STRATFORD, P.E.I. - A proposed 56-unit, four-storey affordable housing apartment building seems to have cleared its first hurdle.
Stratford town council held a public meeting Wednesday night to discuss developer Tim Banks’ Pan American Properties request to rezone four parcels of land (comprised of a total of 4.05 acres) to construct the building.
It was standing room only inside council chambers at Stratford Town Hall, and no one spoke out against the project. Those who did speak all agreed it’s a good project for the town.
Banks said the building would be erected in behind the existing Storemark property on the Trans-Canada Highway. Banks’ Pan American also owns the Storemark property. The proposed apartment building would be on Dale Drive.
Pat Van Ouwerkerk, a Stratford resident, praised the artist concept of the proposed apartment building but didn’t like the view some of the residents would have, referring to the backside of the Storemark property.
“That’s a beautiful looking building,’’ Van Ouwerkerk said, referring to Banks’ proposed project. “But is it going to be behind that awful looking Storemark building?’’
Banks said the plan is to make improvements to the Storemark property and, likely, move Storemark altogether to another location eventually.
Carol Corbett, another resident, said she was thrilled Stratford was putting in some affordable housing.
“Stratford has a great opportunity here but there are issues,’’ Corbett said.
Corbett said when they moved into the area in 1972 it was a huge swamp and there have been storm water issues ever since, especially in January and whenever there are melts. She said there is constant flooding across the street.
“It’s an issue for us as homeowners and it’s a great opportunity to address this.’’
Banks said they will be working on drainage issues and the problems that Corbett talks about will dissipate with the proposed development.
“We’ll put an engineer’s stamp on it,’’ Banks said.
Corbett said it would be a win-win situation — solve the runoff issues and the unsightly premises issues.
Banks also vowed to maintain the upkeep on the property so it looks as good 10 years from now as it does the day it opens.
Stratford resident Adrienne Montgomery said she was concerned about what type of tenants would occupy the building — long- or short-term rentals.
“It’s not been our practice to run Airbnbs,’’ Banks assured Montgomery. “We look for long-term renters.’’
“I support this development,’’ Montgomery replied.
Former Stratford councillor and mayoral candidate Sandy MacMillan said she’s concerned about the fact the town doesn’t yet have an affordable housing policy.
“We need an affordable housing strategy,’’ MacMillan said. “I would urge council to take the time to get the parties together. We need to look at the target market. We need to know the options to fund it.’’
Mayor Steve Ogden replied that the town is currently working on developing a strategy.
Banks added there will be more fully accessible units in the building than the law requires. Of the 56 planned units, 30 of them would be affordable housing units.
Coun. Jill Burridge, chairwoman of the planning committee, said the next step is for her committee to consider the comments at the public meeting. Depending on the recommendation from the committee, council could give Pan American’s rezoning application first reading at the next public meeting of council on Jan. 9.
Second and final reading would occur at the next public meeting of council and the permit stage would be next.
