Planning Board voted earlier this week, by the slimmest possible margin, to recommend against the height variance for the proposed building on Fitzroy Street, contrary to the recommendation of Planning staff who thought the new 8-story design would be acceptable with a few minor design changes. That leaves the developer with a couple of options at this point. They could allow the recommendation from Planning Board to proceed to a vote at April’s Council meeting, or they could pull the application, go back to the drawing board, and start the application process over again with a redesigned building.
There is a significant risk to the developer if they choose to proceed to Council, because if Council agrees with Planning Board’s recommendation, the developer cannot re-apply for one year unless the proposal is significantly altered. There are potential tenants anxiously awaiting the outcome of this application, but even if the variance issue is resolved, there is still the difficult issue of parking to deal with.
Is there any possibility the building could spread “out” rather than “up”? I walked by there this weekend and noticed a bit of space between the lot and the, now derelict, old Playhouse.
That lot is currently owned by another family. One of them came to planning board last week for our discussion of this application and indicated his intention to develop the adjacent lot in the “short to mid term”.
Isn’t that about the same time pigs fly?
What is the problem with an 8 story building? Is it to high to fit in with the Victorian ‘hood? Isn’t this the same Victorian ‘hood that draws alot of tourist interest, thus in turn creating minimum wage jobs for our youngins’. Let’s get on with it and move into the 21st century already. Let the developer create a high density building and fill it with companies who will presumably pay more than our minumum wage tourists industry jobs!
@me: There is nothing wrong with development. I’m all for it, but we have bylaws that theoretically limit height. And these variance applications are scrutinized by 13 members of planning board (3 councillors, 10 resident members) with a wide diversity of opinion. This would be the tallest building downtown, so some careful consideration is required. For example, one consideration among many — an eight story building in that location would cast a shadow over the new solar array on the Jean Canfield building. In any case, the developer is coming back with design #3 next week.
I’m not sure your concerns over the Jean Canfield building are valid. Did the city of Charlottetown express in writing that no building will cast a shodow on the solar array for x number of years?
This is the price of progress that few people in the city seem to be aware. If the 8 story structure were to be built, the federal govt would have to either remove the panels or update the panels which would then in turn inject more money into our local economy.
It is not necessarily my concern, but it is certainly a valid concern if you are the owner of the Jean Canfield building. As I said, it is only one concern among many, but I’m confident they can, and will, all be addressed.
This building would be great for the downtown as I see it. Where does the Homberg Hotel on Queen street stand and is there any other large scale buildings being discussed? Thank you.