Belleville could be looking at a big new apartment complex being built in the city.
Monday night, the Planning Advisory Committee decided to recommend that city council make changes to the Official Plan and zoning for the site at four properties, 656, 660, 664, and 670 Sidney Street, just south of Bell Boulevard to accommodate the project.
The developer, Andy Geertsma of GCL Development Limited, is planning construction of four multi-residential apartment buildings which would contain a total of 96 units.
Some of the land is now vacant, but there are small older houses on some of it which would have to be demolished.
A report by Director of Engineering and Development Services Stephen Ashton indicates Belleville has an oversupply of commercial land. The development would occur on lands that are currently designated commercial in the Official Plan but are located at the southern boundary of the Bell Boulevard Commercial Area and adjacent to lands to the south designated Residential.
Ashton also states: “To address the oversupply of commercial lands in addition to the provision of affordable and attainable housing, the city has expanded the scope of the Official Plan to address this issue.”
The request for Official Plan and zoning changes goes to city council next week.
