Planning and Environment Committee meeting, December 3, 2024

You can find the full agenda and reports on the meeting calendar. The committee approved a site plan for 45 Mercer Street, deferred a parking study, and recommended heritage by-law changes.

Attendance

Chair Councillor Priya Raman led the meeting. Present were Councillors Tom Beaudry, Arjun Sidhu, Helen Marchetti, and Mayor Danielle Okafor-Price. City staff included General Manager of Infrastructure and Planning Samuel Adeyemi and a Senior Planner. You can view the livestream archive for past meetings, though this session was not broadcast online. The meeting took place at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Wrenford City Hall, 100 Mercer Street, Wrenford, ON N4Q 1A1.

Delegations

Three members of the public spoke during the open forum. A resident from the Benchlands neighbourhood shared feedback on the proposed mixed-use development at 45 Mercer Street, asking for more green space. A representative from the Downtown Wrenford Business Improvement Area supported the project, noting it would bring new customers to the area. A third speaker, a resident from the Fallsview neighbourhood, raised concerns about traffic on Tamsin Street during construction. You are welcome to speak at future meetings by registering with the City Clerk's Office by Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Reports and decisions

Site plan review for 45 Mercer Street

The committee reviewed the development application for a mixed-use building at 45 Mercer Street. The proposal includes ground-floor retail and upper-level apartments. Staff recommended approval, provided the developer adds a public plaza and meets the city's energy efficiency standards. The committee voted to approve the site plan with these conditions. Carried.

Winter parking restrictions near Northgate Aquatic Centre

Residents had requested a review of the temporary parking ban on Ambrel Lake Road near the Northgate Aquatic Centre. The city's traffic team noted that the area needs more data before making changes. The committee voted to defer a final decision until January while a traffic study is completed. Defeated.

Heritage Conservation By-law amendments

The committee discussed proposed changes to the Heritage Conservation By-law to better protect the historic character of the 12 Mercer Street property. Staff advised that the amendments align with the City of Wrenford Official Plan. The committee voted to recommend that City Council adopt the by-law changes. Carried.

By-laws

No by-laws were passed at this meeting. The Planning and Environment Committee only makes recommendations to City Council. Council makes the final decisions on all by-laws. You can read past by-laws on the by-law index.

Adjournment

The meeting ended at 5:15 p.m. You can view the full minutes once they are approved at the next meeting. The next Planning and Environment Committee meeting will be scheduled through the meeting calendar.