Simcoe County is giving the go-ahead to three developments in Wasaga Beach.
“The county, along with staff from the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Natural Resources have reviewed all applications,” said planning director David Parks, adding there’s an array of reports that assess natural hazards as well as the impact of the proposals on habitats for species at risk. The county approved all three, however.
The Wasaga Dunes development on Sunnidale Road adds 75 people in 42 units on1.58 hectares. The remaining 4.5 hectares will be designated natural heritage, open space and natural hazard.
A second development, located on the south side of Eastdale Drive, has 156 units on 88 hectares. However, the single-family detached homes and townhomes will be limited to 5.4 hectares, with the remainder being designated natural heritage. The development is projected to add 174 people to the town’s population.
The third development, located on the north side of Deerbrook Drive, adds 278 people in 120 homes, a combination of detached and townhouses.
Totalled, the plans add 509 people to Wasaga Beach, which had just over 11,000 residents in 2011, the most recent number Statistics Canada has made available.
Parks, however, stressed an array of reports and reviews have assessed the environmental impact and housing is being limited to developable areas while more sensitive ones are being protected.
Still, neighbouring mayor, Springwater’s Bill French, said the county shouldn’t approve developments just because they can be accommodated.
“Just because a property can be developed, it doesn’t mean we have to develop something on it,” he said, particularly as it related to the first development. “I’m not sure why, when it is close to sensitive wetlands, we should figure out a way to develop just because we can.”
Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Rob Keffer wasn’t keen on approving the second plan.
“I can’t support this because of its closeness to agriculture,” he said.
French agreed.
“I was curious why the agricultural landowner didn’t comment,” French said. “The reality is if you put active agriculture or livestock (near the corner) and if it’s sold, the new farmer couldn’t put livestock near that corner. I’m not sure why there wouldn’t be an automatic setback.”
The decisions will be given final approval in two weeks; they subsequently can be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.
