‘Let’s do it smartly and respectfully’: Neighbours of Wasaga Beach residential proposal raise environmental, density concerns

CVD Wasaga Beach Inc. is proposing to build 459 residential units between Beachwood and Fairgrounds Roads, including four five-storey buildings with 160 units that would front onto Beachwood.

The 13.6-hectare property is currently designated in the municipality’s official plan as high density residential.

It is currently zoned recreational commercial, with a small portion that is low-density residential. The proposal would rezone the property to a higher-density residential zoning.

The company is also proposing to include commercial space on the ground floor of one of the multi-storey buildings, along with a communal amenity building.

Residents living in the Blue Water community across the road, however, say the density is too high, and the development shows a minimal amount of greenspace for residents.

Others raised concerns about traffic — both vehicular on Beachwood, and cyclists and pedestrians coming onto private land in Blue Water — and how shadowing from the multi-storey buildings would affect homes across the road.

Dawn Dunn also brought up the environmental impact of the project, particularly on local wildlife, and how it would encroach on Blue Water residents.

“I’m not sure that’s what you want for our town,” she said during an April 11 public meeting on the rezoning, adding that the density proposed “is not in keeping with our community.”

Dunn and her partner, Tim, suggested the multi-storey buildings be kept at three stories, and set back further away from Beachwood.

They also said any approvals for CVD’s proposal should be held off until the town completes a west end secondary plan addendum to the official plan.

“This zoning amendment will fundamentally change the fabric and feel of the community (and) set a negative precedent for transforming the entire west end,” Tim Dunn said. “Development and change is inevitable, but let’s do it smartly and respectfully.”

The town’s planning staff is expected to report back to council with a recommendation at a later meeting. Director of planning services Trevor Houghton said “we have a large grocery list of questions” from council and the public that the developer would be asked to respond to.