Rezoning application on Kingsway reignites Norquay plan
Another rezoning application will be opened for public hearing by council on July 12. This was filed on behalf of Wally King Holdings Ltd. for eight parcels of land along Kingsway between Earles and Duchess streets.
Once the site of the famous Wally’s Burgers restaurant, the property, which now has a car-repair shop and an automobile dealership, is being eyed for mixed-used development. The owner wants to build a 12-storey building and a four-storey building containing 129 condos.
The proposed rezoning is the first spot rezoning in the area since council approved the Norquay Village neighbourhood-centre plan in November 2010, according to local resident Joseph Jones.
The Norquay plan is a contentious program that allows additional building heights for residential and commercial development around Kingsway between Gladstone and Killarney streets.
Jones told the Straight in a phone interview that the proposed project at 2667–2703 Kingsway is a prime example of how neighbourhoods get shafted with new developments.
He cited a city staff report indicating that if the application is approved, the developer will get to build 103,132 square feet, almost double the maximum of 67,850 square feet allowed under current zoning. In exchange, the developer is offering $105,846 as its community-amenity contribution.
Staff has proposed accepting this contribution to address the shadowing impact the project will have on the Duke Street Child Care Centre, which sits on a city-owned property. According to staff, options are being explored to either reconfigure the child-care facility or move it to another location.
Comments
5 Comments
Bill McCreery1
Jul 6, 2011 at 10:00pm
So this Vision Council is going to accept $105,846 as the CAC to double the BUILDABLE area of this PROPOSAL. More information is needed. The $105,846 will probably not pay for the relocation. And what are the additional costs required to provide adequate community services for these additional new Norquay residents? It won't be covered by the leftovers from the $105,846 will it?
May Wong
Jul 7, 2011 at 1:04pm
City is using “short notice” tactic to bypass neighbourhood opposition and quick passage of rezoning.... Last time they did the same with less than one week notice to hear the rezoning of Kingsway/Earles for 10 storey building. $100,000 is from the sale of 1/3 condo unit - a drop in the bucket for the developer. The residents north of the building will be forever living with no sunlight (or in a shadow) for the rest of their lives !! how much do they get from the developer ?
Bill Hepler
Jul 7, 2011 at 9:00pm
City council seems to be on a roll here - they allow developers to make money on the increased density, but the general public seems to pick up most of the consequent costs, and of course in most cases adjacent residents have a less liveable environment.
Anita Romaniuk
Jul 7, 2011 at 11:47pm
This is $105,846 that SHOULD be going to NEW community amenities in Norquay. Instead, it's supposed to relocate or mitigate the shadowing of an EXISTING child care facility. There are no NEW child care spaces here. This is not what a CAC should be used for!
Cindy Walgreen
Jul 9, 2011 at 4:10pm
Wally's had at least one new pedestrian crosswalk installed to connect Norquay Park to his now defunct Wally's Hamburger Joint. Why does this guy get all the tax breaks? He needs to pay more than $100,000 to get double buildable area. He needs to build a community centre in Norquay Village. Sorry but $100,000 does not even buy you a sidewalk!