ELORA – Mayor Shawn Watters worked hard at the Jan. 29 council meeting to convince his fellow councillors to approve his motion.
Watters wanted to direct township staff to collect information and identify the needs and challenges of establishing a childcare centre in Belwood.
Watters said he’s had informal discussions with Wellington County’s social services division and a developer in Belwood about such a collaborative project, but while there is apparent willingness from all three parties, it’s time to knuckle down, get some facts, and decide if it’s a project that can move forward, he said.
Asked in an email, Watters would not confirm whether the developer is Geranium Homes but he suggested at the council meeting “it’s a developer we know.”
Geranium Homes is currently the only developer with plans to build in Belwood – an 118 estate home subdivision south of the Fergus Golf Course on County Road 19 – and officials with the company have stated at public meetings that they want to do something for the community.
Watters said this is an opportunity for a partnership that will begin to fill the need for more childcare centres in the township.
“To have something fall in our lap like this is rare,” Watters said.
“They (the developer) want to provide something for the community in Belwood. They suggested it… And the county is interested in (daycare centres) in rural parts of the community. To have one in the rural community would be tremendous.”
Councillors understood the need for more childcare centres. But they hesitated to add extra work for staff when they had just approved the work plan for the year.
“It isn’t in our business plan,” said councillor Barb Lustgarten-Evoy. “Have we checked with staff” if they have capacity to do this?
Councillor Kim Jefferson wanted to see something in writing from the county and the developer before devoting staff time to the project.
“I think we should get things in writing,” she said. “We would not want to do the legwork and then nothing happens.”
“This would provide a baseline,” Watters countered. “They want to do this, but we have to initiate it.”
Councillor Bronwynne Wilton thought the wording of Watters’ motion was too specific.
The motion spells out specifically that staff should investigate identifying a potential site; identifying any planning issues; financial issues; construction logistics and facility management.
Wilton sought to soften the language so staff would not have to devote a lot of time to fact-finding.
“It should be at a high level,” she said.
“I think it’s important to have a vision, but I don’t think this (staff report) needs to be too detailed,” Watters agreed.
Watters’ motion states that staff will report back to council at its June 24 meeting, but he noted that could be changed if the proposed date is too much of a time constraint.
However, the developer wants to build the child care centre before commencing the home builds, he said.
“So it could be pushed off some. But the developer wants to be building in 2025. So we won’t want to miss those timelines.”
Watters noted that council is constantly asking developers to do more than just build homes.
“You want them to bring more to the table, to be willing to leave a benefit to the community. Here’s an example of what a developer can bring,” he said.
In the end, council endorsed Watters’ motion, adding the words “high level” to the description of the information staff is tasked to compile.
Staff is also to receive letters of intent from the county and the developer.
If the project proceeds, there will be time for public consultation, including with the Belwood Community Development Committee.
