Lakeside Estates sub-division approval extended by two years

By Sharon Harrison
A request by the developer to extend the draft plan of sub-division approval for Lakeside Estates in Consecon by three years wasn’t accepted by council, but it did approve a two-year extension.

Several councillors at Wednesday’s planning and development committee meeting (the last for this term of council) were not comfortable with allowing the developer so much more time to start the development.

After some discussion around the horseshoe, councillor Janice Maynard put forward an amendment for the two-year extension, which is to be ratified at the next council meeting Sept. 22.

Councillor Kate MacNaughton asked about recent progress (noting none), with Maynard’s concern being around land banking, saying she would be more comfortable with two years, rather than three.

“It’s been a while now, so I think two years to me sounds like a more reasonable time frame, because that speculation and land banking is probably what we are trying to avoid,” said Maynard.

“It sounds like he’s eager to move, so I think showing some more substantial completion in a span of two years complies with that trajectory,” said MacNaughton. “So, I think it’s not a bad idea to limit it to two years and at that time, if there is substantial completion then it makes sense that there could be an extension.”

Greg King, agent for the applicant, had noted the project was delayed due to COVID and the economic downturn. “However, the owner is eager to proceed, and will hopefully complete development within three years, a timeframe we think is appropriate and reasonable.”

Manager of planning, Angela Buonamici, said while this request was eligible to be considered through delegated authority, planning staff opted to bring forward the item to council. She said this was due to the discussions that have occurred regarding development approvals and the pace at which they are advancing, along with concerns around potential land banking. Staff had recommended the three year extension.

She confirmed that an extension of up to three years conforms with the official plan, also clarifying that only the conditions need to be met within the two years, the development does not have to completed within the two years.

The already approved development application (approved Jan. 24, 2024 and valid for three years), which has sat inactive since that date, set to expire on Jan. 24, 2027 has been extended until Jan. 24, 2029, at which point the application will lapse, or it could be further extended for up to one year.

The application cannot proceed to final approval until all 45 conditions listed in the approval are addressed, noted Buonamici. In his report, Scott Pordham, planning policy co-ordinator, notes of the 45 conditions provided within the draft approval, zero have been cleared.

“Staff do not see a strong planning rationale at this time to recommend that the draft approval lapse simply because the conditions have not yet advanced,” said Buonamici.

“However, committee does have a choice before it. Should committee decide that insufficient progress has been made, it could decline the requested extension. The existing application would then lapse in January 2027, and any future proposal would require a new application.”

The Vaughan-based owners (George Marchi, 2798640 Ontario Inc. operating as Lakeside Estates) have indicated that various changes in the corporation have led to a delay in clearing conditions [all 45 conditions] and receiving final approval for this sub-division, notes the report.

However, Pordham noted that the developer has recently obtained the services of Jewell Engineering to complete the detailed engineering design and advance the project to final approval, something King also confirmed at the meeting.

“The first thing that the owner had done is hire Jewell Engineering and they have taken steps so that this project will be back on track, with anticipated completion time for the development is three years,” confirmed King. “The owner is eager to proceed, and they are prepared to start immediately on the completing and meeting of the conditions of approval.”

“The owners wish to proceed as soon as possible,” King emphasised again. “The owner has spent a significant amount of time and money on preparing all the background documents, so that’s a significant investment on their part to get to this stage,” he added.

The 9.2-hectare vacant property is located at Loyalist Parkway (County Road 33) and Lakeside Drive in Ameliasburgh ward is to create 37 dwelling units, to include 29 single-detached lots and four blocks to be further developed into eight semi-detached units.

Pordham addressed municipal water servicing for the proposed development given the capacity issues across the County generally.

“While there is significant demand for municipal water and sewer services in Picton and Wellington, and only limited capacity in those areas, generally there is not a high demand for municipal water services available through the system servicing Consecon and Carrying Place which will service the proposed development,” stated Pordham.

“There appears to be adequate water capacity based on comments provided by the engineering department, and there are very few development proposals competing for the available capacity from this system.”

Councillor Roy Pennell spoke to the water allocation, indicating how there are no water conditions at this point as that would come in 2030, and would be only if water was available. “We are not committing now to water?” he asked.

Buonamici confirmed that water allocation is granted when there is a signed sub-division agreement, which is after the applicant clears all the conditions and meets all the detailed design conditions.

“To me, it is highly unusual that if someone wants to go ahead, we are fighting for more housing in the County, and yet this started out in 2022…we are eight years to get any place, I don’t endorse eight years for any sub-division,” expressed Pennell.

Noting the inactivity on the file, planning staff confirm no engineering plans have been submitted for detailed design review and approval in relation to the provision of municipal water services, private sewage systems, stormwater management or the sub-division road.

The staff report, along with planning documentation, for this file can be on the corresponding agenda item for the Sept. 16 planning and development committee meeting, found on the County’s website, along with the meeting recording.

Consecon development plans low-density sub-division