Plans for a Maryhill subdivision won formal approval this week, with none of the residents who’d previously raised concerns opting to address Woolwich council.
The sole call for delaying a vote came from a candidate for Ward 3 in next month’s municipal election. Lisa MacDonald asked that another public meeting be held to allow for input from residents.
“There are legitimate concerns,” she said, pointing to “valid questions” about the impact on the pond and wildlife in the currently vacant land, as well as the effects on wells and water pressure. She cited her own experience in Conestogo was that a new subdivision led to lower water pressure for a time.
Coun. Mark Bauman dismissed the need for another meeting, saying the township has followed the typical process. People have had a chance to speak and could have sent written submissions any time.
With Tuesday night’s vote, the developers of Sunset Hills Estates (855384 Ontario Ltd.) can proceed with plans to build 38 single-family homes on a 29-acre (11.8 hectare) site. The lands are on the west side of the village, and would see the extension westward of Zingervilla Place and a link to Homestead Drive, providing two entrances into the subdivision.
Developer Simon Hasiu said the company has 10 security deposits from prospective buyers of lots in the subdivision, which must still gain formal draft approval from the township and Region of Waterloo.
The project will include the extension of water pipes to the new homes, allowing 16 existing properties on Homestead Drive now using private wells to gain access to municipal water services. The township will install connectors, called stubs, for each of the properties, recouping the cost if and when each homeowner decides to hookup to the watermain.
Manager of planning John Scarfone estimated the cost of each stub at $1,100.
Using figures from a similar situation in Breslau, director of engineering and planning Dan Kennaley put the cost of the stub, mandatory backflow valve, water meter and plumbing permit at $4,100. Another $5,000 would be needed to run a line from the road to get water into the house.
Raising the issues of drainage, Coun. Bonnie Bryant pushed for assurances that those residents without a drainage ditch on their properties won’t get one after the reworking of the roads and grading.
Scarfone, however, said only that the project would make “improvements” to drainage if any problems exist today. The township is looking for input from neighbouring property owners about any drainage issues they may be experiencing.
