General Suburban Updates and Rumours

[nms]

If it happens, that should Waterloo pull out of the apparent "no housing starts" slump that surfaces every now and then. It's a shame that the City wasn't able to negotiate for the keeping of the NCR baseball diamonds. The Barrelyards wasn't this dense, but they had the benefit of Waterloo Park at their doorstep. This development will have one small playground in Lakeshore North (which will require crossing Weber St) and no other greenspace nearby that is not controlled by a school board (which will involve crossing either Northfield and/or Weber).

[SF22]

It looks like they fully expect to be able to connect through to Randall Dr at some point, with the way that Parkside Dr ends in a circle with nothing directly past it.

Parkside Dr. comes out to Weber now — check Google Maps.

The point is that they want to make a street connection to the north, whether they name it Parkside, or continue Conrad Pl further south to meet with Parkside bending west (which feels like a ridiculous choice; you'd think they would just rename that bit between Weber and Parkside something new).

[danbrotherston]

Parkside Dr. comes out to Weber now — check Google Maps.

The point is that they want to make a street connection to the north, whether they name it Parkside, or continue Conrad Pl further south to meet with Parkside bending west (which feels like a ridiculous choice; you'd think they would just rename that bit between Weber and Parkside something new).

FWIW streets ending at roads with no connection is almost the norm in the Netherlands and is a big part of why the roads and streets work so well. Of course, they're always open for pedestrians and cyclists, but cars must drive around.

(Of course it also helps that dead ends here don't have to end in a giant circle, the expectation here is that drivers are able to turn their cars around using a 3 point turn in the rare case they end up in a dead end.)

[ijmorlan]

Parkside Dr. comes out to Weber now — check Google Maps.

The point is that they want to make a street connection to the north, whether they name it Parkside, or continue Conrad Pl further south to meet with Parkside bending west (which feels like a ridiculous choice; you'd think they would just rename that bit between Weber and Parkside something new).

Point taken, you’re right. I agree it makes more sense to have the straight route be Parkside, maybe even rename Conrad Pl. to Parkside, and give the east-west part of Parkside a new name (maybe Conrad Pl.? No, that would be confusing).

To Dan’s point, I think Parkside is the kind of street that should go through, not a local residential street that is intended for local traffic.

[Acitta]

The Record: Thirteen towers proposed on Northfield Drive beside Waterloo Corporate Campus

[bravado]

I don't think it's worthy of a separate post for just some townhouses, but I wanted to post this news of a large new townhouse plan in a remote part of Cambridge that is growing in weird ways.

Large townhouse complex proposed for rural Riverbank Drive

The real estate investment company Intermarket Cam Limited, the firm behind a number of developments in the city's north business park, has applied for an official plan and zoning bylaw amendment to build a 109-unit townhouse complex at 245 Riverbank Drive.

The 2.85-hectare property contains a single detached home, agricultural fields and natural heritage features and is located along the bend of Riverbank Drive between King Street East and Allendale Road.

The official plan amendment asks to re-designate the lands to from rural residential to low/medium density residential with site specific policy to allow 56 stacked townhouses and 53 row-house towns.

This whole northern corner of Cambridge seems to be growing with new industrial (expected) but also lots of new residential. I'm one of those "build it!" YIMBY types, and yet this part of town has absolutely nothing for residents in terms of services. There are no commercial areas, no parks, no schools, no hospitals. 

Preliminary Site Concept Plan

Urban Design Brief



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[cherrypark]

Interesting... wonder if the city has improving Riverbank in the plans. Going to be a lot busier by all modes if this gets going.

[neonjoe]

Interesting... wonder if the city has improving Riverbank in the plans. Going to be a lot busier by all modes if this gets going.

The long term plan is for Boychuk to be extended to King, that would provide a lot of non local relief on Riverbank.

[timio]

Kitchener is developing a plan for Westheights Park. There is a workshop at Westheights School on June 5 @ 7pm.

https://www.engagewr.ca/westheightspark

I walked by today and saw some people wearing vests getting out of a dingy floating in the pond.

[bravado]

This is pretty small-fries stuff, but I'm happy to report that the OLT continues to add to the insane losing streak of the City of Cambridge + locals with too much time and money:

https://www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news...al-9096983

City's refusal of Middle Street land severance overruled at Ontario Land Tribunal

Another development proposal refused at the city level has been approved at the Ontario Land Tribunal, this time allowing four existing lots to be divided into six to accommodate at least six single-family units between Middle Street and Melrose Street in Preston.

The developer appealed to the OLT last fall after the city's committee of adjustment refused a minor variance application for the severance.

The City of Cambridge then opted not to participate in the appeal, leaving a neighbour on her own to air concerns on behalf of the neighbourhood.

Those concerns included a "significant increase" in traffic, parking issues on the narrow street and architecture out of character with the surrounding homes, many of which are mid-19th century.

But they were "given no weight" in light of the applicant's argument that the "gentle density" proposal meets the general intent of the city and region's official plans, the purpose of city zoning bylaws and what the OLT adjudicator determined is an appropriate use of land.

The province's plan to stop third party appeals can't come sooner... These NIMBYs should spend their unearned home equity on retirement planning, not pointless appeals at the OLT.

[Acitta]

Cambridge councillors say development wrong ‘flavour’ for scenic road

City council debates proposed development at 245 Riverbank Dr., concerns about density, entrance location, and preserving scenic road.

A request during Tuesday’s planning committee meeting by Intermarket CAM Ltd. for Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments at 245 Riverbank Dr., to allow for low/medium residential housing and multiple residential housing, was met with pushback from council.

[bravado]

Cambridge councillors say development wrong ‘flavour’ for scenic road

City council debates proposed development at 245 Riverbank Dr., concerns about density, entrance location, and preserving scenic road.

A request during Tuesday’s planning committee meeting by Intermarket CAM Ltd. for Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments at 245 Riverbank Dr., to allow for low/medium residential housing and multiple residential housing, was met with pushback from council.

I gotta change jobs and go work at the OLT, the demand for punishing bad councils is just endless

[ac3r]

I think I've jokingly said you should in the past. Maybe it's your calling haha. Council for a few years, mayor after that? Though I think my having a progressive YIMBY attitude would turn the whole city against you.

[bravado]

I think I've jokingly said you should in the past. Maybe it's your calling haha. Council for a few years, mayor after that? Though I think my having a progressive YIMBY attitude would turn the whole city against you.

I think you could get a lot done if you had no intention of being re-elected and wielded the strong mayor powers in the name of good

[ac3r]

I think you could get a lot done if you had no intention of being re-elected and wielded the strong mayor powers in the name of good

Benevolent Mayor Señor "Bravado"