Clearview has thousands of approved houses on the books
With thousands of approved residential development projects on the books, Clearview Township council has been discussing how to get shovels in the ground.
In the past six months four requests for extensions have come forward, prompting council discussion about how to encourage development.
Clearview Township has just over 7,000 units on the books, with a little more than 4,000 units having final approval, draft approval or site plan approval.
After a brief discussion Feb. 8, council agreed to a five-year extension for the Delzotto subdivision in New Lowell but without support from Mayor Chris Vanderkruys.
He said his desire to see the extensions shortened is to keep the township on top of things as much as the developer.
Deputy Mayor Barry Burton tried to get it down to three years but couldn’t get enough votes for an amendment.
“I struggle with the five-year issue. We keep doing extension after extension,” said Burton echoing comments he has made in the past.
“We have passed and approved all these subdivisions. The township has invested millions in the sewer system. Our problem is we have all these developers who have bought up the land, we have given them all their approvals but they are not building. They are sitting on the land. They aren’t building any houses,” Burton told The Echo in an earlier interview.
“That’s a problem because quite frankly there isn’t that much land left to buy up that is open for development in Clearview… They keep coming back to us asking for a three- or a five-year extension on their site plans.”
Burton said Monday, the township needs to get developers of the Delzotto subdivision and the airport business park together to bring much needed servicing to Nottawa.
MHBC planner Kris Menzies, who was at the meeting to present plans for the airport development but also represents Delzotto, said there is potential for a servicing partnership. She said she is very hopeful there will be a servicing agreement but it needs time to gain some traction.
This was the first request for an extension for the 500-unit Delzotto subdivision.
In September, Pacific Homes’ 161-unit Emerald Creek Estates in Stayner sought a fourth extension. They were asking for five more years but council granted a four-year extension.
In July, council granted a five-year extension for the first phase of the Ashton Meadows subdivision in Stayner. Phase one includes 224 units and another 173 units in phases two and three.
At that same meeting, council granted a three-year extension to Creemore’s Alliance Homes. It was the third extension for a 498-unit development on Mary Street, a combination of single dwelling units, multiple dwelling units, condominium units, a seniors’ development and there is also a stormwater management pond, parking, and landscaping block along County Road 9.
Palnner Rossalyn Workman reported in July, “According to Michelle Cutts, senior planner for Rudy and Associates Planning, the owner has secured funding to proceed with the project they are in the process of restructuring vendor financing with the intent of moving forward as soon as the restructuring has occurred. The three-year extension is being requested to ensure there is enough time to complete restructuring negotiations and complete detailed design and clear conditions.”
The development includes 96 townhouses, 219 condos and 75 senior apartments.
