CAMBRIDGE — Arcadis Professional Services prepared a planning report for 30 Lauris Avenue to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. The report proposes to re-zone the lands for potential future aordable housing.
The current subject lands are vacant, and the neighbourhood comprises St. Anne’s Catholic Elementary School, Alison Neighbourhood Community Centre, single and multiple dwellings (houses and low-rise apartment buildings), and multiple parks, including Vardon Park and Soper Park.
Since September 2023, the property has been within close walking distance of multiple GRT bus routes, including the 53, the 63, and the 50.
These GRT stops provide transportation to commercial, recreational, and institutional areas.
The proposal suggests that the subject lands could develop into a mixed-income family area. If the property becomes aordable housing, 30% of the units are expected to be aordable (no greater than 80% of the current market value), and the other units will be market value.
By 2026, the region must deliver 2,500 new aordable housing units as part of the region’s ‘Building Better Futures Initiative.’ This zoning amendment would allow the city to reach this goal.
The concept design of the subject lands consists of one three-storey and one four-storey apartment building. A suggestion for units includes 48 one-bedroom units, 31 two-bedroom units, 11 three-bedroom units, and the remaining 14 studio units. They are totalling 104 units in the proposal.
The units would also be maintained by a non-profit partner or through the region’s RFP process. The future developer can change the final unit count by applying for a request through the city.
An ocial plan amendment is required to increase the property’s density allowance. Currently, the site is zoned as a ‘low/medium density residential’ area. The proposal suggests maintaining the zoning designations but requests to add site-specific policies.
The proposal hopes to increase the density from 40 dwelling units per hectare to 112 dwelling units per hectare. This density amendment respects the maximum height of the current neighbourhood but also utilizes the space for future development and intensification.
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