Public Meeting Hears Objections to Plans for Former Woolworths Property – VIDEO

Brockville – A public meeting held Tuesday night at city hall proposing amendments to the City of Brockville’s official plan and zoning bylaw for the former Woolworths building on King Street met with objections from neighbouring residents and businesses.

There was a total of 8 people who spoke at last night’s public meeting which the Planning Committee hosted, with the majority coming out against the proposal. There were only 3 people who came out for the proposal with some suggestions and concerns.

Objections ranged from 9 storey building being too high, what would the perspective look like for people coming down around the courthouse, adding to parking problems in the downtown, more traffic for the narrow Victoria Lane that is at the back of those properties along that block and blending in with the rest of the downtown architecture

Chris and Cathy Lewis, who own the property next door east of the site were the strongest objectors to the plan, “I would expect all of the zoning amendments to be denied. King Street, the King’s Highway Number Two, is a many-storied road, with a history of sacrifice and celebration. It does not deserve nine storeys of intrusion.” said Chris Lewis.  More in the video below:

 

“Having run a business Downtown for 31 years, my question is, when you put a building with that much retail space downstairs, who is going to take over retail space? Most of our downtown right now is empty, retailing is dying, unfortunately,” said Cathy Lewis, owner of Boboli next door to the site.

As well as the narrow lane behind the block, Victoria Lane was noted by many as a serious problem during construction and after.

Brian Kendel who owns and lives at 12 Victoria Ave, beside the Victoria Lane laneway said, “My biggest issue is the laneway itself, not even so much the parking, if there is not an exit, I do not understand how it is going to work” More in the video below:

 

David Duc and his wife Ida who own the Sir Isaac Brock Bed and Breakfast on Church Street spoke out in favour of the plan. More in the video below:

 

Ida is also the chair of Brockville’s Heritage Committee and said, “I also own a Bed & Breakfast here in town, and the first thing I hear our guests say to us is, beautiful downtown, but what about that big eyesore downtown? More in the video below:

 

The Ottawa-based Caber Group has said it needs a nine-storey structure to make the project economically viable.

On hand, for the meeting Tuesday night was Chris Warner-Smith, a consulting architect with Ottawa-based firm Idea Inc., representing the Caber Group. He said that this iteration is not the final design and that he heard people’s objections.

The planning committee of course took no action at the meeting and will wait for city staff recommendations after the public meeting.

The full public meeting video can be viewed on the city’s website here: https://brockville.civicweb.net/document/198845/?splitscreen=true&media=true

Information on the proposed amendments and proposal can be found here: https://brockville.com/news/notice-of-public-meeting-concerning-36-46-king-street-west/