106 new homes set to be built in Welland

Welland city council recently approved an exemption that will allow the developer of a condominium townhouse complex to start construction sooner. 

At a June 6 meeting, councillors voted for a condominium exemption requested by RPD Studios on behalf of a numbered company that plans to build 106 townhouses in the Ontario Rd. and King St. area. 

The development, once complete, will be located at 201 Ontario Rd. 

 Taylor Meadows, a city development planner, told council the exemption would expedite the development process by allowing the developer to forego the draft approval process.

According to a recent report, a full site plan agreement was registered on April 28, and the development conforms with the city’s official plan and zoning bylaw.

At the meeting, Ward 6 Coun. Bonnie Fokkens said she was impressed by the inclusion of 244 parking spots in the plan, calling the number a “good win.” 

“Usually, it’s a 1:1 ratio, so for me, for this development, that’s a good win there.” 

Fokkens asked Meadows how the complex would manage waste collection and snow removal, saying the areas weren’t designated on the map in the report.

“Garbage collection and snow removal would have been reviewed at the site plan stage,” he said, adding that the inclusion of both would have been confirmed for zoning compliance when the application was submitted.

Meadows also confirmed that the site would be accessible to emergency vehicles and Niagara Region waste collection trucks and that the condominium corporation would be in charge of road maintenance.  

“I’m in full support of this development. I believe it is where it should be,” Fokkens said before asking if city staff know when construction will begin.

Meadows said the developer is looking to start construction “most likely immediately” and will begin once some surfacing work is completed and a permit has been issued.  

Ward 4 Coun. Tony DiMarco also said he was in favour of the development. 

“One thing I like about this and I will support [it], is it’s out in the open space and other than traffic and maybe congestion and depending on where the ins and outs are going to be, it’s not really inconveniencing any other homes in the area. The nearest homes are on the other side of King St. Something like this is something I can go for.”