Five towers, 1,155 apartments planned along rapid transit corridors

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Several apartment towers totalling more than 1,000 units have been endorsed unanimously by city politicians, with one calling them a perfect example of what they expect near London’s bus rapid transit lines.

During Tuesday’s meeting of council’s planning committee, councillors gave the thumbs up to five towers in the north and south ends, with a combined 1,155 units. All five would be located in the city’s rapid transit corridors.

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All three projects drew little resistance from the public or politicians, with one saying they’re exactly what he “had in mind” along the Wellington bus rapid transit corridor.

“This is the type of development that we’ve been talking about, its walkability,” Ward 8 Coun. Steve Lehman, planning committee’s chair, said.

Staff suggested the White Oaks tower be shrunk to a maximum of 27 storeys, with only 493 units, arguing anything bigger could negatively affect surrounding properties. Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis bucked staff’s recommendation and put forward a motion to give the builder, Westdell Development Corp., what they originally sought.

“This is very consistent with the heights that we approved at Oxford and Wonderland. It’s also not out of character with what we’ve approved for the Century development,” he said, adding traffic will likely be helped by residents being able to walk out the door to White Oaks Mall.

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The tower at Wellington-Base Line has drawn a “mixed bag” of feedback from nearby residents, said Skylar Franke, whose ward includes the project. But there was plenty of support, she said.

“It’s close to the hospital, it’s close to commercial opportunities . . . I’ll be supporting this application,” she said,

The towers at Richmond Street and Fanshawe Park Road East drew a question from Ward 7 Coun. Corrine Rahman, who wondered why parking was included in the building’s podium, rather than underground. Laura Jamieson, a planner working with developer Westdell, said underground parking was too expensive to build – roughly $100,000 per space.

All three projects still need final approval by full city council during the July 23 meeting.

jmoulton@postmedia.com

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