Things are moving ahead with some more attainable or affordable housing in Strathroy’s north end as Council this week approved 61 Brennan Drive be declared surplus and in place of the municipality’s annual $100,000 donation to the Strathroy Hospital Foundation, that a portion of these lands be transferred to the Foundation or a related corporation. As we know, this land is part of the Foundation’s ‘Building Foundations Project’ as residential development will be constructed in partnership with students in the Construction Technology Co-op program at Holy Cross Secondary School and local contractors. The developments would then be sold and proceeds used to fund medical equipment at Strathroy Hospital. Council chose option A in regards to how the lands would be donated.
OPTION A COMMENTS:
– This option could accommodate three semi-detached dwellings (6 residential units) and lands could be donated over time in phases.
– Dwelling type is compatible with the area and makes efficient use of the land area.
– The proposed parcel sizes are almost identical to those to the east and south. A future part lot control application would be required to further subdivide each lot after the foundation is pour to determine an accurate location of the dividing wall between the two units. This application does
not require a public meeting.
– Facilitating the construction of 6 semi-detached dwelling units would be consistent with one of the Municipality’s key strategies associated with the Growth Management Goal in the Municipality’s Strategic Plan, being the desire to provide a variety of attainable housing options
in the Municipality.
– The extension of Brennan Drive would provide connectivity between an established and a future residential community. The benefits of this connection relate to access to recreational amenities, servicing and infrastructure efficiencies, as well as social connections.
– The portion of the cost of servicing and road extension, as well as the appraised value of the land would be built into value of the Municipality’s financial contribution to the SMGHF, and it is likely that the donation of the three parcels of land to SMGHF could cover the Municipality’s donation for multiple years.
– Staff have received a preliminary cost estimate for the works associated with the extension of services and the road, being $191,000.00. It is estimated that Phase 1 could be completed by the end of this year, while the works required to facilitate the required road and servicing
extension could be completed in 2022. A preliminary servicing / road design is attached to the report.
written by: C. Soares
