Great Near Campus Neighbourhoods (Student Housing)

Good news from the City Council meeting of this week. Council managed to pass the amendments to implement the recommendations in the Great Near Campus plan (i.e. to control the number of bedrooms in multi unit housing, parking, landscaped open space). Councillor Branscombe was also able to get the ball rolling on the possibility of limiting the number of rental licenses issued for areas where single family homes are being converted to rentals. City staff will report back to City Council on this. A limit on licenses will be helpful as it is expected that the GNCN amendments that were passed will be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board by at least one builder of multi-family housing around the University. When appealed, the amendments do not take force and effect.

The minutes of the Council meeting (June 26) should be posted shortly on the city’s web site – http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Meetings/Default/meetingpackages.htm

Update on Near Campus Neighbourhoods (student housing)‏

From the Free Press –

A plan to tighten zoning restrictions in the areas near Western University and Fanshawe College to eliminate problems related to over-intensification of housing needs more work, the city’s planning committee decided Monday. The plan, which calls for a limit of three bedrooms in multi-unit dwellings, down from five, in areas adjacent to the institutions is being proposed. Along with other measures, the idea is to prevent too many people living in premises whose parking and other amenities cannot support them. But details relating to height restrictions and other measures prompted planning committee members to send it back to planning staff for further review. The planning committee chair said he expects it will return with modifications in September.

It will more likely be late fall (not September) before this comes back to the Committee for discussion.

Brescia Construction Update

We’ve received an update from Brescia regarding the ongoing construction –

Hayman Construction and their sub-trades will be working on underground service connections between the new residence and the St. James building beginning on Monday, June 25th and ending on Wednesday, June 27th at 5:00 p.m. This will require closing the temporary road behind Ursuline Hall while this work is underway. There will be no access for bicycle or foot traffic during this time. Emergency vehicle access to Ursuline Hall will come from the west side of the job site for these three days and deliveries have been rescheduled. Please avoid using the back entrance of Ursuline Hall as well during this time for safety reasons.

Great Near-Campus Neighbourhoods (student housing)

The city’s proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment for the Near-Campus Neighbourhoods is now available here.

The proposed amendments are to provide clearer guidance for the development of lands in near-campus neighbourhoods located in proximity to the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College.

This matter will be discussed at a public participation meeting of the Planning and Environment Committee on Monday, June 18, not to be heard before 5:45 p.m.

London’s Urban Forest Strategy – Survey

As part of the formal public consultation process for the Urban Forestry Strategy, being led by City staff, you are invited to fill out the on line survey at:


http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Trees_Lawns_and_Gardens/forestry.htm

Your input will help shape and define London’s Urban Forest Strategy.

Please share your thoughts on London’s Urban Forest with the city by completing the survey and attending the workshops planned for 2012.