With half-a-dozen redevelopment projects already in the pipeline for Aldershot’s Plains Road corridor, it should come as no surprise that the Downsview Plaza may be next in line.
Coletara Development has announced a virtual public meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 31 in order to discuss its plans for the property.
The plaza, located on the north side of Plains Road just west of East Plains United Church, sits on both sides of Downsview Drive and has been a significant shopping destination in Aldershot for decades.
“The redevelopment plans are commercial mixed-use which includes ground floor commercial and residential suites above. Additionally, the development proposes townhouses to the rear of each site, enhancing the transition to low-rise housing to the north. The majority of the parking will be located in the enclosed parking structure,” according to an email from the company.
There was no reference to the building height but, in 2020 Coletara filed an appeal of Burlington’s new Official Plan as it relates to the Downsview neighbourhood.
“The policy stating that the maximum building height of six storeys shall not be permitted on small sites with insufficient depth is vague and unjustified and should be removed. The policies requiring retail and service commercial uses within all properties within this designation is inappropriate and problematic as it removes flexibility to address the changing retail market,” according to the appeal letter.
Councillor Kelvin Galbraith at this time will only say that redevelopment of the plaza has been expected for years.
The previous owner of the property had suggested a redevelopment plan with four-storey buildings facing Plains Road, including main floor retail, and townhomes at the rear of the property. That plan went nowhere.
Any redevelopment of the site by Coletara will certainly spark debates over retail space and the need to upgrade the nearby pedestrian traffic light on Plains Road to a full intersection signal.
Coletara is the same company that has approval to build a seven-storey building on Masonry Court at the foot of Clearview and St. Matthews avenues.
Update notice: this article was updated after publication to include the description of the proposal released by Coletara.
