Builder looks to add 382 new units with large Niagara Falls development

A developer looking to build an eight-storey apartment building, a 13-storey apartment building and 10 three-storey block townhouses at 7449 Montrose Road in Niagara Falls passed the first zoning hurdle at the June 20 City Council meeting.

The developer, 2683421 Ontario Limited is looking to add a total of 382 dwelling units with the new development.

While the rezoning was approving with a “Holding” provision, right off the top, the city staff said they needed the applicant to submit an updated Wind Study (with wind tunnel modelling), tree compensation agreement at a ratio of two trees for every one tree removed, an updated Traffic Impact Study and an updated Noise Study to the satisfaction of the Niagara Region and the City.

The rezoning is significant as the large area of land is currently zoned Major Commercial within the Niagara Square Retail District in the City’s Official Plan, so a Official Plan amendment would also be needed.

The subject land at 7449 Montrose Road is currently vacant with trees at its west end that are not considered to be a significant wood lot. It is bound by McLeod Road to the north, Montrose Road to the east, and Pin Oak Drive to the west.

To the north is the McBain Centre and commercial uses; to the west is a gas station, car wash, and other commercial uses; to the south is Niagara Square; and, to the east is a Royal Bank and land approved for future commercial development.

However, once again, density was at the core of the issue. The land’s current residential use permits a maximum height of six-storeys with a maximum density of 100 units per hectare as the lot abuts an arterial road and is near
commercial uses.

City Council okayed the developer’s request that the lands be placed under a Special Policy Area designation to permit an eight and a 13 storey apartment building, along with the 10 three-storey townhouse blocks that would actually equal a maximum density of 150 units per hectare – 50 per cent more than the zoning initially permitted.

Surprisingly for a development this size, the neighbourhood open house, held back in July 2021, only drew one resident who offered no comments, either positive or negative, on the proposed development and so far, no written comments have been received from the public.