Residents concerned about new development in Laurelwood neighbourhood
Posted Dec 11, 2019 08:00:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It's a decision by Waterloo city council that isn't sitting well with residents of Laurelwood.
It's a four, 12-storey apartment project that has them upset.
The property at 460 Columbia Street West used to be greenfield, but grading started earlier this year with construction set to begin in March.
Residents felt misinformed by the decision and feel like the whole project was approved in secret.
Sandra Hanmer, Ward 1 Councillor, tells the Mike Farwell Show on 570 NEWS residents simply felt misinformed and kept in the dark about the project.
“Communication is something you can always do better. The city did follow its practices at the time and informing people about the comprehensive zoning bylaw review and their input.”
Hanmer said there was a primary concern brought up at information sessions held by Hanmer and Ward 2 Councillor Royce Bodaly.
“The concerns that were raised around the traffic pieces may seem more about that. That's a big issue that we need to make sure we got traffic flow in all our areas.”
The decision to rezone said property from greenfield to resident homes was made back in 2005, for the reason of intensifying residential development for Waterloo.
Bodaly said this rezoning was done after a study done in the late 90's.
“Because the site was not zoned on its own and it re-parcelled a whole lot of land in our ward. Like a lot of other developments back in the day, a lot of residents weren't given their day in court so to speak.”
