Although the developer of 391 High Street has already been given six extensions to the town’s approval of their draft plan of subdivision since they were first handed that approval in 2008, council is leaning toward handing them a seventh.
During their committee of the whole meeting on Jan. 27, council considered an extension request for the proposed Trails of Collingwood development at High St. near Tenth St. in Collingwood’s south-west end.
“We’re in our 17th year. I typically would not be in support of approving an extension...but it seems the applicant has made a number of related applications that will allow him to move forward doing the work necessary to develop the property,” said Mayor Yvonne Hamlin. “I’m going to support this today.”
The Trails of Collingwood draft plan as of 2022 includes 34 single-detached homes, 32 semi-detached homes, 46 townhouses and two four-storey apartment buildings containing 125 units. Also included in the phased draft plan are spaces for stormwater management, soil containment, a swale/servicing corridor and adding trail connections.
The draft residential subdivision was originally approved by the town on Oct. 20, 2008 and was subsequently extended in 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. In 2022, council voted in favour of the developer's request to keep contaminated soil onsite under a berm instead of trucking it away.
The current approval will lapse on Feb. 20 if council doesn’t agree to another extension, in which case the developer would have to start the process over and re-apply with a new application.
Owner of the land David Ferracuti of Helen Court Homes Ltd. spoke following the staff presentation, noting the age of the file. His family has owned the former apple orchard property on High Street between Telfer Road and the Underwood Creek Trail near Tenth Street for 30 years.
He has said in his correspondence with the town that the delay in breaking ground is attributable to the town’s passing of the interim control bylaw, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to address contaminated soil prior to putting a shovel in the ground.
“This has been a long, hard and drawn-out process,” he told councillors during the meeting. “We feel we’re finally at the point where we can continue. I’m looking for support for this project so we can continue.”
Ferracuti has applied for tree-cutting and fill permits with the town, which will only be considered if council grants the extension.
Coun. Deb Doherty asked about the phasing plan, which shows that the part of the development in the centre would be done in the final phase.
“It seems like an odd way to undertake a development. You’re going to have all these established homes, and then continue with construction right in the middle of them,” she said.
Senior planner Justin Teakle explained that roadwork within the development was necessary first so crews could even access the centre of the development.
At the end of discussion, the committee voted unanimously in favour of granting the three-year extension on the draft plan of subdivision for the proposed High St. development. Any decision made during committee of the whole needs to be ratified at the next regular meeting of council before going into effect.
- With files from Erika Engel