• Forum Properties Inc. (The Applicant) has proposed a 12-storey residential development on the vacant southwest corner of Main Street and Ninth Line.
  • The 5991 Main Street development would feature a total of 130 dwellings, including 58 one-bedroom units, 70 two-bedroom units, and two three-bedroom units.
  • Offered amenity space and programming include a lounge, party room, fitness rooms, co-working space, and an outdoor amenity area. According to the developer, the co-working space and some fitness room space can be made available for community use.
  • The plans include 153 parking spaces, with 146 of them located in a three-level underground lot. This falls 43 spaces short of the 196 spaces demanded by the Town’s current parking requirements.
  • Stouffville’s Official Plan allows for a maximum of 10 storeys on the Western Approach site, however the Town’s deferred new Official Plan would permit a 20 storey building.
  • The site is located across the street from an 18-storey mixed-use development proposal that faced significant criticism from Council members and area residents.

The Applicant is seeking Official Plan and Zoning By-Law amendments to permit two additional storeys, the resulting 40 meter building height, increased density, and the use of up to 100% of the site exclusively for residential purposes. Stouffville’s Official Plan, however, envisions mixed uses such as ground-level commercial for the parcel.

With transit nearby, Forum Properties justified their parking offerings within their Planning Rationale: “A growing industry best practice recognizes that a reduced parking supply acts as an important transportation demand management measure that directly promotes public transit and active transportation use in collaboration with more limited private vehicle use.”

A Transportation Study conducted by Trans-Plan Transportation Engineering concluded that “the proposed development will not significantly impact…area traffic patterns and can be accommodated by the surrounding road network.” According to The Applicant, cooperation with the LivGreen I & II projects underway to the west will allow for “integrated vehicular and pedestrian cross-access between all three development sites…enhancing overall connectivity in the area.”

A Functional Servicing Report by J and B Engineering Inc. assessed key infrastructure requirements, including water services, sanitary sewers, and stormwater drainage. The Planning Rationale states that “all required conditions for the provision of water service, sanitary discharge, and storm discharge for the Region and Town have been satisfied.”

J and B Engineering’s Stormwater Management Report concludes that “there will be a slight increase in stormwater flow from the site due to constraints, however the majority of the flow from the site is controlled to acceptable levels…All required conditions of the Town and Region have been satisfied.”

Town Staff comments and any concerns regarding these studies were not yet available at the time of publishing. A forthcoming Staff Report covering the proposal will be made available in the coming weeks.

A 7 p.m. public meeting is scheduled for November 22 in Council Chambers to formally present the project. Residents are invited to attend and provide input at that time. Those unable to participate at the meeting can submit comments via email to Kathryn Jones, the Stouffville planner overseeing the project.