Concerned Nottawa residents pack chambers for PIC
Clearview council chambers were full on May 28 when residents of Nottawa gathered to hear the latest news on the proposed Georgian Communities development. A Draft Plan of Subdivision, approved in 2011, could eventually see as many as 500 new homes built.
Back when the draft plan was approved, there were conditions including sanitary sewer and water supply allocation from Collingwood or New Tecumseth, or a full communal sewage and water treatment system built to the satisfaction of the municipality.
Initially, connection to the Collingwood system was the preferred solution, but challenges with available capacity in Collingwood led the developer to conduct test drilling to identify well sites in Nottawa.
Jeff Shearer, of the recently formed Nottawa Area Residents Association, says the community is entirely dependent on wells, and worries about the potential impact if the Georgian plan is allowed to proceed.
“Our biggest concern is providing water for 500 new homes, and probably 1,500 people,” said Shearer. “Given that we already have homes that are experiencing water problems, we need assurances that if a new well is drilled within the proposed development, it will not result in significant groundwater depletion and negatively impact surrounding properties.”
During the Public Information Centre (PIC) phase of the meeting, Engineer Brittany Robertson of Crozier and Associates, who have been engaged by Georgian Communities, said four options were considered. Option 1 – do nothing – would not allow for future development in Nottawa. Option 2 – connection to the Collingwood system – would mean long delays as the system has no capacity until at least 2030. Option 3 is to expand the existing water treatment plant and reservoir at McKean Park.
“This option would be complicated,” said Robertson, “as the existing system would need to remain active while the new system comes online. This is a less expensive option but would mean more disruption for the community.”
The consultants are recommending a fourth option – new wells and water treatment plan within the proposed development.
“This option would mean higher capital costs but lower maintenance costs over the long term. There would be less disruption for the community and Georgian Communities would fund the water infrastructure and front end costs of the sanitary infrastructure,” said Robertson, adding, “The new system would result in improved fire protection, and should the need for a municipal system be identified down the road, you are many years and millions of dollars closer.”
Now that a preferred solution has been identified, a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment is underway. Consultants will conduct a detailed inventory of natural, cultural, social and economic environments, identifying impacts and mitigation measures. At the conclusion of this phase, another PIC will be held before the final Environmental Study Report is issued.
Jamie Massey of Georgian Communities said there is no clear indication how long the process will take, but that they will be ready to move quickly once approvals are in place. Phase 1 of the project will see 136 single detached homes built.
The proposed system will have sufficient capacity for the entire community, but connection to the new system will be optional.
Public works Director Dan Perreault said the cost for existing homes to connect could be in the neighbourhood of $160,000.
In the Town Hall phase of the meeting, one resident after another rose to ask what recourse they will have if their wells go dry.
Joan McLeod lives on a 100- acre farm adjacent to the proposed subdivision and said, “My house won’t be worth anything if I don’t have water.”
Chris Gerrits, Senior Project Manager with Crozier, told the meeting that a homeowner who feels their well has been negatively affected by the project can file a complaint with the Ministry of the Environment, who could order repairs and have water trucked in at the expense of the offending party.
“The 72 hour test drilling which we conducted showed a 90 per cent recovery rate within 24 hours, and did not affect neighbouring dug wells which we monitored,” he said.
Sean McDermid has a farm on Concession 10. He asked, “Why risk farming and livestock when the developer could simply wait for the Collingwood hookup to become available? If someone has to truck in water, that will mean big dollars.”
The tone of the meeting got a bit testy at one point with Shearer and Gerrits exchanging insults, but the moderator intervened and civility was restored.
In addition to concerns about water, residents expressed concerns about traffic in the village, and the capacity of the local school and fire department. The meeting was told that the Simcoe County District School Board is already planning for an additional 144 pupil spaces at the school in Nottawa, and that a $5.9 million expansion to the school is on the board’s priority list.
Anyone with questions or comments is asked to contact a team member at Crozier by June 28 at brobertson@ cfcrozier.ca or jlabbe@cfcrozier.ca.
