Solmar’s vision could very well shape the fabric of this community for years to come.
On April 3, Maurizio Rogato, of Solmar’s land development division, was at Erin council describing that vision.
Solmar Development Corporation, a land development company with over 25 years of experience, has proposed a mixed-use, 300-acre development on land that is essentially bounded by County Road 124 at the north end; and Erin Park Drive (adjacent to Erin’s industrial park), Dundas Street and Sideroad 15 to the south (near Centre 2000 and the Elora-Cataract Trail).
“I don’t think we are just another land development company,” Rogato said. “We like standing up for the communities we work in. We have a proven track record of developing employment lands, which create new jobs, along with housing options, within communities.”
Rogato said Solmar is a corporate citizen of Erin and a member of the town’s Settlement Servicing Master Plan (SSMP) liaison committee. He said when the company first came to town “a big and enjoyable part was getting to know Erin.”
He added, “It is very important to us to understand the town and its evolution of a place, because that is what makes up a community. We don’t want to disturb that.”
Following a recent conversation with the mayor, Solmar representatives were shown around town and told of issues talked about on a daily basis. Rogato said some of those include community infrastructure, seniors housing, the downtown businesses and servicing.
“Getting to know Erin has been great,” Rogato said.
He described the vision created by Solmar as representative of a complete community plan. “It is employment-led, so the main focus of the plan is job creation in town. We are carefully analyzing the preliminary needs, in conjunction with the SSMP.”
Rogato said, “It is clear the residents of Erin would like to see some job growth.”
One of the main goals of his company is to create serviced employment lands and provide housing options for seniors and young adults over time and several phases.
“Its not a big, over-arching plan that is going to come in overnight,” said Rogato. “It is a comprehensive, integrated planning approach that focuses on employment growth first, then phases in all the goodies that come with it.”
Rogato added other main focuses include community uses and a greenland system.
“The central location of the land simply means we cannot avoid the existing community,” he said.
The aim is to maintain the small town, rural character, Rogato said. “It is not just coming in and building our vision, but fitting in with the character of the town under current provincial and town policies.”
Rogato noted recent provincial policies require an employment density of 40 persons and jobs per hectare.
He said that amounts to about six homes per acre, which is different than what the community has experienced in the past.
“By virtue of the lands being in the official plan, it is not so much a question of if the lands will be developed, but how these lands will be developed,” Rogato said.
He considered the master plan as very important. “It is not just any other study.” Rogato said because of the scope, he is not surprised it has taken this long.
“It is a very expensive and ambitious approach. Council did very well initiating this,” he said.
He noted that in addition to jobs and housing, preliminary study findings highlight the need for improvements to the downtown core and the natural environment being viewed as an opportunity.
Rogato said municipal servicing is clearly the preferred option by the province for health and environmental reasons.
But Places to Grow policies require a stronger focus on intensification and growth management. Plus, according to the town and county official plans, the master plan must be completed and approved before any major development is permitted, Rogato said.
“Solmar is not looking to get approval prior to the approval of the SSMP. Solmar will be filing applications this year.” He said that is just one part of the process.
“The SSMP will form an integral part of our application.”
The concept plan includes employment lands, recreation, seniors housing, traditional housing, a green space network and a potential school site.
“The employment land must be serviced properly. You are not going to attract good employment providers without good serviced land,” Rogato said. “Elements of the plan include many community uses. It is, in our opinion, a complete community.”
Solmar also plans extensive public consultation in the next few months prior to filing its application.
One of the biggest items, Rogato said, “is that Solmar would like to be a capital investor with the town for a modular wastewater facility and provision for a septage facility. We’re working to work with the town and be an active investor.”
Mayor Lou Maieron said originally, he opposed adding 300 acres to Erin’s urban boundaries.
At the time, he understood the 200 to 300 homes would trigger the SSMP.
“But being opposed at this time is like beating a dead horse,” Maieron said.
He said he had tried to hint about the development to Erin council because he was uncertain of Solmar’s final vision.
“I see I wasn’t too successful in asking you to increase your commercial-industrial land,” Maieron told Rogato. “We need to create jobs in this town.”
Maieron said Erin residents tend to commute outside the area to work.
“But this driving an hour to work will not fly much longer in the future [with rising gas prices],” the mayor said.
Maieron said building a liveable, workable, walkable community is important.
“As I look at it … [this development] could result in 1,000 new dwellings. It virtually doubles the size of the village – not tomorrow, but over a period of time.”
That will require additional services, he added.
“The land is there; it is going to be developed,” Maieron said. “The best we can do is help guide that development.”
