Collingwood council granted 16 more exemptions from the development freeze currently in place, approving 204 single-dwelling units worth of water servicing for the "shovel ready" projects.
An interim control bylaw has been in place in Collingwood since April 2021, which has put a pause on new development while the town completes an expansion to its water treatment plant. The bylaw was passed when staff told council the current water treatment plant did not have enough capacity remaining to accommodate the rate of growth Collingwood was experiencing for new home builds.
Since it was passed, the town has developed a new framework for allocating services, including water, to new development. But the interim control bylaw remains in place as the new framework has been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Developments that are shovel-ready can apply for an exemption to the development pause, which would allow them to get a building permit despite the ban. Those applications are ultimately approved by council.
Exemptions are measured by the amount of water required for the type of residence. The 16 exemptions granted on Sept. 20 amount to 204 single-dwelling units worth of water services. There will be more units in the 16 projects, however, as an apartment or townhouse counts as less than one single-dwelling unit worth of water servicing.
On Sept. 20, Collingwood council granted exemptions for both the Victoria Annex development and the Highway 26 condos called Residences of Silver Creek.
Exemptions granted on Sept. 20 include:
- 77/79 Simcoe Street
- 350 First Street
- 64 Third Street
- 135 Hurontario Street
- 431 Ontario Street
- 307 Fourth Street West
- 79 Summerview Avenue
- 37 Callary Crescent
- 205 Long Point Road
- 648 Mountain Road
- 279 Robinson Street
- 6920 Poplar Sideroad/9745 Beachwood Road
- 11 Golfview Drive
- Unit 1 of the Vacant Land Condominium Plan located at 11403, 11453 &11461 Highway 26 (Residences of Silver Creek)
- 400 Maple Street (Victoria Annex)
In addition, an exemption was approved for the following lands for a total municipal servicing capacity commitment of an estimated 45 SDUs, which had previously been allocated:
- Summitview Subdivision - Plan 51M-1170, Lots 1-41 and Blocks 234, 235
Prior to approving the above exemptions, staff reported the town's water treatment plant had a reserve (uncommitted) capacity of 1,376 single dwelling units (1,830 cubic metres per day) worth of water remaining.
The water treatment plant expansion is underway with tenders scheduled to go out in early 2023 and the expansion complete in 2026.
