Gateway

Developer proposes big changes to its plans in Wellington

Kaitlin Corp is seeking to change its plans in Wellington. If successful, the plans will forever change the village. The changes are significant—requiring significant alterations to the County’s Official Plan and Zoning by-laws. There is no word yet on whether such approvals will require public consultation beforehand.

The cumulative changes—some prior to draft approval, some in the works—amount to a radical reimagining of the village of Wellington; what it is and what it will be.

The changes include eliminating a pair of multi-residential buildings near the village core and pushing these plans down the road—literally and temporally—a kilometre out of the village and into an unspecified ‘future’ development. The developer is also now proposing three blocks of strip malls on either side of Belleville Road. The suburban retail gauntlet requires a new zoning category for Prince Edward County—Gateway Mixed-Use Zone (GMU).

DISAPPEARING APARTMENTS
Until recently, two apartment buildings comprising 104 units were among the first phases of the proposed development to be constructed. The apartment blocks consisted of a three- and a four-storey building located on West Street, immediately north of the Millennium Trail, and easily walkable to the village core.

The County’s previous Chief Administrative Officer negotiated the apartment blocks to elicit broader community support and to address the need for more affordable housing options and residents who may not own a car.

At the time, Kaitlin’s consultant, Ryan Guetter, explained to the County’s planning committee that rezoning these land blocks would enable higher-density living close to the village’s downtown.

That was in April 2023. Those plans now appear to be off the table.

When Council’s planning committee approved the rezoning of these land blocks, construction of the apartment buildings was part of Phase 1B—indicating the developer’s stated priority at that time. But since then, these land blocks were downgraded to Phase X and Y. Now, according to the developer’s most recent Concept Plan, the apartment lands are no longer part of any phase—listed simply as Future Development.

Under the proposed concept plan for Kaitlin’s Cork and Vine community, the only apartments to be developed within the planned four phases will be among or above the retail plazas proposed to straddle Belleville Road, more than a kilometre out of the village core.

GATEWAY TO BELLEVILLE
The developer’s current plans envision three blocks of retail and commercial plazas on both sides of Belleville Road. Interspersed with commercial will be residential apartments—some in dedicated buildings, others built over retail businesses. It describes this format as Gateway Mixed-Use. It requires a brand new zoning category in Prince Edward County.

Driving north on Belleville Road past the arena, about half a kilometre north of the Millennium Trail, commuters will encounter a roundabout meant to slow traffic before entering three blocks of mixed-use commercial and residential. It will permit retail plazas, restaurants, professional offices, multi-residential and townhouse buildings, and combinations on the same lot.

From the consultant’s report supporting the proposed official plan amendment and zoning amendment:

“To enhance the character of Belleville Street and reinforce it as the community’s primary corridor, the revised proposal introduces special ‘Gateway Mixed-Use Blocks’ located on either side of the street. These blocks are envisioned to accommodate mixed-use buildings with active ground-floor uses and residential or office uses above. This design approach aims to create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly streetscape that supports local retail and service offerings while complementing the character and function of Wellington’s Main Street.”