WOOLWICH — The Trustees of Trinity United Church have unveiled plans for a transformative development at 21 Arthur Street North and 4 Cross Street in Elmira.
The project, led by GSP Group Inc., proposes the replacement of the existing church and clergy residence with a contemporary six-storey mixed-use building.
The redevelopment aims to breathe new life into the site, offering both residential and community spaces.
The proposed project involves the demolition of the current Trinity United Church, which has stood since 1964, and the adjacent clergy house, built in 1904.
In their place, a new building will rise, featuring a combination of residential units and spaces for community use.
The first floor will predominantly serve as the new home for Trinity United Church, incorporating a 70-seat sanctuary, multiple meeting rooms, offices, and a kitchen.
Additionally, a single studio apartment will be located on this level. The upper floors, from the second to the fifth, will house a total of 53 residential units.
The rooftop, considered the sixth storey, will provide both indoor and outdoor amenity spaces, including patios equipped with furniture and a pergola for residents’ use.
The development is set on a site that spans 0.3157 hectares. It fronts 16.09 metres on Cross Street and extends 56.04 metres along Arthur Street North.
The proposed building will have a density of 168 units per hectare, which exceeds the current maximum permitted density of 127 units per hectare as stipulated for the 21 Arthur Street North Policy Area.
The building height is planned to be 20.0 metres, surpassing the existing zoning limit of 18.1 metres.
Access to the development will be provided from both Arthur Street North and Cross Street. The entrance to Arthur Street North, which will be six metres wide, will require an access permit from the region.
Similarly, a six-metre-wide entrance on Cross Street will facilitate additional access to the site.
The project includes a parking plan featuring 57 spaces, including two barrier-free spaces, located in a surface parking lot at the rear of the building.
The parking allocation represents a shortfall from the 65 spaces plus two barrier-free spaces currently mandated by the township’s zoning by-laws.
The plan also incorporates a 1.215-metre road widening along Arthur Street North to accommodate regional requirements.
To proceed with the development, several amendments to the current zoning and official plans are necessary.
The site is currently zoned as Core Commercial (C-1) with a special exemption 382 that permits a place of worship and sets specific parameters for height and parking.
The proposed changes require a rezoning to Core Commercial (Urban) (C-1) with site-specific provisions that will allow for the increased building height of 20.0 metres and a reduction in parking requirements by eight spaces.
Additionally, an amendment to the Official Plan is needed to increase the permissible density from 127 units per hectare to the proposed 168 units per hectare.
Before construction can commence, the project must receive site plan approval. This process will address detailed design aspects, including landscaping, the building façade, and the overall site layout.
The application for site plan approval will follow the council’s review and consideration of the proposed amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law.
Situated at the northern edge of downtown Elmira, the site is part of a diverse area that blends commercial and residential uses.
The immediate vicinity includes a Shoppers Drug Mart to the south and residential properties to the north and east, with Bolender Park nearby.
To the west, the land use comprises a mix of residential and commercial activities along Church Street East.
The proposed development aligns with the urban character of downtown Elmira and is designed to enhance the area’s vibrancy and functionality.
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