A proposed apartment development that first came before Centre Wellington council in 2018 was up for approval last night but failed to get the green light.

At the meeting in Elora, Brett Salmon, Township Managing Director of Planning and Development, presented the five-storey mixed use apartment building to council for final approval.

Several councillors tabled concerns, namely Barb Evoy and Lisa MacDonald, who voiced issues over safety of students at a nearby school. Both hoped the 820 St. David Street North development would have more current public input. The report states the North Fergus proposal originally was originally a six-storey retirement residence in a 2018 application.

Mayor Shawn Watters pointed out "this is what intensification looks like.” Still, he said he understood the concerns of newer members of council.

"They hadn't been involved with this development from the beginning and it started in 2019, you had COVID in there," Watters said.

"There were some modifications to this design, so in my mind, I think it's only fair to council because they weren't familiar with this file, just to take it back and have a look at it," he went on.

Watters also noted he is on board with the community getting another chance to weigh in.

"It's been since 2019. I think it just kind of reminds the community that this is still there," Watters explained.

"They've come back more recently with these updates to the development, and I think it's only fair to share that with the community," he added.

Evoy and MacDonald shared several woes including safety concerns, while Craddock was the lone opposition to the amendment to re-evaluate without approving the development.

As a result, council will seek more public input at a future meeting.

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