Mapleton council is supporting a five-year extension of draft plan approval on the Drayton Heights subdivision, but is urging the developer to do something about a “mountain of topsoil” in the backyards of homes there.
With the existing draft plan approval on the west end subdivision set to expire July 31, developer Activa Holdings is requesting the extension “to provide a realistic timeline for development once more sewage capacity is allocated in Drayton.”
Final approval of the extension rests with the County of Wellington, but the developer requested a resolution of support from the township.
Phase one of the development, containing 27 single detached homes and 18 semi-detached lots has been fully built out, Activa explained in a letter to council. Activa indicated it plans to register a second phase of development, “once infrastructure constraints have been resolved.”
A total of 46 detached and 10 semi-detached lots remain in the subdivision draft plan. Future registrations are contingent on additional capacity being allocated in Drayton by the Ministry of Environment.
“Is this the subdivision where they’ve got the mountain of top soil in their backyards?” asked councillor Andy Knetsch, who noted the massive mound of soil limits the use of backyards for affected homeowners.
“It interferes with their quality of life,” Knetsch stated.
Public works director Larry Lynch said the developers are in a “catch-22” situation because they can’t remove the top soil until they can build out the development “and they can’t build out until we have the capacity.
“They want to build there and we can’t let them,” Lynch said.
Jason Malfara of Activa Holdings told council that while there is still an extremely large pile of topsoil in the development, “we are slowly using it up. “The best answer I can give you is that by the time the subdivision is done, the topsoil will be gone,” he said.
Councillor Neil Driscoll replied, “The people there have put up with this pile of dirt affecting the enjoyment of their backyards and now to tell them it might be there five more years, I’m not comfortable with that.”
Councillor Jim Curry asked about the quality of the topsoil left in the subdivision, stating he understood it is full of clay and unusable.
“It is good top soil and it does get used,” said Malfara.
Driscoll asked if Activa would be prepared to allow others who could use the top soil immediately to take it away.
However, Malfara noted the top soil “has some value,” and indicated that would probably not be allowed.
CAO Patty Sinnamon pointed out the subdivision agreement states that the excess soil can’t be removed until the development is finished.
Lynch suggested he could tell the developers to move the topsoil and spread it around but, “there will be a challenge from them on that.”
“I’m not opposed to that. The question is where does it go?” said Malfara.
Lynch agreed to meet with developers to discuss possible solutions.
Council voted in favour of a resolution to support the draft plan extension, with Knetsch and Driscoll opposed.
