A revised plan for a 48-unit housing complex on 4th Avenue South in Niverville has been denied by town council less than two months after the original proposal was brought forward.

The numbered company that owns the land previously proposed a 60-unit development in the same location in early December. Mayor Myron Dyck says council still has a number of issues with the proposal that kept them from approving the project.

The development is proposed to be built at 87, 93, and 103 Fourth Avenue South"It was during the administrative review done by our CAO that things like parking spaces were not meeting the required policies that we normally have. Based on the proposed development not meeting some of the policies that we have in place for such developments it was declined."

The town used to require at least 1.5 parking stalls per residence in at a multi-family development but Dyck says their new zoning bylaw that was recently passed requires 2. He says it is important to council that vehicles from a development like this do not spill onto surrounding streets.

"Say a developer says 'I have ten additional spots for people to pay for,' people are saying 'I can park for free on the streets'. Now what we have said as council is none of this 'you can pay for a second one if you want to' no, we are just saying make the cost per door as a developer two spots per unit and that way we want to make sure all of the vehicles are contained within the boundaries of a development."

Based on the current configuration, the administrative review given to council by the CAO makes a number of other recommendations including a maximum of 40 residential units on the site, wider private roadways, and a slight increase in green space.

Dyck notes if the developer is able to adjust their plans to meet administration’s recommendations they would be more than willing to look at another proposal.

Read more: Niverville Denies Variance Request For 60-Unit Development