Victoria Terrace proposal passes first hurdle

CENTRE WELLINGTON – Council here endorsed a county official plan amendment (OPA) to redesignate lands at 650 Victoria Terr. from “employment area” to “delineated built-up area” with a vote of five to two.  

In August 2025, a development proposal was received for the Victoria Terrace property in Fergus. The proposal includes removal of existing industrial operations and land redesignation from industrial to residential to allow a cluster townhouse development.  

The report was discussed at a Sept. 28 council meeting with the focus of endorsing the county OPA application only, as it is the first required step in the planning approvals process. 

Following a Feb. 25 public meeting, staff have been working with the applicant (Dunpar Development Inc.) to address concerns of:

• increased traffic; 
• pedestrian safety;
• density;
• tree protection; and 
• land use/noise compatibility issues with adjacent industrial operations (Nexans Canada Inc.). 

The original plan proposed a mixed-use development consisting of 192 three-storey residential cluster townhouse units; 11 commercial units; a 0.28 hectare outdoor amenity area; private amenity spaces; and 452 residential parking spaces.  

“The plan has been revised and they have decreased the number of units from 192 to 180 so that provided a slight reduction in density from 41 to 39 units per hectare,” planning services manager Mariana Iglesias told council. “The standard is about 35 for a medium density site.” 

Other revisions include removal of 11 commercial units with the addition of a publicly accessible municipal park in the same location, altering the proposal from mixed-use to only residential.  

Additional tree protection and landscape buffers throughout the site and the elimination of one driveway access (previously two) on Victoria Terrace was also listed on the plan revision. 

“With regards to the current factory that sits there … have they already planned to sell?” councillor Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy asked.  

“I am not totally aware of what transactions have occurred but the intention is to redevelop the lands,” Iglesias said. 

“I am not comfortable with 41 to 39 when the standard for medium density is 35 … it doesn’t feel to me like [the applicant] has made a huge effort,” Lustgarten-Evoy added. “It feels like we’re in the middle of a bargaining game.” 

Councillor Lisa MacDonald expressed having a “difficult time” with the designation change as she believes it will be “putting people out of jobs.” 

Iglesias responded, “I think the site was vacant for quite some time and then I believe there was a lease for a number of years for this facility to currently operate.” 

She added, staff have received a land use compatibility report which reviewed “all the industrial operations in the area and impacts on those, as well as a noise study.” 

Both the report and study determined the use is considered appropriate with some “mitigation measures.”  

Councillor Bronwynne Wilton raised concerns regarding the surrounding schools already being maxed out for students.  

“How does that work in terms of when we’re doing infill projects to accommodate new school children?” she asked. 

“There would be clauses contained in agreements which talk about capacity constraints in the nearby schools and to look at it more broadly,” Iglesias said. 

The broader perspective would look at accommodating students elsewhere on other sites to balance the influx.  

Lustgarten-Evoy jumped back into the conversation with more concerns regarding traffic. 

“What’s going to happen with traffic … it’s already outrageous and it is a children’s walking space,” she said.  

Iglesias stated a traffic impact study was received with recommendations in regards to a 15-metre left-turn lane being warranted under background and total traffic conditions at the intersection of Gartshore Street and Forfar Street East.  

The current traffic study will need to be updated due to the removal of one driveway access.  

“There weren’t any traffic challenges with the actual site itself and access,” Iglesias said. “It was more around surrounding roads and left turn lane warrants.” 

Council voted to endorse the OPA with councillors Kimberley Jefferson and MacDonald against.

This is not approval of the proposal. 

It will return to council at a future date.