The Blue Mountains council has approved the rezoning for the Lora Greens development just outside of Thornbury.
At its committee of the whole meeting on April 30, council voted 5-1 in favour of a staff report recommending approval of the rezoning. Coun. June Porter was the lone opposing vote and Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon was absent.
The development would see a 38-unit subdivision built on property just outside of Thornbury at the 10th Line and Highway 26. The land is just across the highway from the Campus of Care property.
The rezoning changes the property from development, development-holding and hazard holding to residential one holding, open space holding and hazard holding.
The proposal includes a new cul-de-sac road with an entrance onto the 10th Line. All the homes constructed would connect to town water and sewage services. The development also includes a stormwater management facility and a connection to the adjacent Georgian Trail.
The proposal includes a hold provision on the property until an application process is completed to re-channel a floodway.
The developer is proposing cash in lieu of parkland. The estimated price point on the units is $1.6 - $1.9 million. To address the affordable/attainable housing issue, the developer will rough-in basement apartments in 16 of the units and will make a financial contribution to the town’s affordable/attainable housing programs through the Community Improvement Plan.
The proposal was not without opposition. Local resident Paul Reale made a presentation to council and expressed a number of concerns about the development. Reale spoke about traffic concerns he has about the development with it being located at the busy Highway 26/10th Line intersection.
“It is imperative that we prioritize public safety and the integrity of our planning processes to ensure sustainable and safe development in The Town of the Blue Mountains,” Reale said during his presentation.
Porter also questioned a number of aspects of the report and development. She said cash in lieu of parkland was insufficient in an area of town that needs public spaces. Porter also expressed concerns about the development having a connection to the Georgian Trail.
“This area is crying out for parkland. There is not enough,” Porter said, while also questioning the Georgian Trail connection. “How is that decision made?”
The town’s planning consultant on the file, David Riley, said that trail connectivity is a key town policy and is encouraged in new developments and neighbourhoods.
“If there were no trail connections, my recommendation would be to add one. You need to provide for those access points,” said Riley. “You want to encourage people to use the trail.
