Riverside park residents were intrigued to hear plans for the former JDS Uniphase site at 770 Brookfield, adjacent to Brookfield High School, especially curious about the planned height for the buildings.

Bylaw variances for the height and gross floor area are required in order for the vision to be achieved. The height allowed for the site is 18 metres or six storeys, however the architect is seeking nine storeys for a portion of the development. A variance in gross floor size of an increase of 50% is also being sought.

“It strikes me, having bylaw regulations is to set ground rules for what a community will look like. It looks like you’re using this as a goldmine, making the land use much more that it is designed for,” said Riverside Park resident Rolf Calhoun to Rod Lahey, the architect hired for the project. Mr. Calhoun was one of more then 20 people who attended the open house meeting organized by River Ward Coun. Maria McRae. The architect, Ridgecraft, as well as the land development coordinator and a city planner, were also on hand.

Mr. Lahey responded by showing several options that had been examined for the site, all looking to erect condos, explaining the thought process behind each. “I think what we’re asking for here is minor compared to other developments in the city,” he said.

It would be possible to keep the building smaller, keeping within the zoning parameters, but it would not be as attractive. The plan seeks to respect residents around the site with underground parking, not building too close to neighbouring backyards and creating sunken patios to create added privacy, he added.

Residents at the meeting are concerned that 400 parking places, albeit tucked underground, were not enough for the 350 proposed units since many residents have more than one car, leaving people to seek on street parking in the neighbourhood. Mr. Lahye noted 25 spots in the garage are actually tandem spots, meaning two cars can park there one behind the other, ideal for condo owners with two cars.

The design for the condo site includes: a small opening for pedestrians between the L-shaped buildings on the Brookfield Rd. side, leading into the courtyard. The small part of the L would face Brookfield, while the longer segments would run back toward Egan and Hobson Rd. The portion of the buildings at Brookfield Rd, the north side, is to be nine storeys high and would include street-facing commercial spaces on the ground floor. The condo units, as proposed, would taper down in height to seven and five storeys as they progress south toward Egan R. A court yard is planned for between the two L-shaped building and may include a pitching area, a putting green and a running track to capitalize on the outdoor activities in the area such as those held at Mooney’s Bay.

Each L-shaped condo building is expected to act independently from the other, each with its own entrance to a two storey underground parking lot, having its access of Brookfield Rd.

While some residents echoed comments of support the site as presented, concerns were voiced about the increased traffic, increased building height and extra pressure placed on the storm water system emerged during the meeting.

Carolyn Gauthier, a Riverside Park resident and president of the Riverside Park Community and Recreation Association (RPCRA) asked about previous storm water problems that residents on Egan Rd and even the St. Patrick’s Home on Riverside Dr. have dealt with, inquiring if studies would be done to ensure the area’s system could withstand 350 condo units. Ms. Gauthier was assured that storm, sanitary and water systems would be checked as part of the site plan process.

Issues about the height of the proposed building revolved around inquiring why nine storeys are needed and also about what happened to the Confederation Heights agreement which limited building height in the area to four storeys.

Erwin Dreessen, a former RPCRA board member, said he had files about the Confederation Heights agreement and that the four-storey height restriction for development only applied to the north side of Brookfield Rd, not the south side, where the proposed condos would be developed.
Having said that, he noted the architect may have to scale down the size a bit from nine metres to make the buildings fit in with the neighbourhood. Conc. McRae said her office and city staff would examine the exact details of the Confederation Heights agreement.

The Brookfield site in question has been a JDS Uniphase and a Canada Post location in the past. It is presently zoned general commercial, with an exception allowing for uses such as a bank, repair shop, retail store, food restaurant as well as a high-rise apartment building and a retirement home, so long as the ground floor is used for commercial purposes. The site is currently home to an old office building and parking lot. The condo units are planned for the parking lot portion. It is not yet known what will occupy the other portion of the property, also owned by Ringcraft.

Ringcraft is expected to formally begin the site plan approval process for 770 Brookfield Rd., in the next couple of weeks.