Case 22691 - 8 Walker Avenue, Sackville

Request

WM Fares Architects is applying for substantive amendments to an existing development agreement on the subject lands at 8 Walker Avenue, Sackville.

Proposal

The applicant proposes to extend the commencement and completion times of the existing development agreement.  This agreement was approved by North West Community Council in 2015.  The request also includes amendments to the agreement to allow revisions to the building design updating materials and colours.  The major aspects of the approved proposal are as follows:

• 2 4-storey mixed-use buildings on top of basement level parking garage;
• 124 units in total;  all units proposed to be 2-bedroom;
• 10,000 square feet commercial space in total;
• Minimum 110 underground parking spaces and 90 surface parking spaces;
• Grade level open space amenity located in courtyard formed by buildings; and
• Landscape plan prepared by Landscape Architect required.

The Existing Development Agreement (provided below) outlines the development proposal in detail, and includes information related to proposed buildings, site development, parking, driveway access and landscaping.

Process

The application will be considered under the Substantive Amendment to Development Agreement process.

Status

The existing development agreement was approved by North West Community Council on September 21, 2015 and land registered on December 4, 2015.  The conditions of the agreement under section 7.3 provided three years from the time of land registration to commence development.  The developer did not meet the deadline and neither did the developer submit a written request 60 days prior to expiration of the commencement date.  The agreement requires this in order to be considered a non-substantive amendment that could be approved by a resolution of Council.  In order to extend the time to completion, and subsequently the time to completion, the developer was compelled to request a substantive amendment for the time extensions.

The next stage in the process after the preliminary team review by relevant HRM staff and planning review will be the public engagement.

Documents Submitted for Evaluation

The applicant has submitted plans and studies required by HRM staff to properly evaluate the application. The documents are also available for review at the Planning Applications office in Downtown Dartmouth.

Application
Planning Rationale
Existing Development Agreement