Two stalled developments are getting a new lease of life in Bradford

Two long-delayed developments could finally make progress in Bradford, proposing a total of 53 new homes.

First, the board approved an application by First View Homes (Scarborough) Inc. for a subdivision agreement for Block 106, Recorded Plan 51M-1133, also known as 391 West Park Ave., during the regular council meeting on Tuesday evening, May 7.

This came in response to a report by senior city planner Ray Kelso, who explained that the developer is looking to build 38 townhouses connected to West Park by a future cul-de-sac to be called The Court Elgin on the 1.18 hectare property. , which is bordered by West Park to the west, Canadian Tire to the north, semi-detached houses fronting Blackwell Crescent to the east, and existing houses fronting Veterans Street to the south.

Section 4 Con. Joseph Giordano asked if the council could ask First View Homes to help cover the costs of reducing the speed limit on the affected section of West Park, and while this is technically possible, Community Planning Manager Alan Wiebe explained that it would require changing the conditions of approval which would require a new notification process and come with a new appeal period.

Deputy Mayor Raj Sandhu suggested that staff could still contact the developer and ask for their voluntary assistance.

“All we can do is ask. If they say no, it’s a no,” he said.

Section 5 con. Peter Ferragine agreed with this approach.

“If they’re a good team player within the community, I don’t see them having a problem adding something to make everyone happy,” he said.

While the draft site subdivision plan was previously approved by council on May 3, 2022, following a recommendation from the full committee in April, the necessary consents remained outstanding with the subdivision consent application filed on March 14, 2024, according to the report.

Because the property is one of the last vacant pieces of the Centerville development, Kelso explained it will share a stormwater pond, water and sewer services and a park with the rest of this development, which began more than 20 years ago, when were the first plans. filed with the city in 2003.

Prior to the 2022 approval to rezone the area for homes, the property had previously been considered for an apartment building and before that a nursing home.

Balancing commercial needs

As the next order of business, the board approved the amendment to the subdivision agreement requested by Bradford Capital Holdings Inc. for Block 403, Recorded Plan 51M-1063, also known as the southeast corner of Inverness Way and Line 6.

This came in response to a separate report by Kelso, which explained that the developer plans to build 15 townhouses on the 0.39 hectare property, which will not need new roads and is currently vacant land.

The property is bordered by Inverness to the west, Line 6 to the north, Fortis Crescent to the east and existing houses and semi-detached houses to the south.

According to the report, Bradford Capital Holdings initially submitted an application in October 2019 to rezone the property from commercial to residential, but in August 2020, the council noted concerns about the lack of proposed commercial development in the area.

Since there was no decision within 90 days, the developer filed an appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), and in June 2023, the city and the developer reached a resolution and entered into settlement agreements.

Through this process, the developer agreed to begin work on developing Block 404 – approximately 390 meters east along Line 6 – for commercial use, and the rezoning application for the property was approved by council earlier this year year, on January 19.

A site plan has also been received for that property, and while not yet considered complete by city staff, work is far enough along that staff has recommended an amended subdivision agreement be entered into to allow residential development of Block 403.

Because the property will connect with an existing development, it will be able to share stormwater management, but roadwork is expected to be required to create connections to water and sewer services.

Also, additional money will be required in lieu of the park.

The board approved the deal without discussion.

–With files from Patrick Bales