Minto council has given the nod to a planned business expansion in Clifford.
Council, at its July 19 meeting, supported the planned expansion by W.C. Smith.
In a report to council Chief Administrative Officer Bill White said the business is planning an expansion at the intersection of Elora Street North and West Heritage Street.
As part of that expansion, an amended severance application would create a storm sewer easement across abutting private properties to the highway. Neighbours, according to White, have already agreed to the private easement.
The project involves an initial expansion of just over 24,000 square feet, with further expansions of about 22,300 and 30,200 square feet. Parking, loading, landscaping, lighting and stormwater retention would be constructed to support the expansion.
It is expected council will receive a final site plan for approval in the next few weeks. The project requires a new storm sewer along Elora Street, south of the municipal drain, near the Clifford entrance sign.
The new storm sewer provides an outlet from the site to municipal drain 93. The storm sewer would be built along an easement due to limited space within the highway right-of-way. Two landowners have agreed to allow the storm sewer be built on their lands requiring an easement agreement.
The estimated cost of the work is set at $70,796.
White said W.C Smith will pay the full cost of survey, design, and construction and the town reimburses two-thirds of the cost through the 2010 budget. The town and W.C. Smith will cover their own legal costs associated with the expansion.
“This project makes it more of a priority,” White said. “We want to see this expansion go ahead.”
White added the town will recover one-third of its costs from W.C Smith and hopes to recover another two-thirds when “future development” hooks into the system.
