The Municipality of Meaford has come to an agreement with developer Skydev relating to their mixed use development proposal for the former Stanley Knight flooring factory waterfront property on Boucher Street.
Skydev’s proposal for the property, which includes a five-storey hotel and spa, and a four-storey apartment building, along three two-storey townhouse buildings, and four four-storey waterfront townhouse buildings, has seen significant opposition from Meaford residents who have shared their concerns with council at a number of meetings over the past year since the proposal first came before council.
Topping the list of resident concerns is the density of the proposed development which would see hundreds of additional vehicles using quiet, residential streets to access the property. Additionally residents have noted concerns about the proposed height of the buildings, the reduction of green space, as well as public access to the municipally owned waterfront.
In July of this year, the Clerk for the Municipality of Meaford received a Notice of Appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal for the Zoning By-Law Amendment Application Z04-2021 from the legal representatives for Skydevco Inc.
On December 6, the municipality issued a press release announcing that and agreement had been made.
“At the Case Management Conference on December 5, 2022, the Ontario Land Tribunal issued a verbal order to approve the proposal by Skydev Inc. related to the proposed development at 226 Boucher Street East and 138 Bridge Street. The approval was based on draft minutes of settlement presented by the applicant and the Municipality which took into consideration the numerous submissions by members of the public,” the municipality announced on Tuesday. “The Municipality of Meaford was pleased to enter into the minutes of settlement with Skydev Inc. which are based on the draft zoning by-law amendment and associated staff report that was due to be considered by Council prior to the appeal.”
According to the press release, “the agreement permits the development of two-storey townhouses facing the existing roadway, four-storey waterfront townhouses, a four-storey apartment building, and a five-storey hotel. The minutes of settlement also include requirements for the hotel to include commercial or recreational space and that it will be part of the first phase of development on site, with building permits issued only after a signed letter of intent is received from a recognized hotelier.”
The municipality said that Skydev Inc. has also committed to “clearly delineate the separation of the public access from the development lands along the publicly owned waterfront through the Site Plan approval process, as well as paying for the necessary improvements through a payment to that public access.”
Council approved the draft minutes of settlement following a closed meeting on November 23, 2022, and gave direction to the Municipal solicitor to present them to the Ontario Land Tribunal at the Case Management Conference on December 5, 2022, for their consideration as part of the approval process.
Mayor Ross Kentner said that the agreement is a “positive step forward.”
“This agreement is a positive step forward in the growth of our community, bringing a variety of much needed housing options and a hotel that will have a positive impact on our tourism industry. The agreement with Skydev Inc. ensures the development will be built in a way that best fits with our community, and provides the most community benefit possible,” Kentner said of the agreement reached with the developer.
