“Gateway feature” approved at planning committee level

Town of Lincoln’s Economic Development and Planning Committee approved acceptance of land at John and Ontario streets for a “gateway feature”.

“Committee passed it, albeit not unanimously, and it will likely be the topic of conversation at our next council meeting,” said committee chair Coun. Rob Foster.

This proposal would see a two-metre wide piece of land at the intersection maintained by the developer at no cost to the municipality.

An initial proposal for a Tim Hortons store at that spot was shot down by the Ontario Municipal Board.

This new adjustment of frontage for the lot at that intersection – from Ontario onto Alyssa Drive – results in a change to the proposed site plan.

“The revised plan is an improvement over the earlier proposals because the drive-thru is further removed from the adjacent residential uses and the landscaped buffers adjacent to those residential uses have increased,” states the staff report considered by committee members.

Also recommended, a noise wall be constructed adjacent to the drive-thru lane and that acoustical screening be provided for rooftop air conditioning vents.

There was also a series of other recommendations which Town staff have outlined as required both for the gateway feature aspect as well at the site plan for the lot.

“The new proposal put forward by the developer takes into account the issues identified within the OMB decision. This is critically important, as we do not want to approve anything that has no chance of succeeding at the OMB,” said Foster.

“In addition, the gateway feature in Beamsville that has been identified by the developer has always been part of/considered within the Official Plan.”

“I like the latest proposal being discussed by the applicants and I think it has the potential to be an excellent solution to allow Tim Hortons to keep a more central/downtown location.”