Plans to add another 150 homes to the Valleyview Heights subdivision in St. Jacobs has neighbours worried about traffic impacts, including safety of those using a nearby park. Several residents were in Woolwich council chambers Apr. 10 for a public planning meeting to discuss a proposed zone change for some 40 acres of land to the east of the existing subdivision, which got underway in 2003. The developer wants to build 88 single-detached houses, 36 semis and 20 to 30 townhouses on a 24-acre portion of the land.
Concerned about the increased traffic that will come with the new development, neighbours called for traffic to be funneled onto Old Scout Place, which runs along the southern edge of the site, rather than relying on Water Street to carry most of the flow. Old Scout Place would require upgrading to be used in that capacity.
For Water Street resident John Dixon, simply extending the street to loop through the new subdivision would create a 1.5-kilometre stretch without stop signs and traffic-calming measures, a recipe for speeding. Water Street runs alongside the existing park and the proposed expansion into the new development.
“We need another exit to Old Scout,” said Water Street resident Jill Jacklin, noting the plan has only one outlet, a road named Conlon Drive that would run north-south connecting Water Street to Old Scout Place.
She called that plan inadequate given that the neighbourhood would essentially double in size.
Along with residents’ concerns, the information presented Tuesday by director of engineering and planning Dan Kennaley included concerns raised by planners with the Region of Waterloo, who said they could not approve the application as it now stands, pointing specifically to noise concerns. The site is bounded by Hwy. 85 to the east and there’s an automotive salvage yard nearby on Old Scout Place.
Andrew Head of the Kitchener planning firm Dryden, Smith and Head, representing Valleyview Heights, said the issues raised by the region will be addressed by a noise consultant hired by the developer.
Other concerns raised by the regional government and the Grand River Conservation Authority will also have to be addressed.
Also discussed at this week’s public planning sessions was another St. Jacobs development, this time in the core of the village.
Mercedes Corp., which in 2009 tabled a plan to build 14 townhomes at lots on 10 Front St. and 1441 King St. N., now wants to change that to a 14-unit brownstone development. That design would feature ground-floor flats with two-storey lofts above.
The changes make better use of the lot, the company’s Marcus Shantz told councillors.
Both Official Plan and zoning changes are needed to accommodate the project, which would essentially convert commercial space used for bus parking into a residential area.
In response to a question from Coun. Allan Poffenroth, Shantz said the three-story building would house rental units, though it could be built as a condo, with the company retaining ownership of all 14 units.
Addressing both projects, Kennaley noted that recent easing of restrictions on the capacity of the St. Jacobs sewage treatment plant leaves ample room for the necessary hook-up capacity.
