Kitchener residents relieved proposed highrise condo project denied by council

A proposed development on King Street East in Kitchener will not be moving forward. CTV’s Heather Senoran explains why.

People living in a Kitchener neighbourhood say they’re happy city councillors have rejected a proposed highrise condo development near Highway 401.

The plan was to build two mixed-use buildings at 4611 King Street East, near Sportsworld Drive. One tower was supposed to be more than 30-storeys tall and the other 26-storeys.

At Monday’s city council meeting, a delegate spoke about how the project had evolved.

“The original development proposal consisted of 700 and 726 total residential units,” explained Brandon Flewwelling of GSP Group, LJM Developments’ planning consultant. “The new proposal in front of you today will see a total of 545 residential units. So, a very significant reduction in the total number of units on site.”

Councillors ultimately voted 11-to-3 against the proposal.

Many neighbours were pleased with the result.

“It was a very good decision because the logic was seen,” said Vern Martin, who has lived in the area since the 1980s.

Martin is a member of Pinegrove Community Association, a group that has been lobbying against the project.

He felt the design didn’t fit in with the neighbourhood.

“You can’t have housing this big and towers this big right beside each other,” Martin said. “There has to be a graduation.”

The group also believes the area isn’t safe, arguing it’s too close to the highway on-ramp.

“You can’t have children walk down the street and around the corner to pick up the bus,” said Rollie Galbraith, another longtime neighbour. “545 units. It’s going to be a lot of children.”

Another argument against the project is that it isn’t walkable, or close to amenities and transit. Some suggest it would be better further down King Street, even closer to Sportsworld Drive.

“It would be compatible with this sort of a development,” Martin explained. “Why pick this little last chunk of land that’s the most unsuitable for putting up a property like this?”

Residents said they’d like the land used for something more neighbourhood friendly.

“It would be thinking a little bit outside the box, but I actually think they could do something with that property and turn it into some sort of a green space,” Martin suggested, adding that the closest park is in Cambridge.

Councillor Jason Deneault, who represents the ward, was vocal about why he didn’t support the project.

“Not every piece of land that we have available in the community, in the city, is ripe for development,” he said. “It’s really not. You know, we have to be sensible.”

Appeal possible

LJM Developments could still file an appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Their consultant told CTV News that it is very possible.

“I do think we’ve made some significant concessions and would have to consider all options if it’s not approved,” Flewwelling said.

Deneault hoped that wouldn’t be the case, but acknowledged it’s a risk council takes when voting against a development project.

“I wish the province didn’t have as much control over municipal cities, but they do. And so, we have to live with what we have,” he told CTV News in an interview on Thursday.

CTV News reached out to LJM Developments but did not hear back by our deadline.