The city’s planning committee today signed off on a major redevelopment plan for Bayview Station and the surrounding area, in anticipation of the upcoming light rail transit line.
The station will be a major transit hub, connecting the Confederation LRT line to the current O-Train tracks, and also providing a connection between the east-west and north-south LRT routes.
The Bayview Station District Community Design Plan calls for tall buildings, topping out at 30 storeys, to be concentrated around the station. Still, “buildings of varying heights are encouraged, to create a prominent and visually interesting skyline,” according to a report to the committee.
Public consultations, it notes, have shown support of tall buildings near the transit and at the north edge of Bayview Yards.
New public parks will be constructed around the transit, along with a pedestrian and cycling bridge over the O-Train tracks.
Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes commended and criticized the station and community’s updated look in the planning committee report.
Holmes said the community design plan “notes a number of problems with this site and references some solutions,” including an expansion of Tom Brown Arena and Laroche Park, and the providing of better cycling and pedestrian opportunities.
The area surrounding City Centre Avenue is slated as a mixed-use site, but Holmes wants to see the neighbourhood opened up to residential development. She is also calling for stronger support for affordable housing close to transit.
But Holmes thanked staff at today’s meeting. “This has been a long process,” she said, “but it’s a very good product we see before us today.”
Still, representatives from the Hintonburg Community Association had several problems with the CDP.
Board member Linda Hoad called for affordable housing at Bayview Yards. The condo boom, she said, has increased the cost of housing in intensified areas, shutting out those on lower incomes.
Jeff Leiper, president of the association, said the final CDP’s introduction of high rises at the Tom Brown Arena site was an unexpected “bombshell.” The association is calling for a motion to have these buildings respect the current zoning.
Hoad and Leiper were asked to meet with staff before council gives its say on the CDP. Staff will prepare motions to be presented to council if they agree with Hoad and Leiper.