A Liverpool co-op housing project is closer to becoming a reality as it makes its way through the development process.

Region of Queens sold the Queens Neighbourhood Cooperative Housing Ltd. four parcels of land for a dollar in November 2022 to build 26 units of affordable housing.

The housing cooperative petitioned Region of Queens council to rezone the 2.6-acre property at the last council meeting.

Before any building permits can be issued, the land bordered by Amherst, Brunswick, and Lawrence Street on three sides and the Trestle Trail on the other needs to be rezoned.

The area is currently zoned for Lower Density Residential and needs to be redesignated for Multiple Unit Residential to accommodate the two proposed buildings.

The development has already been approved by the Planning Advisory Committee at their June 19 meeting.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says the Co-op housing group is still busily working behind the scenes to move the project forward as they await the rezoning.

“When you’re building these multi-unit residences there's things you need to consider. You need to have the engineers look at the ground and site suitability and all that,” said Norman. “So they're getting all their background work done and I guess my answer would be no, they would not be given a building permit to start any of this until it was rezoned although it would not prevent them from doing site work.”

Council voted in favour of the rezoning and a public meeting will be held before the start of the August 8 Region of Queens Council meeting.

If the rezoning is upheld a public notice will be issued Aug 16 and the four parcels will be rezoned Multiple Unit Residential effective Aug 31.

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