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Dominion Life plan could transform eyesore i Forwelt's gravel pit, a 47-acre site east of King St. and south of the Conestoga Parkway, is the proposed location of a multi-million dollar Dominion Life Aissurance Company development. If a zone change from temporary green to residential and commercial is approved by city council, a mixed residen- tial. commercial and recreational development could be built on the site. Preliminary plans by Dominion Life call for the erection of 204 town house units, 365 apartments and 670,000 square feet of office space and the development of 10,000 feet of recreational land. Their plans were to develop the area into a residential, commercial and recreational area. High rises, commercial buildings and recreational facilities, including tennis courts and a hotel. were part of the proposal. Plans for the hotel were dropped when the Waterloo Motor Inn was built direct- ly across the road. The commercial and recreational areas were to be estab- lished in the north portion of the property. A motel site was to be built in the southwest section near the King St. exit. The remainder of the property south of the lake was to be developed as a high rise complex. Both the planning department and council were in favor of the project and believed it was well located, adjacent to a 10.5 acre Zeller's shopping centre. It was also in a good loca- tion with respect to major roads. The Dominion Life Assurance Company of Canada bought the property two years ago. In Mayxl976. the company ap- plied for an official plan amendment and a zone amendment. The Dominion Life project has only completed its first step to date. Until a few weeks ago, the city planning de- partment was not proceeding with the zone change proce- dure because it was awaiting a report from the Region. This report was received by the city planning department Aug. Pa, 2 - Waterloo Chronicle, Wednesday, Septembof 29, 1976 F orwell’s gravel pit By Terry James If a zone amendment is approved, an abandoned gravel pit and lake in Waterloo may become one of the most attrac- tive residential and commercial areas in the city. The area wanirst recognized in the city's zoning by-law in 1959 when it was designated as temporary green. The word temporary was added to indicated that the city was not rul- ing out future development. The gravel pit is thought to have been excavated 20 or 30 years ago. For a number of years following the completion of the excavation it was a recreational area, primarily used for swimming. The seven-acre lake was stocked annually with fish for area fishermen. For the past few years, the site has been unused. The Dominion Life proposal is not the first development planned for the site. In 1971, Central Meat Market. the prop- erty owners. applied to council for a zoning amendment. One possible problem cited at this time was the lack of adequate school facilities in the immediate area. The near- est junior public school was threerttuarters of a mile away. Using the average of 2.5 people per residential unit, it was estimated that approximately 2,000 people would be living on this site. The project was never started and the zone amendment was never made. "The Region doesn't grant approvals but it is important in terms of what they think and the suggestions they might have to offef,” said Paul Dietrich, city planning director. Otto Byer. the consultant for Central Meat Market, said at that time that if the project was started in the fall of 1971, it would take eight to 10 years to complete. 'LLCataaiiiriiiL2sc BIG BEN $231}; & APPLIANCES LTD. 71 HURON ST. NEW HAMBURG 662-2290 f'tift'2' Slip her in high and come down to Griffiths for the best CB Buy as low as Cobra CB "If Dominion Life Assurance wanted to mix commercial buildings with residential buildings. they couldn't do it now. The Region has suggested that the area is not large enough to affect the city and it Should not be subdivided into three different areas. They suggested that it be given a special designation," said Mr. Dietrich. Increased urban development in watershed areas has caused a significant increase in the frequency and rate of flood flows in the area. To permit construction of the de- velopment, the capacity of the stream would require im- provement by channelization and the construction of berms to protect flood vulnerable areas. Before the plan can be approved, the Grand River Conservation Authority must give consent for a Fill, Construction and Alteration to the waterways permit. "The next procedure is to continue to process both the amendments," said Mr. Dietrich. l The Region suggested the city give the area a special des- ignation combining residential, commercial and open space uses because Waterloo presently has no such designation. Forwell's gravel pit. situated east of King Street and north and south of the Conestoga Parkway, could become a new commercial and residential area for Waterloo. On June 14, a public hearing on the project was held. Very little opposition to the plans was voiced at that time, There is no name for such a designation but an example would be designating it as a multi-used area he said. Then a report of the plan amendment and zoning applica- tion will be prepared and presented to the planning com- mittee with the comments from the Region and the neigh- tl 3995 Give some thought to your home and garden then come and see us We can make your Me happier September IS the time to apply Wrntenzer or Winter uzeereed and Feed to your lawn to protect It dunng the cold months ahead For Indoor gardeners. Ontano Seed has a complete lune of sods. fertilizeis and Insect-odes to help make your plants healthy Ontario Seed Will have a huge drsptay of Dutch Flow er Bulbs for fall planting that Will give you pleasure next sprung It's thmcult to believe. but fall .5 almost upon us. and It's time to thunk about planting Dutch Flower Bulbs and fertllmng your lawn with 1Mnteruer ONTARIO SEED CO., LTD. 16 King St s Waterloo Ont Can Tel (519)886 2990 N2J 329 at ONIARIO SEED SEPTEMBER "Dominion Life Assurance are the owners of the Zeller's shopping centre and this project is just a continuation, Wa- terloo is expanding in that direction and this development should enhance future development on adjacent land. ,. “We are still firm in our ideas to proceed with a mixed commercial. residential area and we hope to start in the spring of 1977 if the city gives its approval and the sewage capacity can take on such a development." he said. The intended recreational use of the pond in the proposal is similar to past uses except that sail boating could be add- ed. A report indicates that swimming, boating and fishing will have no adverse affect on the water. However, it was pointed out that the growth of algae may have to be con- trolled in the future Although Mr Watkiss was general in his comments about the project. he said Dominion Life does intend to proceed with it The architects describe the land as sloping toward the pond. Trees are presently growing along the stream and adjacent to the lake. The architects' proposal would con- serve these natural features. Many people have expressed concern that the project will cause deterioration in quality of the water in the lake. As a result of these criticisms, an environmental assess- ment was carried out. An assessment of the water flow pat- terns and water balance has been made as well as an ap- praisal of the construction and subsequent recreational Uses and how they could affect the lake. All the planned buildings would be located above the 100 year flood plane in accordance with GRCA regulations. The seven-acre pond is considered open space in the pre- liminary drawings. Land which is labelled as open space could be developed as part of a continuous public walkway along the creek from King St. to University Ave. "This is just a general estimate. We can't really make any final plans until after we complete the market studies. At this point. we are still contemplating plans," said Mr. Watkiss. I “The model could be very misleading," said Cedric Wat- kiss, superintendent of property investment for Dominion Life Assurance. "The architects show the buildings as being ultra-modem in design which may not be the most economi- cal design for buildings in this area. " The proposal that has been presented to the city calls for office buildings located at the north end of the property adjacent to the Conestoga Parkway. Two groups of medium- sized apartment buildings would be built close to King St. with one group close to the pond's edge. Both buildings would be connected to convenient shopping centres. recreational facilities and restaurants on the south-west edge of the pond. Clusters of terrace, townhousing are proposed across from the apartment buildings. Some of these planned structures could possibly be built on the south end of the property, flanking the stream bed and park. As a result, the buildings shown on the model are not nec- essarily the ones which will be built, he said. However. Dominion Life says these drawings and the model are preliminary in nature. Architects have been hired by Dominion Life to study the area. The Webb, Zerato. Menkes and Housden Partner- ship have written a report and constructed a model of the land and the proposed structures. bouring residents. the planning director said.