WATERLOO – A proposal for an ambitious 18-storey mixed-use building at the intersection of Regina Street North and Erb Street East requires approval for requested amendments to the city’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law.
Led by VanMar Developments and Urban Legend Group under the banner of VanLegend Regina LP, the project aims to transform the current landscape, occupied by commercial buildings and a parking area, into a vibrant urban center at the heart of the Uptown Waterloo Urban Growth Centre.
The proposed development, subject to regulatory approvals, encompasses a mix of residential, office, and commercial spaces, marking it as a pivotal project for the city’s development landscape.
The building is slated to house a total of 218 units, including 164 one-bedroom units, 27 one-bedroom plus den units, and 27 two-bedroom units.
The ground floor is designated for 439.3 square metres of commercial space, while the fourth floor is set aside for 1,713 square metres of office space.
Additionally, the building is proposed with 160.9 square metres of outdoor amenity space on the fourth floor and 3,583 square metres of residential amenity space on the fifth floor.
Parking arrangements are proposed to include 122 spaces as part of a shared parking system, aiming to accommodate residents, office workers, and visitors.
However, the proposal entails amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law.
The Official Plan amendment includes a request to re-designate a portion of the lands from Medium Density to High Density.
Additionally, the zoning by-law amendment proposes to rezone the site and requests adding specific provisions for building height, setbacks, parking ratios, and tower dimensions.
The proposed zoning amendment seeks to rezone the parcels at 6 Regina Street North and 24, 28, and 34 Erb Street East from the current classifications of Uptown Commercial Core-20 (U1-20) and Uptown Commercial Core-60 (U1-60) to Uptown Commercial Core-81 (U1-81).
This change aims to accommodate the development of an 18-storey mixed-use building by providing greater flexibility and alignment with the project’s objectives.
Examples of the requested special provisions include but are not limited to:
● increasing the maximum density to permit 245 bedrooms from 135 bedrooms
● reducing the rear yard setbacks from the required 4.5 metres to 0.44 metres
● increasing the horizontal tower dimension from 40 metres to 53.2 metres
● limiting building height to 18 storeys in one area of the site and four storeys in another area
● reducing the required parking spaces from 187 spaces to 122
● reducing the tower separation from the required 11 metres to 5.67 metres
● not requiring a common outdoor area
In conclusion, the proposed zoning amendments for the development at Regina Street North and Erb Street East represent a significant step forward in the evolution of Waterloo’s urban landscape.
By rezoning the site and incorporating special provisions to accommodate the envisioned 18-storey mixed-use building, the city has the opportunity to foster vibrant urban growth and development in the heart of the Uptown Waterloo Urban Growth Centre
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