Prognosis of former hospital site
By
Mark Schadenberg
The
final fate and future focus of the old Woodstock General Hospital site will be
decided in 2013.
What
type of residential uses should the area have?
The
new hospital in Woodstock is now 15 months old and one of the items on the
local city council agenda for Feb. 21 is a proposal for a low density
neighbourhood – mostly detached houses on Vincent and Brant street frontages,
along with high-end townhouses.
The
submission to be analyzed by the 500 Dundas horseshoe includes three hypothetical
layouts (variations).
I
would state publicly the suggested streetscape No. 2 is the greatest idea.
I
don’t think anyone anywhere in Woodstock – whether they lived across the street
from WGH or 40 blocks away – would have wanted a 12-storey complex constructed.
The
blocks of Riddell – Brant – Wellington – Vincent already have a group of townhouses
with Riddell frontage and many modest-sized homes.
Further,
the plan for the chunk of land which was once home to Beckett Farm Market has
now been shifted to townhouses and not a multi-storey condo – with nothing yet
built there.
The
Woodstock hospital board of trust was set to be at council Feb. 21 (today) to
suggest a zone change for the 6.4 acres and a second separate 1.9 acres of
development land.
Zoning Change Required First
Naturally,
the process of removing the olde healthcare facility from the terra firma
continues, but a change of zoning from institutional (Actually labeled as: ‘special
community facility’) to residential is one of the steps in the long process of
red tape. Studies on the 6.4 acres of hospital block (plus the 1.9 acres of former
large parking lot on the west side of Riddell) include traffic analysis and
site assessments. It’s rather hard to believe that a traffic count had to be
calculated as it would be impossible to think a future use could include more
congestion of cars than a public hospital.
Also,
keep in mind the provincial policies on residential uses stresses closeness and
crowding, and not open spaces with generous backyards.
The
County of Oxford also has a bible called the official plan to consult.
The
report to council (Pages 49-72 in the online agenda) does suggest there could
be some leniency to property uses, including a bed-and-breakfast and other
at-home businesses. To muddy the waters, definitions are included for possible
small-scale institutional uses such as a retirement home with fewer than 35
beds.
Three Levels Of Government
I
have always been quite impressed with the efforts of both Ron Versteegen and
Gord Hough in the county strategic planning department. With three levels (city,
county, and province) of government policies to juggle, somehow these two gentlemen
do an effective job of playing first, second and third base – they cover the
bases.
As
a matter of interest, even Canada Post was permitted an opportunity to comment
on this plan.
Review
is also made on the ‘look’ and construction quality of the new structures,
saying: “facades that line the street must be coordinated with architectural
elements from the surrounding neighbourhood and be designed to a high standard.”
www.city.woodstock.on.ca
http://www.city.woodstock.on.ca/images/stories/pdfs/agendas_minutes/city_council/2013_Agenda-minutes/02-February-21-2013-CouncilAgenda.pdf
Picture: Woodstock General Hospital in 1902.
Mark
Schadenberg
Sales
Representative
Always Thinking About What Clients Are Likely Thinking About
Royal
LePage Triland Realty Brokerage
Woodstock
Call:
(519) 537-1553
Email:
mschadenberg@rogers.com
Discussion
. . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination
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