LONDON — In a bid to expand its campus infrastructure, the University of Western Ontario, owner of the site, is leading a significant development project at 1151 and 1163 Richmond Street.
The proposal, put forward by MHBC Planning, aims to transform the currently vacant eastern part of the main Western campus and accommodate a modern student residence in place of the existing building.
The building, which previously operated as the Bank of Montreal and now serves as a Child and Youth Development Clinic run by Western University, is proposed to be demolished for the development.
Situated at the northeast corner of the Richmond Street and University Drive intersection, the combined area of the subject lands measures approximately 1.4 hectares.
The proposed development envisions an eight-storey student residence comprising 259 residential suites with an anticipated total of 772 beds.
Additionally, a two-storey dining area is planned to front Richmond Street, while the main building entrance will be oriented towards the University Drive corridor.
The project encompasses various amenities to enhance student life, including outdoor spaces such as a landscaped courtyard and an outdoor volleyball sand court.
Existing bus stops along Richmond Street and University Drive will be retained, along with the University Gates at the entrance to University Drive, to maintain accessibility.
The proposed development includes a total floor plate of 3,928 square metres, a gross floor area of 28,727 square metres, and a maximum height of 27 metres.
Pedestrian access will be provided from both Richmond Street and University Drive, with the primary entrance situated on University Drive.
Parking facilities are planned to be campus-wide, with the nearest parking lot located approximately 100 metres from the subject lands behind Elgin Hall Residence.
Additionally, four parking spaces and a loading/receiving area are proposed at the northern end of the subject lands to accommodate employees and deliveries.
For cyclists, the development includes 28 outdoor bicycle parking spaces adjacent to the main entrance from University Drive, supplemented by an additional 37 indoor parking spaces in the basement, totalling 65 spaces, which exceeds the 60 spaces required.
The subject lands also require a Zoning By-law Amendment to permit the proposed development.
The requested zoning change involves replacing the current RF and RF(7) Zones with a new RF Special Provision (RF(_)) Zone applicable to the entirety of the subject lands.
As part of the proposed development, special zoning provisions are also being requested to accommodate specific site requirements.
These include adjustments to the front yard and exterior side yard setbacks, as well as modifications to the maximum height permitted.
The proposed site-specific RF(_) Zone exception integrates various exceptions tailored to the building design and site layout, including:
Front Yard Setback:
● Required for 1-3 storey elements: 8.26 metres
● Proposed: 7.0 metres (before road widening) and 0.0 metres (after road widening)
● Required for eight-storey element: 13.4 metres
● Proposed: 14.7 metres (before road widening) and 7.5 metres (after road widening)
Exterior Side Yard Setback:
● Required for 1-3 storey elements: 8.26 metres
● Proposed: 6.4 metres
● Required for 7-8 storey element: 13.4 metres
● Proposed: 6.4 metres
Maximum Height:
● Required for RF Zone: 40.0 metres and 8.0 metres for RF(7) Zone
● Proposed: 26.8 metres (special provision required due to non-compliance with RF(7) Zone)
Pending council approval, the proposed development promises to not only address the accommodation needs of the University of Western Ontario but also contribute to the enhancement of campus facilities and amenities for students and staff alike.
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