During a review of a plan control application on May 19, two Saugeen Shores councillors raised concerns about sufficient parking for future residents and visitors at a proposed mixed-use development in Port Elgin. The application was submitted by an Ontario numbered company under the name Patel.
The plan suggests constructing a five-storey building featuring commercial spaces on the ground floor and 27 rental apartments above. This development is planned for the west side of Goderich St., just north of Mary St., next to the Power Link building at Devonshire Rd.
A planning report indicates that out of the 27 residential units, 22 will be two-bedroom apartments and five will be three-bedroom apartments.
With 40 percent coverage, the proposed landscaped open space surpasses the Town’s minimum requirement of 30 percent.
There’s also an outdoor patio/terrace planned for apartment tenants above the parking level in the rear yard, along with a six-foot-high privacy fence to screen the property line adjacent to Elgin Lodge.
Parking for tenants will be located inside the building on the first floor, which is partially below grade. Commercial parking will include two accessible spaces situated at ground level in front of the lot.
According to staff, there are more parking spots than required: eight bicycle spots and 40 vehicle parking spaces with three designated as accessible. However, Coun. Rachel Stack expressed an “open concern” regarding this parking arrangement.
“Forty spaces for 27 units seems a little low given the target demographic,” Stack said, raising questions about where visitors might park if underground options are unavailable since there’s no other nearby parking.
She proposed that visitor parking could extend into commercial areas after hours. Hamm mentioned that visitor parking has been included in the partially underground setup.
Coun. Bud Halpin supported mixed-use developments as essential for future growth.
“I don’t want to see any more sprawling one-storey strip malls that waste a lot of land; this is a great idea and I think it is a good-looking building…” Halpin stated.
Deputy Mayor Diane Huber pointed out that the Town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee has emphasized having accessible parking spots correctly signed, sized, and placed near stores with barrier-free pathways.
Huber noted that while this isn’t directly related to this project, there’s a need for clearer enforcement regarding accessible parking bylaws on private property featuring commercial elements.
“There is (enforcement) language …but it’s a little bit iffy – it encourages it, but it doesn’t make it required…” Huber explained.
Candace Hamm, who manages Development Services for the Town, mentioned there may be options available for landowners to work with the Town on enforcing parking rules on private property-a possibility worth exploring.
Source link
