Staff report okays massive condo-hotel towers in Niagara Falls

Are the Clifton Victoria Inn, the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, Casino Niagara and the Falls Hotel and Inn in Niagara Falls all about to get a massive neighbour in the future?

It looks like it. Niagara Falls city staff are recommending that City Council give the okay at tomorrow’s (March 22) to developer Fugiel International Group Inc. allowing for a massive 35 and 36 storey development over six parcels of land between Victoria and Ellen Avenues in the city.

The 35-storey tower would be a new hotel with 404 hotel rooms while the 36-storey tower would contain 462 condo units.

Both towers would be built on a six storey base for commercial, retail (on the ground floor) and parking use.

However, there will be some tinkering needed with the zoning which is presently tourist commercial and is capped at 30 storeys. While that would allow the hotel, there will have to be a zoning amendment to allow the residential portion.

When the city held a public meeting on the development last year, there were only four written submissions objecting to the massive development which will tower over the immediate neighbourhood.

However, the objections raised by the members of the neighbourhood included: additional traffic generated by the proposed development; privacy concerns and the height of the fence along common lot lines proposed
by the developer; removal of mature trees on the property; building elevations (meaning simply its height) and municipal servicing capacity, snow storage and garbage collection.

Staff responded to those concerns by saying that “traffic is not being directed through the existing residential neighbourhood and volume is not expected to be excessive.”

The report added that “shadowing (immediate neighbours) from the proposed development will not affect residential properties after 10:30 am which is reasonable.”

Compatibility with the immediate wasn’t an issue in that “the lands north and west of the subject lands are designated for mid-rise development and commercial uses and it is expected over time this area will transition.”

It added “the hotel and commercial uses abuts Victoria Avenue while residential uses abut those on Ellen Avenue which provides for a suitable interface with the residential neighbourhood.”

The public will be allowed to offer further comments tomorrow at City Council when the meeting starts at 4 pm in Council Chambers.