Townhouse development proposed at Dacey Road and Queen

A 21-home townhouse development has been proposed for 68 Dacey Rd., infilling the core of a block bounded by Dacey, Queen Street, River Road and Royal York Boulevard.

David Peck and Tracy Buffone (Canada Corporation #15144311) want to build five multiple-attached townhomes and one single-detached dwelling on the now-vacant site, totalling 21 residential units.

If approved, the development will occur in five phases over a total of five years.

"The applicant is proposing 20 rental units (single-storey townhouses) and is intending on occupying the single-detached unit, thereby providing a mixture of housing types that will contribute to meeting the expected housing needs of the community," says Steve Zuppa of the city's planning department.

The application comes as city officials are scrambling to add to the Sault's housing stock.

The city's housing needs assessment for 2023-2025 found that more freehold and rental housing are needed to handle expected population growth.

"The housing needs assessment identified that rental housing stock has not kept up with demand in recent years, contributing to housing supply challenges and a very low vacancy rate," Zuppa says in a report prepared for Tuesday's council meeting.

"Sault Ste. Marie is defined as an economic and service hub, and as such, is intended to accommodate a significant portion of future population and employment growth in northern Ontario. In order to accommodate this growth, sufficient housing must be available," he said.

The new housing project would be built on a flag-shaped, 1.6-hectare lot southeast of the Queen-Dacey intersection.

The 'flagpole' of the property is a 17-metre-wide corridor leading to Dacey Road on which a driveway and sidewalk will be built, serving as a single access route to the housing, something the city says is common in infill developments.

On Tuesday, city council will be asked to rezone the property from single detached residential to low density residential.

A special exception is needed to allow both multiple attached dwellings and a single-detached dwelling on the same property.

Approximately 26 neighbours attended an information session on Jan. 10 at Pinewood Public School.

They expressed concerns about traffic, drainage, privacy, alleged soil contamination and their view that single-detached houses are more suitable for the neighbourhood.

"Planning staff are satisfied that the application represents a compatible form of infill intensification development that conforms with provincial and municipal policies and plans and is not anticipated to have negative impacts on the surrounding neighbourhood," Zuppa said in his report.

Next week's council meeting will be held on Tuesday because of the Family Day holiday on Monday.

SooToday's livestreamed coverage will start at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday  with a special session at which Dr. Chelene Christine Hanes and David Orazietti will be presented with the 2023 Medal of Merit.