KITCHENER — The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee approved a development application for a mixed-use highrise in the Cherry Hill neighbourhood, which council has now approved.
The developer, MA Development Services, plans to remove the existing buildings and develop a new 25-storey tower with commercial and residential use on the corner of Victoria Street South and Bramm Street.
The subject lands are 130, 138, and 142 Victoria Street South, totalling 0.178 hectares of area size. Three buildings exist on the properties, which include a pharmacy, a building with 11 rental units at market rate, and a two-storey house.
Approval from council has granted minor and significant changes in parking spaces, floor space ratio, zone changes and land use designation.
The new changes include changing the zone from ‘Low-Intensity Mixed Use Corridor Zone (MU-1)’ to ‘Mixed Use Three Zone (MIX-3) with Site Specific Provision 374 and Holding Provision 50H’. These zone changes allow for an increased floor space ratio, reduced parking rate, and a minimum non-residential floor area.
The subject lands will be changed from Zoning By-law 85-1 to the new Zoning By-law 2019-051.
MA Development Services sought to allow a maximum building height of 80 metres, which council has approved. It is a significant increase from the original zoning permissions of 13.5 meters and allows the construction of up to 25 storeys for the building.
The original zone permissions allowed for a 2.0-floor space ratio but have been approved for a 13.7-floor space ratio by the committee to allow for more interior space and a more significant overall square footage.
Council has also approved a reduction in parking spaces, leaving 27 spaces for residents, two spaces for short-term delivery vehicles and one full-size space for loading/garbage vehicles with a private laneway for unloading.
The subject lands are within the Urban Growth Center and a Major Transit Station Area. This location is within close access to a prioritized area of public transportation, the downtown cycling grid, and pedestrian-oriented areas.
The building has 249 units and a 6-storey podium underneath. The highrise will include 61 bachelor units, 79 one-bedroom units, 12 one-bedroom plus den units, 28 two-bedroom units, 44 two-bedroom plus den units, and 25 three-bedroom units.
The tower’s main floor will have approximately 575 square meters of commercial space, and the second floor will have approximately 576 square meters of office space.
The staff report submitted to the Planning and Strategic Initiatives committee states, “The subject lands are situated in a prime area for redevelopment and intensification in the City of Kitchener.”
City staff believe the 25-storey highrise will fit in with the surrounding community, as there are many highrises around the area, including a future 38-storey approved tower to the west and an existing 27-storey tower to the east.
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