LONDON — The city can expect two 6-storey apartment buildings with 172 rental units at 610-620 Beaverbrook Avenue if the council approves the proposal application.
Local to London, Old Oak Properties is a development and property management company with many completed and coming soon projects. One of the many completed developments includes the ‘Mosaik’ at 385 Sugarcreek Trail in London, a rental building with a similar design structure to the new proposal at Beaverbrook Avenue.
The Mosaik development is within a 2-minute drive to the subject lands and comprises two 5-storey apartment buildings.
The subject lands at Beaverbrook are 2.9 acres in size and are currently vacant and zoned as a residential (R5) zone with a holding provision. The holding provision is in place because the properties require full municipal water and sanitary servicing.
The current zoning policies allow for medium-density development in the design of townhouses. Therefore, Old Oak must request to re-zone the lands.
In the proposal, they have requested to re-zone the lands as a residential R-9 zone (R9-7) with special provisions. In the future, they intend to remove the special provisions through amendments to the Ocial Plan and zoning by-law.
The properties are designated ‘Multi-Family, Medium Density Residential’ (MFMDR), allowing up to 75 units per hectare. The proposal for the properties requests 141 residential units per hectare.
In the planning report, Old Oak requests to re-designate the properties to ‘Multi-Family, High-Density Residential’ (MFHDR). Re-designating the subject lands permits the requested density and proposed building.
The properties are also within a zone known as an ‘urban reserve’ (UR). The Ocial Plan of London states, “The urban reserve (UR) zone is applied to undeveloped areas intended for future development, which requires a zoning by-law amendment.”
Along with multiple zoning by-law amendments, Old Oak is requesting special provisions for the development. These include setbacks and an increase in lot coverage.
A front yard setback to allow for possible road widening along the subject land’s main road requires a requested setback of 4.5m from the required 8.0m.
Old Oak requests interior side yard setbacks on the north and south of the subject lands from the required 7.6m to 6.0m for both sides.
Also, a lot coverage increase is requested to increase the lot coverage to 36.5% from the permitted maximum of 30%. Increasing lot coverage allows the building to take up more space and remain lower in height.
Active transportation has become a key factor in present development. The current subject lands would be utilized eciently as new transportation is being developed in the city.
Oxford Street West is near the subject lands and is part of the future rapid transit project, specifically the BRT (bus rapid transit) strategy.
The project has begun construction and involves creating bus-only lanes with queue jumps (a bus signal allowing the bus to depart before other vehicles) around the city to support active transportation.
The BRT is planned to dier from other public bus stops as it would have fewer stops, enhanced stations with larger shelters, and potentially an enclosed waiting area.
The closest BRT stop would be approximately 1km from the subject lands.
Old Oak is proposing 146 surface parking spaces and an above-grade deck with 76 spaces, equalling 222 parking spaces for residents and visitors. No parking amendments are requested as they conform with the city’s requirements.
The planning report proposes that this location is excellent for intensification and that the proposed project respects the character of the existing neighbourhood while promoting an engaging place to live.
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