In July, the Town of Collingwood announced that they had received a $1 million contribution from Sunvale Homes through owner John Welton to be used for affordable housing efforts in the municipality.
However, more details revealed last week indicate the town doesn’t have the money yet, and a timeline for when the town will receive the funds is not clear.
A news release from the town on July 20, 2023 bore the headline "Collingwood receives $1M for affordable housing from local developer."
The release included a thank you from both the town and the mayor for the "generous contribution."
During budget discussions on Oct. 16, Coun. Kathy Jeffery asked about the Sunvale contribution. The town's treasurer confirmed the town doesn't have the $1 million.
“Just to be clear, the town does not have the $1 million,” Quinlan told councillors. “At this point...the agreement is when the homes sell, and the homes have not sold yet.”
“We were trying to encourage an updated agreement as part of our discussions with that developer, but at this point, the agreement is what stands,” she said.
The $1 million contribution was a condition of settlement for Sunvale's case before the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
Welton had been one of three appellants to the town’s zoning bylaw amendment at the OLT, which put a halt on lifting the town’s interim control bylaw at the one-year mark of it first being put in place in April 2021.
The appeal, filed by Amber Stewart Law on behalf of John Welton/Sunvale Homes, was withdrawn on July 19 as a term of a settlement reached between the town and Sunvale, which meant the town could then lift the interim control bylaw.
While the full terms of settlement are not being released by the OLT or the town, one of the terms was for Sunvale to provide the town with the $1 million contribution to the affordable housing reserve, which was announced by the town on July 20.
On July 24 – less than a week after the contribution was announced – council voted in favour of removing a holding symbol on the developer’s 17 Portland St. development, which was the last step in the town’s approval process for that development.
The 17 Portland St. development is a 90-unit residential development split between 84 townhouses, six semi-detached units, visitor parking and open amenity space.
When contacted following the Oct. 16 meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Sonya Skinner told CollingwoodToday that the contribution was part of a legal process through the OLT settlement.
“It aligns with town policies and applicable legislation,” said Skinner.
“As with all settlements, the town negotiated in the community’s best interest. In this case, it is normal for us to expect developers to provide significant community benefit where they will build. Past examples involve the inclusion of parks, trails, as well as affordable housing,” she said.
“The contribution from Welton is contingent on their ability to complete the site-plan process fully and properly, by moving through to construction and ultimately sales,” Skinner added.
Sunvale Homes has built more than 300 new homes in four different Collingwood communities since 2012. Construction is underway on their 17 Portland St. development, and the company also owns land south of Kirby St. and Dey Dr. between the intersection and the Hamilton Drain Trail, to be developed at a future time.
Emails and phone calls to John Welton of Sunvale Homes were not returned by publication time.
