Sandy Hook sub-division decision deferred, due to lack of quorum

By Sharon Harrison
Council was unable to finish its business at last night’s planning and development committee meeting on one major agenda item due to a lack of quorum, with six of 14 councillors absent from the horseshoe.

The sparse council turnout meant David Cleave’s Port Picton Homes proposed Cold Creek sub-division development, on a parcel of land adjacent to Sandy Hook Road, had to be deferred, without enough bodies to even undertake a vote.

While eight councillors would have been sufficient to vote on the decision (one that staff recommended be approved, and one that appeared to be heading to a deferral anyway), at about the two-and-a-half-hour mark, councillor Phil St-Jean suddenly declared a pecuniary interest, as the conversation shifted to a business he is indirectly connected with through a family member.

With St-Jean withdrawing from the conversation, and the ability to vote, due to a conflict of interest, seven council members were not enough to reach quorum, meaning the item was automatically deferred to a future meeting with no further discussion or decision.

St-Jean’s declaration came after several hours of discussion, questions, debate, comments and presentations from the developer, the developer’s planner and consultants, the planner for Choice Properties (Loblaws/No Frills and Mobil Gas Bar owner), County staff, as well as members of the public.

“Not knowing that the planners for Loblaws properties was going to be here at the beginning of the meeting, I did not have a conflict of interest, but as they are a presenter, I am restricted from asking any questions or voting,” said St-Jean, citing his conflict of interest and withdrawal from the meeting.

Matt Coffey, with the County’s planning department, spoke to seven main themes raised by the public at a July public meeting, and how they have been addressed, such as the impact on Waring’s Creek, environmental concerns, traffic and safety concerns, impact on individual properties, the Millennium Trail and housing affordability.

Background details of the July 30 public meeting can be found here:

Cold Creek development at Sandy Hook proposes 904 dwellings

Several members of council raised the issue of housing affordability at Wednesday evening’s meeting, with much of the conversation centering around the possibility of an extension to George Wright Boulevard (something the developer wants, but doesn’t need in order to move forward, Cleave and County staff said), with another land owner noted as being unco-operative, with suggestion of expropriation of lands as a last resort.

Local environmental group members addressed the Waring’s Creek watershed and habitat, extending buffer zones and especially protection for the Blanding’s turtle.

The public remain concerned about the high density project, traffic concerns on roads inadequately sized to manage a large influx of new residents and how servicing requirements could be met, among them.

The developer has submitted an application draft plan of sub-sub-division and zoning by-law amendment for a residential sub-division that would bring 905 homes to the Picton settlement area, with a mix of housing types, including single detached homes, semi-detached homes, stacked townhomes, back-to-back townhomes and apartments (rental housing), a portion to be affordable.

The project is anticipated to be completed in five phases over a 10-year period, with Cleave indicating construction could begin this fall if weather is favourable (and if the project receives planning approval).

This proposed residential development application will come back to the planning and development committee at the ‘next feasible’ planning meeting, unknown at this point if that will be the next (Oct. 16) meeting.

The property is next to (above) the Loyalist Heights proposed residential sub-division of a mix of 396 new dwelling units on a parcel of land located between Sandy Hook Road (County Road 1) and Loyalist Parkway. That proposal was sent back to staff for further discussion with the developer due to numerous issues raised by staff, who had recommended the application by denied.