WATERLOO — An application has been submitted to amend the zoning bylaw for the property located at 18 and 20 Hickory Street West in Waterloo.
The applicant, 1000646156 Ontario Ltd., proposes the construction of nine townhouse dwellings, consisting of a mix of two and three-bedroom units, totalling 26 bedrooms.
The proposed development is situated on a 0.1065-hectare site, with approximately 36.57 metres of frontage on Spruce Street and 28.82 metres of frontage on Hickory Street West.
The subject lands are located within the Northdale Neighbourhood, an area undergoing a significant transition from primarily single-detached residential uses to a more intensive, mixed-use community.
The site is designated as “Low Density, six storeys” under the City of Waterloo Official Plan, which permits low to mid-rise development, including townhouses, with a maximum density of 250 bedrooms per hectare.
The proposed development has a density of 248 bedrooms per hectare and a building height of 3.5 storeys, which complies with the height requirement.
The application seeks several amendments to the current zoning bylaw, specifically to lift the holding provision, increase the maximum number of attached townhouse units from six to nine, reduce the minimum first-storey height from four metres to three metres, and reduce the street line setbacks for a portion of the development.
The applicant argues that the decrease in first-storey height is necessary for the planned, built form and that the proposed design broadens the supply of new housing in the neighbourhood.
The proposed development will include a parking area accessed from Hickory Street West, providing nine surface parking spaces, one per unit, as well as nine bicycle parking spaces.
The outdoor amenity space will total 105 square metres, located at the corner of Hickory and Spruce Streets, with additional landscaped areas behind the six units facing Spruce Street.
Each townhouse will also feature a balcony for private amenity space. The site is located within the University of Waterloo Station Area.
It is within walking distance of several bus stops on Columbia, King, and Hazel Streets, which are serviced by local transit and higher-order iXpress routes, including 201 and 202.
Additionally, the ION Station on the University of Waterloo campus is situated to the west of the site, further enhancing its accessibility via public transportation.
The current zoning for the property is (Holding) Residential Northdale-6 ((H)RN-6), which permits townhouse dwellings with a maximum height of 21.5 metres.
The proposed development complies with most regulations under the RN-6 zone, except for the first-storey height and the maximum number of townhouse units in a continuous block.
Despite these differences, the applicant maintains that the development is appropriate for the area, which already features a mix of high-rise buildings and commercial uses.
City planners and other relevant agencies will review the application for the zoning bylaw amendment before being presented to the city council for approval.
A public meeting is scheduled for September 9, 2024, to discuss the proposed development and gather feedback from the community.
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