KITCHENER — The City of Kitchener has given the green light for a new residential development at 1257-1265 Ottawa Street South, paving the way for the transformation of two single detached dwellings into a 20-unit low-rise residential building.
The approval follows a detailed application process led by Patterson Planning Consultants Inc. on behalf of Agrawal Real Estate Investment Trust & Dotsenko.
The approved project will see the construction of a three-storey building encompassing 20 residential units.
The development site covers an area of 2,018.7 square meters (0.201 hectares) with a frontage of 40.80 meters along Ottawa Street South.
The building will offer a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, each featuring private balconies.
Additionally, the site will include a landscaped outdoor amenity area for residents.
The development will include 23 parking spaces to address parking needs. The allocation meets the city’s requirements, providing 1.0 spaces per unit for residents and 0.15 spaces per unit for visitors.
The project also exceeds the city’s bicycle parking requirements, offering 20 spaces compared to the 16 required.
The development is well-served by public transit, with Grand River Transit’s Route 3 (Ottawa South) and Route 205 (iXpress Ottawa) running directly in front of the property.
The routes offer convenient connections to the Sunrise Centre and other transit lines, enhancing accessibility for residents.
The project necessitated a zoning by-law amendment due to its proposed use and scale.
The site was originally zoned as “Residential Three Zone (R-3)” under the City of Kitchener Zoning By-law 85-1.
While the new zoning framework, approved on March 21, 2022, initially classified the property under the “RES-2” designation, this did not accommodate the proposed multiple-dwelling development.
The property has now been rezoned to “RES-5,” a classification that supports multiple residential dwellings to facilitate the project.
The change allows the project to move forward under the more suitable “RES-5” zoning regulations.
The project includes an increase in the Floor Space Ratio from the maximum permitted 0.6 to 0.63.
The slight increase is consistent with the city’s planning guidelines, provided it maintains compatibility with the surrounding area.
The new building will be positioned parallel to Ottawa Street South, with a design that adheres to the setback and height requirements of the “RES-5” zone, minimizing the impact on neighbouring properties.
The development will feature a single vehicular entrance from Ottawa Street South and a sidewalk connection to the municipal right-of-way, promoting pedestrian access and safety.
Parking will be located at the rear of the building, maintaining a clean frontage. The project includes a ground-level outdoor amenity area and retains as much of the existing vegetation as possible.
The landscaping plan will be refined during the Site Plan Approval process. In approving this development, the City of Kitchener has emphasized the importance of integrating the project into the existing urban environment.
The development will replace the current single-family homes and driveways, aiming to enhance the area’s aesthetic and functional attributes.
Efforts will be made to incorporate existing mature vegetation into the new design, where feasible, to maintain a green and inviting space.
The approval of the 20-unit low-rise residential development at 1257-1265 Ottawa Street South is a significant step towards addressing Kitchener’s growing need for housing.
The project aligns with the city’s strategic vision for urban intensification and sustainable development.
With the rezoning to “RES-5,” the development is set to bring modern, functional, and aesthetically pleasing housing options to the Laurentian Hills Community Area.
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