Newmarket residents will have the chance to learn more and share any concerns about the proposed residential and commercial development on the northeast corner of Davis Drive and Patterson Street at a statutory public meeting set for Monday, Jan. 13 at the town’s municipal offices.
Developer Briarwood has proposed to build a mixed-use residential and commercial complex on land it owns at 693 and 713 Davis Drive that includes two 15-storey condo towers linked by a three-storey podium with ground-floor commercial space that fronts Davis Drive.
The developer’s proposal also includes a 21-metre parcel of land that was part of the Hollingsworth Arena land, which the town declared surplus and struck a conditional agreement of purchase and sale with Briarwood in summer 2019.
The nearby Hollingsworth Arena is slated to be decommissioned in April 2020 after its current season. About $400,000 has been budgeted this year to demolish the aging building and potentially redevelop the land into a public park.
The Briarwood proposal would bring 318 condo apartments to the area, a three-storey podium that forms the base of the building, and space for commercial businesses.
Two storeys of underground parking are planned, as well as 199 bicycle parking spaces.
The developer’s plan suggests access to the property can be accommodated with a right-in, right-out from Davis Drive and full access from Patterson Street.
Traffic concerns have already surfaced among residents in the area.
Resident George Colucci said in a December 2019 social media post that “these two towers will create a nightmare on Patterson Avenue and the already congested Davis Drive. Ward 3 better look at a road through Richardson Park to connect to London Road. This is a no-brainer that should have been done years ago.”
Similarly, Wendy Cassells encouraged residents to read Briarwood’s traffic study, which is available here.
“There is no mention of traffic turning into the medical centre, which is almost directly across from the proposed condo entrance, and living in this neighbourhood, I know that the medical entrance already causes backups,” Cassells said. “Looks like the study is saying no major impact to traffic. Please attend the meeting on Jan. 13 or talk to your councillor.”
Councillor Jane Twinney represents the residents in the ward in which the development is proposed.
All of the documents relating to the Briarwood development proposal can be found here.
The public meeting takes place Monday, Jan. 13 in council chambers at the town’s municipal offices, 395 Mulock Dr., Newmarket.
An informal open house begins at 6 p.m. with the meeting to follow at 7 p.m.
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