Hamilton approves 24-unit townhouse development in Ancaster despite potential parking problems

A new 24-unit townhouse development in a residential Ancaster neighbourhood off Golf Links Road could create further parking issues for homeowners in the area, residents say.

Hamilton councillors recently agreed to an official plan amendment to allow the four three-storey townhouses at 35 Londonderry Dr. in the Meadowlands neighbourhood that will be located beside a day nursery.

But even though the development is required to have 55 parking spaces, Ancaster Coun. Lloyd Ferguson said residents within the neighbourhood have had trouble with vehicles parking along their side streets creating traffic issues.

Ferguson said the city requires residential developments to have two parking spaces per unit, yet the developer, Fontana Homes, is providing less than the parking guidelines.

If we already have this congestion on the street on Londonderry, won't (the parking issue) exacerbate that? This is the main issue with this development," said Ferguson.

City planer Tim Vrooman said based on the numbers, the parking plan will be sufficient" to accommodate the proposed development.

Ferguson argued, though, the child-care centre, Meadowlands Preschool and Daycare - located on Golf Links Road but which backs onto Londonderry Drive - sees its employees and parents who drop off their children park on the neighbourhood roads.

This has been an ongoing problem for a number of years," said Ferguson.

The veteran councillor also questioned why the development needs 12 variances under the city and former Town of Ancaster secondary plan. The variances include minimum lot area, front yard, side yard and rear yard setbacks, parking, children's play area, building separation and maximum density.

A portion of Londonderry Drive has "No Parking" signs, forcing vehicles to park on nearby streets.

Donna and Fred Brown stated in a letter sent to the city that the proposed plan does not address overflow parking" from the townhouse project. They said parking continues to be a problem along Londonderry Drive and Lowinger Avenue.

Zhihu Deng and Shihong Mao, who live in the area, wanted councillors to reject the application because of potential parking problems. They said the development will increase traffic and put at risk children's safety.

It is incompatible because of noise and will adversely (affect our) quality of life," they stated in another letter to councillors.

Joel Newman, president of the Wentworth Condominium Group at 876 Golf Links Rd., also wanted staff to rethink the project because parking is inadequate" for the development and there should be a better plan for the landscape strip between the proposed development and the nearby existing townhouses.

Ferguson requested staff to review the parking requirements around the neighbourhood that could include installing no-parking signs along various neighbourhood streets.

Transportation Planning and Parking director Brian Hollingworth said staff can review any changes to the city's parking requirements, including implementing no-parking restrictions.

Franz Kloibhofer, of A.J. Clarke and Associates, disagreed with Ferguson, saying the developer is providing sufficient parking for both residents and visitors of about 2.33 parking spots, even though the site plan requires two parking spots per unit.

Kloibhofer said the variances were needed to correct" what he termed an antiquated" planning document Ancaster adopted in the 1980s.

These variances are only required to correct an antiquated bylaw in order to (accommodate) a more modern paradigm," he said.

Ferguson took issue with what he considered a condescending" attitude toward Ancaster's planning principles.

I find that (comment) offensive, quite frankly," he said. I don't appreciate the condescending tone he used toward Ancaster. He must have missed the memo that Ancaster is a special place.

We are very protective of our community and quite frankly, I don't want to screw it under my watch."

Kloibhofer backtracked from his initial comments, saying he didn't mean to disparage the Ancaster community.

But he remained firm in his opinion that Ancaster's planning bylaw was developed over 30 years ago and hasn't been updated recently. He said most bylaws are reviewed every 10 to 15 years.

He said the many variances the development needs reflect a modern planning paradigm of design build form and densities."

I meant no disrespect to the Town of Ancaster in any way, shape or form," said Kloibhofer.