Council has agreed to defer any decision on a controversial Warkworth development until a full subdivision plan has been submitted and evaluated.
At its meeting last Thursday, councillors said they need more details before deciding whether to approve a severance and rezoning plan for 122 Mill Street, where 43 units, including townhouses had been suggested, drawing lots of loud complaints from residents.
“There are so many unanswered questions on this plan of subdivision, things like traffic, parking, density, water runoff,” said Councillor Rick English. “There are so many questions that aren’t answered here.”
English said he has been inundated with emails from residents opposed to the development.
A report from the planning department said the developer has submitted an updated concept plan, but staff had not had time to review the changes before the meeting. It recommended council defer any decision until all requests, including a full plan of subdivision, have been received and reviewed.
Councillor Daniel Giddings said the controversy over this development highlights an issue this council has dealt with for a past four years and one that will be faced by the next council: The issue of how to allow development without permitting too much density, or projects that change the character of the communities.
“I hope we set a precedent in this community that we do support growth, but controlled growth is very important,” Giddings said.
Councillor Dennis Savery said that it was clear from the emails that people want another public meeting with the developer once plans are revised and he said this was crucial.
Planner Cameron Law explained that legally, under the developer-friendly changes made by the Ford government, the meeting held in May was the only one legally required, even though it provided few details.
“Under the Planning Act, there is no way to compel them (the developer) to come to a public meeting,” he said.
Law said the planning department hopes to hold another public meeting once a revised subdivision plan is received, but he noted that any second meeting would not have the same legal weight as the first meeting.
Developers are able to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal if they are unhappy with a municipality’s decision and comments from the required public meeting can be introduced.
With the election campaign now in full swing, this council has lame-duck status and can’t make major decisions. For example, it could declare the road allowance adjacent to the Mill Street property to surplus to municipal needs, but it can’t actually sell the land to the developer.
At the urging of the planning department, the developer has proposed using much of an unopened road allowance for the development. A staff report said the lot is too steep for the allowance to ever be used for a roadway.
“The initial proposal for the site had an approximate density of (about)11 units per net hectare, below what the official plan required, but with a greater density than the neighbouring area in Warkworth,” Law’s report said. “An updated concept plan that has been provided to planning staff shows reduced units from the initial proposal, and will be shared once the applications are recirculated.”
Municipal candidates confirmed
As required under provincial law, the municipal clerk’s office has reviewed all the potential candidates for the October 26 election to ensure they meet the requirements, and they do.
Rick English has been acclaimed as deputy mayor, since he was the only candidate.
Candidates for the other spots are:
Mayor — Steven Haylestrom, Mike Metcalf
Ward 1 — Adam Baguley, Jana Reid, Karen Ulrich
Ward 2 — Erick Baron-Joyner, Adam Briggs, Tina Burke, Rob Pope
Ward 3 — Nader Eid, Viv Smallwood, Sandra Walls
Ward 4 — Leslie Mahoney, Meagan McLean, Emilio Ojeda, Ken Tully
Ward 5 — Ethan Armit, Bob Crate, Dennis Savery
School Board Trustee - English Public — Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, two to be elected: Terry Brown, Jaine Klassen Jeningo, Elizabeth Terrell, Lindsay White
Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board — Matthew Hilts, acclaimed
Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French public school board) — Eric Lapointe, acclaimed
Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French separate school board) — Marcellin Kwilu Mondo
While I’m happy that the residents of Warkworth, with solid support from their councillor, were able to stave off a questionable development, as a resident of Hastings I wonder, and weep, as to the absence of similar standards and diligence which have resulted in vacant lands and ongoing questions.
Great to see council wanting more information. In my opinion there is two many subdivisions approved. Look at the McKenzie one, Nappen Island, the one up behind the arena, who paid for the sewage plant and work has stopped for more development. Hopefully a new council will be more proactive in approving development.