LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Above, all the “yard” landscape areas on existing Losani townhomes along Highway 24 (Rest Acres) or Lydia Lane. To the right is a photo rendering of what the 8-story building will look like among the 2-story and single-story homes from Edgar Place to Powerline Road, which are mainly bungalows built by local builders.

A Similar Losani Homes Ltd. development is currently underway in Hamilton, Ontario, for the same units proposed for Block 99 in Midtown Central Park and an 8-story building in development in Soho Central Park

In this development plan, Losani Homes Ltd. has developed public open spaces, with Park and Eco Trail Promenade being one of the key requirements for successful high-density development. It is also noted that off Upper Red Hill Valley Parkway, there are amenities to support this density, including extensive Transit Infrastructure with Hamilton Street Railway (HSR).

There is very limited open space provided by Losani Homes (Paris) Ltd. in the Mile Hill Subdivision This option for families ensures that outdoor environments help support the mental health of residents

Losani Homes (Paris) Ltd. is requesting to build high-density housing that is currently in development in a large urban centre of Hamilton, Ontario, with a population of 785,184 (Government of Canada, 2023) versus Town of Paris with a population of 14,956 (Government of Canada, 2023) reference from the 2021 census.

Another significant concern is that the proposed building does not align with the existing development characteristics along Rest Acres from Powerline Road to Hwy 2. We understand that Phase I of block 34's 8-storey building was approved in 2013 However, the proposal for a second building, which requires a re-zoning amendment, is particularly troubling as it backs onto private property with a forest known as the 'Healing Forest', a cherished part of the community located near Mile Hill Subdivision

Furthermore, the construction of this building will directly overlook the backyards of Lydia Lane and Edgar Place, significantly compromising the privacy of these areas, which are predominantly 50% Bungalows. This invasion of personal space will greatly affect our outdoor environment, making it challenging to enjoy our properties as we do now. A photo is provided below to illustrate the potential impact of this 8-story building on those homeowners, including myself and my husband. Other concerns include:

Transit- Creating high-density housing along rest acres without any active transport infrastructure would strain the current Brant Transit, which has faced a long queue to book appointments, with several weeks to secure a booking.

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Parking- Losani Homes (Paris) Ltd. provides 0.25 spaces for visitors at block 99 and 0.35 for visitors at block 98 Note that only 56 units will be provided with 2 parking spaces via driveway and/or garage, and Block 98 will only provide 0.25 spot per extra bedroom. This is contributing to the parking issues in the area, potentially leading to a situation where these residents will struggle to find parking if there are more than 1- 2 cars in the household The risk of multiple families residing in 1 unit for affordability further compounds this issue, underscoring the urgent need for additional parking solutions.

Traffic- The site plan for both Blocks 98 and 99 will include 495 parking spots, with the potential to access the development on multiple occasions per day. Unfortunately, the only areas to access the development will be Tom Brown Drive via Powerline Road and Lydia Lane, adding to the safety concerns that are already present with rolling stops at Vic Chambers and Lydia Lane stop signs