Developer behind proposal for Kitchener towers withdraws OLT appeal

The developers behind a proposal to build high-rise towers on King Street in Kitchener have made a surprising decision.

LJM Developments has withdrawn its appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) to overturn a council decision denying its proposal to build high-rise condos on King Street in March, a Kitchener councillor said.

The developers had originally put forward a proposal to build three towers, the tallest standing 33-storeys high, with 726 units and 0.57 parking spaces per unit, at 4611 King St. E., situated between Highway 401 and Sportsworld Drive.

After pushback from council and residents, the proposal was eventually modified to include fewer units and shorter towers, but it wasn’t enough to sway the opinions of council, which made the decision to turn down the proposal in March.

“Not every piece of land is suitable for development,” said Kitchener Ward 3 Councillor Jason Deneault. “We want development happening in the city, but it has to be in the right location, and one that makes sense.”

Councillors and residents were critical of the shadow the buildings would cast over the otherwise small neighbourhood on Limerick Drive, and how the hundreds of added vehicles in the area would affect an already-congested piece of road between two critical highways in Kitchener.

Following the council decision, LJM Developments made an appeal to the OLT to overturn council’s decision, an outcome some Kitchener councillors were wary of in their decision to deny the proposal.

In a surprising twist this week, Deneault said LJM Developments has reportedly withdrawn the appeal to the tribunal, meaning that piece of land in Kitchener will remain undeveloped for now.

“I would say it’s a victory for the neighbourhood,” he said. “It’s good that it’s not going to the OLT, because we know what happens at the OLT. Again, we’re not an anti-development city, and I’m not an anti-development councillor, it just has to make sense.”

LJM Developments gave no reason for why it decided to withdraw the appeal. 570 NewsRadio has reached out for comment and has yet to receive a reply.

The land is still available for development, however according to Deneault, it’s unlikely that LJM Developments will put forward another proposal at this site.