Jun 26, 2012- 1:35 PM
The city's planning committee approved the proposal June 25.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 553 president Kevin Cook said the current building, located at the 211 Coté Ave., is too large for the group
“We're looking for a smaller location, and we're probably going to lease,” Cook said, adding that if anyone is able to help in that search, to contact the Legion. “The building (we have now) is just way too large; we can't handle the overhead.”
There are several options for a new location, Cook added, but he needed the approval of the planning committee before he could pursue any of them.
Cook said he has seen the plans for the apartment complex, and it's “unbelievable.”
“It blew my mind when I saw (the site plan),” he said. “I never thought he'd figure out how to put 12 apartments into that building.”
A community meeting was held June 13, with the developer in attendance, Cook said. The developer showcased the plan and answered any questions from the residents, and helped “alleviate” any concerns.
Indeed, the only resistance to the building that was expressed June 25 came from one resident who was concerned about the impact an additional 12 apartments would have on the traffic in the area. There is a playground, a water park and an arena located adjacent to what will be the parking lot for the building.
First off, the water park is fenced in, Cook said. Right now, there is a bar located on the lower level of the Legion, and “it's sad to say, but there is the odd person under the influence (of alcohol) leaving the parking lot, and people do blow the three-way stop sign, but that's got nothing to do with us; that's their driving habits.”
Further to that, David Shelstead, director of roads for the city, said one single residential home would result in an average 10 vehicle trips per day, so the new apartment complex would mean about 120 additional vehicle trips per day, although it's expected to be much less than that with this development, he said.
Ward 3 Coun. Claude Berthiaume said he has no real problems with the plan, and that 30 to 40 people attended the public meeting with the developer. There are three or four stop signs on Coté Avenue, so there's no need for worry about fast-travelling vehicles.
Posted by Arron Pickard
