North Hill residents slam subdivision

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This article was published 22/06/2016 (3643 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Several North Hill residents spoke out at city council against a development plan for property near the corner of Braecrest Drive and 18th Street North, citing traffic and safety concerns.

VBJ Developments will construct a 54-unit subdivision — two 18-suite apartment buildings, and 18 row-house dwellings.

“Our main concern is the exacerbation of the (traffic) problems that exist now with this development and any future development,” Braecrest Estates vice-president/treasurer Carol Enns said during the public hearing on the issue earlier this week.

The intersection of 18th Street and Braecrest Drive has been an area of concern for years, as there is no pedestrian crosswalk and no traffic lights. Motorists have a difficult time crossing the intersection and making left turns, especially during peak times.

Enns pointed out that many residents in the area are 55-plus, and may need mobility devices to get around.

“It’s the whole picture of the danger of that corridor area,” she said.

North Hill resident Pat Brigden called it a “bottleneck,” and added it is “very, very dangerous.”

Residents also mentioned the negative impact these apartment buildings will have on the views over the city, and the loss of open green space.

The development will be situated south of Braecrest Drive and approximately 100 metres east of 18th Street, east of Grand Valley Community Church.

Ultimately, Brandon City Council approved a rezoning application, from commercial general to residential low density for the southern portion of the property, to allow for duplex dwellings. The northern parcel remains commercial general, which allows for the development of multi-family dwellings.

Council also approved the developer’s application for conditional use and subdivision, which allows the project to move forward. It’s important to note that the developer could have gone ahead with multiple apartment block development, without council’s approval, as it was zoned commercial general.

Despite the last-ditch plea from residents, it was no surprise the project got the green light from council on Monday night, as it has gone through the channels with the city’s planning and building safety department over the past few years.

“I can only assure residents that I think everybody at this council table heard you tonight, recognizes that this is a concern that needs to be addressed, and now we’re pressed to do something because this development will go forward,” said Coun. Kris Desjarlais (Rosser).

“Now we’re going to develop, now there’s going to be more traffic, now our hand is being forced, and we’re going to have to address that traffic issue.”

The fact that the southern parcel was approved for low-density residential development, as opposed to high-density, came as a relief to residents.

“I’m not sure what they’re going to do as far as rerouting our access onto 18th, but obviously they listened and I think they heard us and they realize that there’s an issue, and that’s as much as we can say,” Brigden said.

Steve McMillan, vice-president of planning services with VBJ Developments, was at the council meeting to answer questions about the project. He explained that the company has worked on this project for a few years, and did their “due diligence.”

“We didn’t come in with a 150-unit development, we did a lot of background work, and this is something that we thought fit with the area,” he said. “We’re down-zoning, which never happens, so I think it’s a good mix.”

Access for both the apartments and condo units will be provided by a shared access onto Braecrest Drive. The two three-storey apartment blocks will be “life-lease” units, which will require an initial lump-sum payment and subsequent monthly payments for life, or until they are no longer capable of living there.

“We’ve had lots of people asking about it already and the condo market is still strong in Brandon,” McMillan said.

The goal is to get construction started as soon as possible, McMillan said — hopefully by fall, and if not, the following spring. He’s also hopeful that this project will spur some much-needed traffic controls in the area.

“The issue’s already bad, so I think having a two-hour meeting (Monday night), everyone knows about this issue now,” he said. “So I’m hoping the province, in partnership with the city, can get the proper infrastructure in place at the intersection.”

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