Calgary council approves land use change for 16-storey tower in Kensington

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The land use change approved by the City Council last week is the first step toward building a tower of up to 16 stories at the corner of Kensington Road and 10th Street NW, where a similar project was rejected in 2015.

The council unanimously approved an amendment to the land use change and local rezoning plan on Feb. 6. — despite opposition from residents, the plan would damage the character of the neighborhood.

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The rezoning request generated 47 letters of objection and a petition signed by 275 people. About a dozen speakers spoke at last week's public hearing, many of whom opposed the scope of the proposal.

The approval comes nearly nine years after the same applicant proposed a land use change for a proposed 12-story tower at the site. — Terrigno Investments Inc.

The project includes a mixed-use commercial/residential tower and a public plaza on the southeast corner. The plaza will feature a public gathering space in front of the building with benches, a mural and public artwork.

The site currently houses the Terrigno family-owned Osteria Chef's Table and Fusion Sushi restaurants.

Jessica Karpat, director of planning for QuantumPlace Consulting, noted that the site is at the intersection of two of Calgary's “main streets” and is a short walk from the Sunnyside LRT station, a grocery store and other amenities. River from the city center.

“The restructuring will result in a compact city form that is consistent with city policies, including the (Municipal Development Plan), the Hillhurst-Sunnyside (Regional Redevelopment Plan) and the climate strategy,” he said.

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Resident opposition focused on the tower's height

To accommodate the tower's maximum height and higher floor area ratio, the council had to approve land rezoning and amendments to the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP).

At the public hearing, most of the opposition pointed out that the tower would have a maximum height of 50 meters, which is higher than what the local ARP allows.

Towers between 6 and 10 stories are preferred in most public applications.

Leslie Street told councilors Hillhurst residents were not opposed to the densification, but called the 16-storey building an “overdevelopment” that would negatively affect the atmosphere of Kensington Village.

He also believes the applicant's plan to add a plaza is unnecessary because there are many outdoor gathering spaces within a 300-metre radius.

Hillhurst resident Barb Reno noted that Kensington has been one of Calgary's densest communities since the early 1900s.

“In a short period of time, we've embraced the incredible density in our neighborhood and willingly embraced more than 14 condominium buildings, all of which we've helped improve by working with developers,” he said.

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“A 15-story building in a low- and mid-rise community is not transitional; it's an in-your-face statement that undermines the vibe of Calgary's so-called urban village.”

According to Karpat, the tower's design includes setbacks and setbacks to minimize shadowing effects on the adjacent residential area.

He also said the tower would increase Kensington's housing stock, allowing more people to live in one of Calgary's most desirable inner-city communities. in turn supports Kensington's business.

In addition, he said the public square would attract passers-by and create a north-south connection point between Kensington and Bow River Road.

“The current bar (site) really creates pedestrian traffic on that corner,” Karpat said. “I would say that the subject site really addresses how to address pedestrian traffic at this gateway access point.”

The project presents “opportunities” for the city of Kensington

9th district. Gian-Carlo Carra introduced an amendment to the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Improvement Fund to include a provision that would require the developer to deliver a public square instead of making a monetary contribution.

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“If we're going to do high-density here, we have to make sure we have high-quality public space,” he said.

Number. Hillhurst spokesman Terry Wong said he hoped critics would recognize over time that Kensington would remain a “vibrant, visually appealing community” with a taller tower than they expected.

“I know this site is very sensitive on many fronts, but it offers opportunities for both the community and the city,” Wong said.

A development permit is the next step in the approval process, but Karpat said the application is still several years away because the Terrigno family has other development projects.

Wong said many of the area's residents' concerns could be addressed during the development permit process.

The application brings a lot of history

This is not the first time the Terrigno family has attempted to build a residential tower on the site of the Kensington restaurant formerly known as Osteria de Medici.

In May 2015, the council voted 8-6 against Terrignos' rezoning request — a 12-story tower at the corner of Kensington and 10th Street.

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Two years later, the family sued then-7th Ward Councilman Druh Farrell, accusing him of using his political influence to interfere with the petition, among other allegations.

When Farrell filed his statement of defense, he said the lawsuit was an attempt to intimidate him and damage his reputation in an election year.

Carra cited the history of the request during the council's deliberations, saying he voted against the proposal in 2015.

But he said he always believed the project had merit, and that the density would be higher if the applicant promised to improve the public area, such as the plaza.

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