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(Posted 7 a.m.,
May 13)
Homebuilder
makes case to expand east urban community
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
Representatives from Tamarack Homes and the Taggart Group of Companies faced
members of the community during a public meeting Monday night to explain
why they want the city to expand the east urban boundary and allow them
to go ahead with plans for a massive subdivision that will eventually grow
to 4,500 homes over the next 15 years.
Close to 80 concerned
residents sat through the presentation, including representatives from both
the Cumberland Village Community Association and the Cardinal Creek Community
Association which are opposed to the development.
Ted Phillips
from Tamarack Homes made a thorough presentation of the company's plans
which call for 4,500 homes to be built over the next 10 to 15 years in the
area bordered by Innes Road to the south, Cardinal Creek to the west, the
Ottawa River to the north and Ted Kelly Lane and Frank Kenny Rd. to the
east.
During his presentation,
Phillips tried to dispel the fear that the 4,500 homes would be built overnight.
The reality is that Tamarack would likely build between 150 and 250 homes
a year, depending on demand, with a probable peak of 400 homes a year.
To further alleviate
peoples' fears and help quell the growing opposition to their plans, Tamarack
has agreed to cap construction at 400 homes a year north of Old Montreal
Rd. and not build any homes at all south of Old Montreal Rd. for at least
10 years. They've also agreed to maintain the rural designation on a large
track of land at the far northeast corner of the development to act as a
natural buffer with the community to the east.
"I don't
think there will be any change of the rural character (of the area) for
many years to come," said Phillips. "We're willing to integrate
the existing woodlots into the development. We're willing to reforest some
areas with butternut trees at an additional cost to us and we want to create
a series of pathways from the community down to Petrie Island. We want to
make this the nicest development in the city."
Phillips then
asked the audience whether they would rather have 4,500 homes on city water
and sewer services or 1,000 estate homes on well water, which is what the
area can currently accommodate under the existing zoning.
That prompted
one man who claimed he recently moved to Cumberland Village, to stand up
and state he favoured the expansion of the east urban boundary and Tamarack's
plans so long as it's "intelligent development" and addresses
the concerns of residents.
Phillips also
claimed that the average estate home requires $1,300 in city services, while
an average single-detached home in a suburban subdivision costs taxpayers
about $50 a year in services such as garbage collection and snowplowing.
He also made assurances that the development would not contain any highrises
or stacked townhomes, and that rumours claiming they planned to build a
number of social housing units had no basis in truth whatsoever.
His final message
to the audience was that Tamarack Homes and the Taggart Group of Companies
was willing to do whatever it takes to consult with the community and build
a development everyone can be proud of.
"What we're
hoping to offer isn't doom and gloom. It's a well thought out development
plan that we're hoping will generate some discussion. Nothing is cast in
stone," said Phillips.
Sitting in the
audience taking it all in was Cumberland Ward Coun. Rob Jellett who's been
working on a plan to introduce a third category for sub-division approval
in the city's Official Plan which would require developers to apply for
an Official Plan amendment before the urban boundary is expanded.
Under his proposal,
developers would have to go through an extensive public consultation process
and undertake a series of studies that would be scrutinized by the city's
planning department. Jellett believes the motion will pass with very little
opposition.
If it does, Tamarack
Homes is more than willing to follow the new process even though it would
set back their plans two to three years.
"We bought
the property with the intention to make it a flagship property for next
the 20 years. If it takes another two or three years to get the community's
support then so be it," said Phillips.
(This story
was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local
business partners.)
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