CARA checks in on developments

CARA held its Annual General Meeting last Saturday at the Station on the Green. This was our first in-person meeting in three years so it was great to see everyone again. We noted with great regret the loss of two directors since the pandemic began: Jim McCartney who had been active for many years, and more recently, Peter Goddard who was also a great supporter.

Recent activities have included the campaign against ATVs on Creemore roads, participating in the review of the Clearview ward system and continuing to monitor local land developments.

We have also contributed modest amounts to support local initiatives. The financial statements were presented, directors elected and officers announced. We then reviewed the status of local real estate development that CARA has been monitoring.

Alliance – CARA settled its OMB case with Alliance and Clearview in December 2007. CARA has always been in favour of development, but at the time we had tried to scale back 485 homes being built on that 100-acre property, which would have doubled the size of Creemore. We have good settlement agreements with Alliance and Clearview that include phasing of the development and a Liaison Committee. The first release of homes (15) has been built and sold. Alliance plans to build the remaining 10 homes along Mary Street (a four-plex and a six-plex), likely as condominiums. In 2021, Alliance sold the rest of the development to Tribute Homes, a large, well-respected developer and home builder in the GTA.

THE BRIX – This development by MDM Developments was formerly the MacIntosh Meadows of Creemore development. CARA was not a participant in the OMB hearing that gave MacIntosh approval to build 72 condominium units. The CARA Board met with the new owner of this development a couple of years ago. As we have no settlement agreement covering this development, we follow progress in the press. It appears from last month’s Globe and Mail article that sales are going well with prices of the units continuing to increase rapidly.

Old School Redevelopment – Based on the publicly available information, this project looks like a good addition to housing stock in the community. It appears they must have resolved the flood plain issue with the Nottawasaga ValleyConservation Authority.

New Commercial building on Mill Street – As of now, we only know what was in The Echo last week. Stu Lazier explained that it is expected to be like the Art Gallery building across the street that Jim Vanderwater built several years ago. However, details are not yet available.