Montgomery Philip King Architect Inc. unveiled its preliminary plans for a housing and business growth on Jan. 18, giving the City of The Blue Mountains (TBM) council a primary take a look at the proposed 107-home growth off of Freeway 26.
The mixed-use growth, named Blue Meadows, is deliberate for a 5.6-hectare website in Thornbury, adjoining to Freeway 26 and Little Beaver Creek, bordered by Alice and Landsdowne Streets in Thornbury.
As plans at the moment stand, Blue Meadows will embrace 107 ‘English model’ row homes, in addition to 18 hybrid townhouses that may face Freeway 26 and comprise each residential and business areas.
A public backyard will occupy the centre of the event.
Architect Montgomery King stated the business buildings would face Freeway 26 and function one among two entry factors for the neighbourhood, and that they are going to be geared in the direction of small companies.
“We’re small enterprises for the positioning, not giant large field shops, one thing extra within the character of what the unique city has on … Bruce Avenue,” he stated.
“We're proposing the extension of Louisa Avenue to run by way of the event, connecting with a proposed avenue ... which might join out to Freeway 26.”
Though a proper software has not but been submitted, the preliminary plans have been offered to council to obtain suggestions and refine the challenge.
Council introduced ahead questions and considerations concerning the plans.
Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon was involved that the business buildings don't match the character of the city.
“From a design perspective, they appear extra like industrialized lofts such as you’d see in downtown Toronto,” he stated.
Councillor Paula Hope requested whether or not inexperienced constructing practices will probably be included into the event.
“What have you learnt of in the meanwhile by way of the dedication of your shopper to a inexperienced construct? The place are they with their file for inexperienced constructing, or what's their dedication with this explicit growth?” she requested.
King stated that discussions are happening to include inexperienced constructing practices, however that plans are nonetheless at an early stage.
“The plan is beginning to be refined a little bit extra, however these discussions will begin to happen concerning the greening of this website,” King stated.
“I haven’t had the dialogue about enrolling this as a LEED challenge but, and that may come up – we simply wished to get by way of this preliminary spherical to obtain feedback,” he stated. “Linking city parks and getting the pedestrian out is one thing that’s central to this growth, and that’s why a park is on the centre.”
Councillors Rob Sampson and Andrea Matrosovs identified that the present design may impede drainage and snow elimination within the winter.
“Though there are some good inexperienced areas in organized spots on this plan, there are different areas the place it’s very paved over,” Matrosovs stated.
“One of many challenges with among the designs we’re seeing is when the density will increase, the area to pile snow decreases and creates a little bit of an issue,” Sampson stated. “Trying right here, there’s little or no area for that snow to go.”
King stated driveways may very well be paired collectively to create extra inexperienced area.
“To create extra inexperienced area … these driveways might be paired … so that you simply don’t have little slivers of grass, so I might open that up extra,” King stated. “There are methods we are able to a lot enhance on this design with the feedback you’ve given us right here.”
King stated that the following steps for the event are to replace its design based mostly on council’s feedback.