ERIN – Town councillors received a road map for the development process and were introduced on Jan. 15 to two consultants who will help them find their way.
Sarah Wilhelm, manager of development planning for Wellington County, outlined stages of a strategy that will guide population growth for the urban areas of Hillsburgh and Erin village until 2041.
The combined population of the villages in 2016 was 4,415. The county official plan currently calls for that to grow to between 7,000 and 10,040 over 22 years, but the planned wastewater system (still awaiting provincial approval) is designed to handle 14,500 urban dwellers.
Wilhelm said council must consult the community to decide how development will be split between the two villages and what specific lands will get priority for wastewater and water allocation – especially since there is more potential residential land in urban areas than is needed to hit growth targets.
“Difficult choices will need to be made when we get developer input,” she said. “Financing and site selection will greatly affect timing.”
Tasks in 2019 will include a wastewater financing report, a growth management strategy, a strategic plan, an economic development plan and a parks, recreation and culture master plan.
The plans will include public consultation, with surveys, roundtable discussions and meetings.
Appeals may cause delays, but the town could complete official plan revisions in 2020, along with choosing a site and getting planning approvals for a wastewater treatment plant and complete design guidelines.
The zoning bylaw amendment could be done by 2021, with tendering and construction of the wastewater system happening in 2022-23.
“Wastewater system financing relies on two key things: external funding from senior governments or the private sector to reduce cost to residents, and front-end financing from developers to reduce the town’s capital requirements,” she said.
Councillor Mike Robins noted all council members were elected with positions in favour of managed growth.
CAO Nathan Hyde said staff will be striving to “dovetail all the pieces.”
Councillor Rob Smith said, “We’re on our way with both feet in this, and there’s no looking back.”
Also making presentations were John Tennant of the Global Investment Attraction Group, which will create the strategic and economic development plans, and Jonathan Hack of Sierra Management and Planning, which will do the recreation and culture master plan.
“The strategic plan will be an integrated holistic capstone document,” said Tennant. “It establishes transparency and accountability – it is a vital collaborative opportunity that needs to be long-term.”
The plan is meant to identify goals and key priorities for other plans. The strategic plan is to be done by mid-June.
Hack said the parks, recreation and culture plan, to be done by mid-July, will feed into growth management.
“When you add new services is based on population triggers,” he said.
The economic development plan is also to be completed by mid-July.
