Seven-storey apartment building with built-in church set for approval across street from Arby’s

City councillors will be asked Monday to grant zoning approval for a 58-unit apartment building containing an 80-person house of worship on the high-profile corner of Northern Ave. E. at Great Northern Rd.

The existing Holy Trinity Church and a four-unit nearby townhouse on Old Garden River Road would be demolished to make room for the development at 352/360 Northern Ave.

The new seven-storey Trinity Tower will be 20.4 metres tall.

That's two storeys higher than the existing church.

Property owner Cara Community Corp.

Here are zoning tweaks councillors will be asked to approve:

• reduce the required east interior side yard setback from 10.21 metres to zero metres, to accommodate a link between the proposed new building and the existing Cara 1 apartment building
• reduce required parking from 89 spaces to 72 spaces, inclusive of six barrier-free spaces, for both the proposed residential and place of worship uses
• reduce required landscaped open space from 33 per cent to 29 per cent
• permit required parking to be located in a required front and exterior side yard
• waive the need to provide a dedicated loading space

Of the 58 planned residential units, Cara says 20 (34 per cent) will be available to rent at 79 per cent of market median rent.

Median market rent in Sault Ste. Marie is $891, based on the latest figures provided by Ontario's Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

"The proposed dwelling units will be a mix of 30 one-bedroom and 28 two-bedroom units," says Peter Tonazzo, senior city planner.

"The applicants have also indicated that over 30 per cent of the units will be of a barrier free design."

"The proposed place of worship will occupy 460 square metres, consisting of an 80-person worship space, offices, a meeting room and small community hall with a kitchen," Tonazzo says.

"For all intents and purposes, the proposed Trinity Tower will function in association with the existing Cara 1 apartments and townhouses. In fact, Trinity Tower will be physically connected to Cara 1, to provide easy indoor access between both buildings and the church space.

A three-metre road widening along Northern Ave. will be needed.

Monday's City Council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.