Owen Sound council has signed off on a land sale process to help facilitate a proposed apartment development in the city’s northeast end.
Council approved a staff recommendation during its meeting Monday to declare a portion of unopened 21st Street East road allowance as surplus and to permit direct negotiation for a sale to Barry’s Construction & Insulation, which is proposing a four-storey, 35-unit apartment building on nearby lands.
A staff report to council says the land sale would allow the developer to construct parking for the new building, which is planned on land west of 9th Avenue East — south of the Bayfield Landing affordable housing complex.
“The developer has requested the city sell a portion of that road allowance, that they would use for parking. Otherwise, the lot isn’t big enough on its own,” Owen Sound’s Director of Community Services Pam Coutler told councillors.
The developer, Barry’s Construction, has submitted a pre-consultation to the city for the proposed new four-storey apartment building.
Public notice of the intention to declare surplus, an appraisal and a follow-up staff report with the appraised price are among the next steps in the land sale process.
Deputy Mayor Scott Greig: “It’s very positive news to see us trying to move forward in the community and facilitate further housing and intensification, which is aligned with the goals of a lot of municipalities and the province.”
