thompson is appealing a city centre community committee decision that rejected variances for the proposal in January.

Last month, the committee refused to allow the proposed eight-unit building to reach a height of 49.9 feet, instead of 35 feet, and replace a minimum front yard space with a “loading and queuing area.” Prior to that, other variances for the property were rejected in January 2022.

Council’s appeal committee will hear the latest matter on Wednesday.

Residents who have long opposed the project say the height increase poses the primary concern.

“He’s applying to build a building 49 feet tall, which is virtually a rectangle. So, it is a massive building in comparison to what used to be there and in comparison to what’s allowed… It doesn’t fit the neighbourhood,” said Christine Skene.

The development has faced sustained opposition from some community members since it was sold in 2016. The Gordon House, a former mansion at the site, was demolished in 2020 after attempts to protect it failed.

Skene said the former mansion’s peaked roof did reach 44 feet but most of the structure was shorter, making it a better fit for the lot.

She argues 35 feet is a more suitable maximum height.

However, a planner speaking on behalf of the developer stressed the proposed height makes sense.

“The original structure was not that much shorter than what’s being proposed… (And) when you look around at the rest of the area, all of the houses in that area are over 35 feet and many of the other buildings are well over 50 feet,” said Michelle Richard, the principal and owner of M Richard & Associates Ltd.

The chosen design would add density to the area and help the city meet its infill home construction goals, while also respecting the neighbourhood’s heritage, said Richard.

“The reason that this small variance is required is to keep the historic yards. So, all of those yards are staying and this building will only take 23 per cent of the site up. The historic fence is also staying… all of these features were things that the (neighbours) said they wanted,” she said.

Richard noted the project has been in the works for several years, which included “significant community engagement.”

She argues reducing the building height to 35 feet would actually clash with surrounding structures.

“That would make it the smallest structure on the entire block… and it would look awfully out of place,” said Richard.

City planners have recommended the proposal be approved, deeming it compatible with the area and building heights around it.

[email protected]

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga