Council quietly shepherds new homes
Steps taken to boost sales and severances that should lead to housing eventually
At first glance it appeared as though Trent Hills council had a quiet day on Tuesday and not much happened, but really they quietly continued the slow process of developing our rural area.
Their actions won’t result in development with a capital D any time soon, but are the sort of approvals that you’ll notice in a few years when you’re driving down a concession road for the first time in a while and spot new homes, leading you to think: “When did those houses get built?”
In the morning, they had a council meeting that lasted 18 minutes, the shortest that I recall during the 16 months that I have been monitoring their meetings. Then, at 6 p.m. they had a public hearing session to consider applications for severances. That meeting had been rescheduled from April 1 due to the ice storm. It lasted 37 minutes.
The council session passed a bylaw to correct a legal mis-step involving property along Cedar Shores Drive and Marigold Road, south of Trent River Drive, on the north side of the Trent. The land is owned by J.R. Connor Properties Limited.
In late 2022, the municipality approved severances and plans were moving ahead to develop more than 20 homes in the area. However, an error too boring to explain here caused legal problems. On Tuesday council passed a bylaw that sorted out that problem by retroactively permitting the mistake, a move that will allow the sale of part of the land to go ahead.
“One of the subject properties is now being sold through a real estate transaction. In order to close the pending real estate transaction, the contravention to the Planning Act needs to be corrected,” explained a report from Liz Stillman, Planning Coordinator.
Councillor Gene Brahaney noted that councillors had made a site visit to the location years back and he wondered if this meant there will be activity soon. He has often been critical of subdivisions that get municipal approval, then languish for years as the developers await the right markets and financing.
Planning and Development Director Jim Peters said that he has had discussions with a developer who is purchasing the Connor property and expects a development proposal will come forward soon.
The evening meeting considered two applications for severances and zoning changes to permit home construction, something the province and municipality support.
The hearings are required to give neighbours and other residents a chance to comment, if they have any concerns or objections.
Only one of the applications attracted any interest and it was from a neighbour who said he supports construction, but wanted to warn potential residents what they are getting into.
The proposal is to sever a property at 1321 Crowe River Road at Concession 14, into two properties – one 15.5 acres (6.3 hectares) and the other 6.5 acres (2.6 hectares). Houses could be built on each property.
Crowe Valley Conservation Authority said it didn’t object to the plans since there is enough land to permit buildings without encroaching on wetlands that run across the property.
“Build away,” said neighbour Gregory Cole. “I know we need housing.”
But Cole, who is the third generation of his family farming the land just to the north on Concession 14, had a few warnings for his potential new neighbours.
“I farm the land. I don’t have any animals, but we have farm equipment and I have a sawmill that operates during the day. I just don’t want someone coming across the road in five years to complain,” Cole said.
He also noted that the area has no internet service. “They say we’re in a dead zone.”
Also: “We have no water. Well, he can get water if he goes deep enough, but it’s no good.”
And: “There is an airstrip on the farm just south of the property.”
Google Maps appears to show a grass airstrip running north-south, just south of the property. Councillor Rob Pope noted that the municipality probably has no jurisdiction over the airstrip.
Council also considered a proposal to sever two lots off a 143-acre parcel located on County Road 25, extending south of Concession Road 11 West to County Road 35.
The plan would create one parcel of 40 acres, another of 61 acres, and retain about 42 acres, which has an existing home and outbuildings.
The report to council noted that it had approved similar severances for the property in 2020, but the then owners did not complete the necessary conditions within the two years required, so the severances lapsed. New owners are now moving ahead with this proposal and if it is approved will have two years to install driveways.
There were no comments from residents on this plan. Lower Trent Conservation Authority expressed some concerns about wetlands.
“Existing mapping indicates that the subject property is adjacent to the Killoran Lake Provincially Significant Wetland and contains unevaluated wetlands,” its report says. “Percy/Burnley Creek tributary streams are present in the southern portion of the lands and a Trent River tributary stream is present in the central and northern portions of the lands.”
Lower Trent said it had no objection to the application, but noted any development would require a permit before work started and that the waterways could not be disturbed.
Planner Cameron Law said Northumberland county is OK with entrances to the properties on CR 25. Lower Trent had concerns about any driveways off Concession 11 on the Killoran Lake side of the properties.
These severances and rezoning applications will come to council for approval once any issues have been handled by the planning department. And then development may occur, or may not, at least not for a while, given the ongoing Trump-induced economic chaos.
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