DECISION/DIRECTION NOTE

City of St. John’s PO Box 908 St. John’s, NL Canada A1C 5M2 www.stjohns.ca

Title: Proposed rezoning – new residential zone PDE file MPA1500006

150 Stavanger Drive Date Prepared: April 12, 2016

Report To: Chair and Members, Planning and Development Committee

Councillor & Role: Councillor Art Puddister, Chair, Planning and Development Committee

Ward: 1

Decision/Direction Required:

To consider an application to rezone 150 Stavanger Drive from the Commercial Regional (CR) Zone to a proposed new zone, similar to the Residential Narrow Lot (RNL) Zone that was created in 2015 and applied on Ladysmith Drive. The purpose is to develop 20 single detached houses on small lots along a new public street (cul-de-sac).

Discussion – Background and Current Status:

This land was considered for rezoning for an apartment building but was rejected by Council in June 2014. The current application was considered by the Committee in September 2015 and referred to a Land-Use Assessment Report (LUAR) under terms of reference approved by Council.

One of the concerns identified by staff was the high snowfall experienced in this area. The rezoning application was delayed while staff considered an approach that could accommodate new development while ensuring that each development provides enough land for storing snow in the front yards. Thus, we would not increase the number of streets where trucking snow becomes a requirement each winter.

In March the Committee considered an approach that identifies an area of high snowfall and an area of moderate snowfall and ensures that new development (after rezoning) provides enough snow storage on properties, according to formulas based on the snow storage for a standard Residential Low Density (R1) Zoned lot and taking into account elevation and typical snow loads. The current subject property is in the area identified for moderate snowfall by our Public Works staff.

Planning and Development staff have reviewed the proposed lot layout to confirm that it would meet the snow storage requirement of the moderate snowfall area. The RNL Zone was used as a point of comparison; it was used on Ladysmith Drive to allow narrow residential lots with a setback of 8 metres and the restriction of a single-width driveway no more than 3.6 metres wide. A double driveway would not provide enough space for snow storage in the front yards.

Decision/Direction Note Page 2 150 Stavanger Drive

One approach would be to modify the RNL Zone for the present application. However, it meets the standard of the high snow area. The approach here is to create a similar zone for the

moderate snow area.

The proposed lots are smaller than those allowed in most of the City’s residential zones. The proposal is for:

- Minimum lot size 250 square metres - Minimum lot frontage 10.0 metres - Minimum building line 7.0 metres - Minimum rear yard 6.0 metres.

In comparison, the RNL Zone has a minimum lot size 300 square metres, minimum lot frontage 10.0 metres, minimum building line 8.0 metres, and minimum rear yard 6.0 metres for a single detached house.

The Residential High Density (R3) Zone has a minimum lot size 300 square metres, minimum lot frontage 10.0 metres, minimum building line 4.5 metres, and minimum rear yard 6.0 metres for a single detached house.

Given that this is a change from the CR Zone to a new residential zone, a Municipal Plan amendment would be required.

On this tight site, the applicant is proposing a public street (cul-de-sac) with a reduced width of the public right-of-way, to 12.5 metres wide instead of the standard 15 metres. As well, the applicant will ask that the requirement for sidewalks be waived. This is a short street with no through traffic, and there is no walking trail or other pedestrian attraction at the end of the street that would draw pedestrians into it, other than residents of the houses and their visitors. If the City does waive the sidewalk requirement, the applicant would need to use the land as part of the lots to make up the minimum lot standards. Waiving sidewalks on both sides of the proposed new road is in line with the City’s Subdivision Design Manual.

The upshot is that this is a development of single detached houses on a cul-de-sac street with small lots and thus small houses. The houses are proposed to be three (3) storeys tall, each with an in-house garage on ground level.

The Municipal Plan does encourage a mix of housing types and styles. These would be much smaller than the nearby houses on Stanford Place in the R1 Zone. However, there is a 50-metres buffer zoned Open Space (O) between the subject property and Stanford Place. The land is zoned for a variety of commercial land uses. If there was concern in the neighbourhood over the proposed apartment building that was rejected by Council, there may be less opposition to a less dense residential development. The houses will be smaller than the norm but will still be single detached houses on a new public street.

Key Considerations/Implications:

Decision/Direction Note Page 3 150 Stavanger Drive

2. Partners or Other Stakeholders:

Neighbouring residents and property owners.

3. Alignment with Strategic Directions/Adopted Plans:

City’s Strategic Plan 2015-18: Neighbourhoods Build Our City – Increase access to range/type of housing.

4. Legal or Policy Implications: N/A.

5. Engagement and Communications Considerations:

A public meeting is recommended. At a later stage, a commissioner’s public hearing would be required.

6. Human Resource Implications: N/A 7. Procurement Implications: N/A

8. Information Technology Implications: N/A 9. Other Implications: N/A

Recommendation:

It is recommended that the Planning and Development Committee consider the rezoning of 150 Stavanger Drive from the Commercial Regional (CR) Zone to a new residential zone. Staff would be directed to write the zone table for the new zone, ensuring that it meets the lot standards and snow storage requirements of the moderate snow area.

Given the past concerns over a previous rezoning application, it is recommended that this be referred to a public meeting. At a later stage, a commissioner’s public hearing would be required, as this rezoning would need a Municipal Plan amendment.

Prepared by:

Ken O’Brien, MCIP - Chief Municipal Planner

Signature:

Approved by:

Jason Sinyard, P.Eng., MBA - Deputy City Manager – Planning, Development and Engineering

Signature: KO’B/dlm

Attachments: Site Plan

O CR CR R1 O R2 A3 R1 R1 9 7 5 3 8 6 4 2 4 6 8 21 19 17 15 13 11 20 18 16 14 12 10 95 67 62 90 65 13 30 28 26 24 19 17 15 12 27 25 11 11 10 23 202 200 204 206 208 210 212 214 216 218 550 140 120 150 STAV ANGE R DR STAN FOR D PL MA NC HE ST ER ST

W:\Engwork\Planw\applications 2016\150 stavanger drive.mxd

μ

SUBJECT PROPERTY

P

ROPOSED

R

ESIDENTIAL

D

EVELOPMENT

20

R

EDUCED

L

OT

S

UBDIVISION

150

S

TAVANGER

D

RIVE

P

F

|

P.O.

B

908

S

.

J

'

,

NL

C

A1B

4C4

P

|

T

C

1

C

L

H

,

S

.

J

'

,

NL

C

Attached are : Site Plan House Dwgs

Rendering of Proposed Homes

150 Stavanger Drive

1.0 I

This report has been compiled for Powder House Hill Investments Ltd. and Treble Construction Ltd., as part of an application to rezone the property at 150 Stavanger Drive to the Residential Narrow Lot Zone.

The subject property consists of a single parcel of land approximately 8,101m2 in area. The area to be developed is currently vacant, undeveloped property and located in the Commercial Regional (CR) Zone with frontage on Stavanger Drive. To the south and rear of the subject property is City owned undeveloped property currently zoned Open Space (O). The property to the east of the subject property is privately owned land which is also undeveloped and zoned Open Space (O). Directly west of the subject property is a developed commercial property that is zoned Commercial Regional (CR). Rezoning has been requested to accommodate the development of 20 single family three-storey homes. The proposed development will be accessed via a public road off Stavanger Drive. A complete set of preliminary drawings which show the property boundary and location as well as the existing and proposed site conditions is included in Appendix B

A. B

U

The proposed development will consist of twenty separate houses as shown on Drawing attached. Each three storey building will consist of in-house garage and single driveway.

Drawings attached show renderings of the proposed buildings, as well as building floor plans and wall details.

The building structures shall have concrete slab on grade sub-floors with appropriate concrete footings and foundation frost walls with typical wood frame constructed walls above grade. Above grade exterior walls will be finished with exterior vinyl siding, in common colors as shown on sample Exterior Rendering attached. Roofs will also be of wood truss and sheathing construction, finished with asphalt shingles, black in color. Rear yard fencing will be included in finished homes.

B. B

H

&

L

“Preliminary Site Development Plan” attached shows the location of each proposed building relative to the property boundaries. Each proposed building has a maximum of three storeys

150 Stavanger Drive

  above grade with a common ‘peaked’ roof which is not anticipated to create any adverse effects regarding loss of sunlight or potential shadowing.

No section is currently shown through the site to show the exact height relative to the property boundaries as a detailed site grading plan is not required at this stage of the application process.

C. L

B

The total landscaped area is approximately 60% of the entire lot area, which exceeds the Landscaped area requirement. Landscape will be treated with topsoil and sod

A pressure treated wooden privacy fence is proposed to be installed at the west boundary to buffer the proposed dwelling units from activities on the existing developed commercial property which abuts the subject property.

The adjoining city owned undeveloped property at the south (to the rear) and privately owned undeveloped property at the east are both currently zoned Open Space (O). Considering that both these properties are undeveloped and their current zoning, it is not anticipated that the proposed development would create any adverse effects to these adjoining properties.

At this point, no information is available as to Newfoundland Power’s requirements for the site with respect to pad and/or pole mounted electrical transformers. This issue will be addressed between the proponent and Newfoundland Power during the detailed design stage.

Storm Water runoff will be collected by means of manholes and catch basins on the public road. A storm water detention system, most likely comprised of a series of interconnected pipes, will be employed to control post development storm water runoff to the pre-development runoff conditions prior to being discharged to existing stormwater detention pond located south of the subject property.

D. T

Anticipated traffic generation rates for the development are so minimal the issue is of no concern for this Development.

150 Stavanger Drive

E. M

W

S

S

O

S

D

Plan attached shows preliminary site servicing design.

Water will be supplied to the site by means of connection to the existing public water main on Stavanger Drive.

Sanitary sewer will be discharged from the site by means of connection to the existing public sanitary sewer main on Stavanger Drive.

Storm Water runoff will be collected by means of manholes and catch basins on the public road. A storm water detention system, most likely comprised of a series of interconnected pipes, will be employed to control post development storm water runoff to the pre-development runoff conditions

F. C

T

Construction is planned to start in the summer of 2016 with completion anticipated in 2017. Workers’ parking areas during construction will be designated to the proposed access road area.

Equipment and materials laydown areas required are anticipated to be minimal as material is expected to be brought on site daily and for security reasons not remain stored on site overnight.