Public hearing expected for proposed Apex fourplex
Area currently zoned for low-density housing; no hearing date announced
Residents will be able to have their say on whether the City of Iqaluit should rezone land to allow a new fourplex to be built in Apex. (Screenshot courtesy of City of Iqaluit)
Residents will be able to have their say over a rezoning proposal that would allow a developer to build a fourplex in Apex.
The City of Iqaluit’s planning and development committee voted Tuesday to recommend council amend the zoning bylaw to create a special exemption that would the four-unit housing development to be built on the low-density residential lot.
Committee members also called for a public hearing be held on the bylaw amendment before council considers it for third and final reading.
The proposed rezoning would apply to the lot at 3141 Jack Anawak St., where developer Patrick Leubou hopes to build a housing complex with four units.
The vote in favour was 6-2, with councillors Sam Tilley and Romeyn Stevenson opposed.
Tilley said the proposed development “doesn’t fit the existing character for Apex,” because the area is mostly made up of single-family homes.
“I know we can’t assume, but it does create a domino effect if we do decide to give a developer a chance to make a fourplex and then that sense of neighbourhood goes away,” he said.
“I would strongly suggest that we refuse the first reading to amending the bylaw.”
Deputy Mayor Kim Smith, who chairs the planning committee, suggested moving forward with the bylaw because that would allow Apex residents and neighbours to have their say at a hearing.
Coun. Kyle Sheppard agreed.
“We’re definitely going to hear from them at that public hearing stage, but I would propose that we move forward at least to that and to allow the neighbours to have their say,” he said.
“While this is additional density in that area, the footprint is relatively conservative, it definitely fits on the lot, it provides much-needed three-bedroom units.”
A date for the public hearing has not been announced.
The city needs to revise their bylaws to allow for these developments. Thank you Tilly and Romeyn for speaking for Apexmiut- but if we want to deal with the housing crisis, let’s not waste everyones time for the next 5 to 10 years and build like we want to solve the housing problem.
Until you figure out how to produce lots for people or developers to build to solve the 1000 units we need today please give us all a break and not have to spend 3 months of everyones time pretending like we have a choice.
Can Council please also make a by-law to force the Churches to pay property taxes please if you’re going to set this precedent for Apex. Thx
But councillor Stevenson is fine with new housing being crammed into Tundra Ridge (https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/iqaluit-council-oks-rezoning-height-restriction-bylaws/) where people on trucked services are already having issues getting regular water delivery: ‘“I do think that it’s extremely important that we find places to develop where we can,” Stevenson said.’ So why did he vote against the Apex development?
I would also appreciate seeing a followup by NN with councillor Tilley so he can expand on his position and explain how a 4-plex of 3br units, that will give three families in Iqaluit somewhere to live, doesn’t fit the Apex neighbourhood.