WELLINGTON NORTH – A report showing considerable development underway and pending in this township is both a good news story and a cautionary tale, according to municipal officials.
A report from Wellington North development clerk Tammy Pringle shows 22 industrial and commercial development applications in various stages, from site plan agreement applications to issuance of building permits.
Other developments in the report, presented at the Sept. 14 council meeting, include:
- two institutional developments;
- 18 new residential developments, including subdivisions, apartment buildings, townhouse developments, mixed use developments and lots created through severance;
- seven residential developments that completed building between 2017 and July 31, 2020 ; and
- seven residential developments with lots still available to be built on.
In addition, the report notes, building permits have been issued for 55 residential infill lots: four in Arthur, 23 in Mount Forest and 28 in rural areas of the township.
A Wellington North Growth Forecast prepared in February of 2019 projects a local population increase of more than 4,500 residents by 2036, with numbers expected to grow from 12,490 to 17,085.
The forecast shows a township population of 17,685 in 6,590 households by 2041.
Currently the township has about 4,635 households.
“Development in 2020 continues to see much uptake in our community,” states Pringle in the report.
“The commitment by our stakeholders to continue investing in this community is heartening.
“There does not seem to be a reduction in applications, even when considering the COVID-19 pandemic that we currently find ourselves in.”
The report notes a February report from Triton Engineering Services Limited that showed an allocation of 10 units and 20 units of added capacity for infill lots in Arthur and Mount Forest respectively.
“In November 2020 we should see the opening of the Phase 1 upgrade to the Arthur Waste Water Treatment Plant,” the report states.
Once completed this will increase the capacity by 395 units in the village of Arthur, which has been at capacity since 2009.
As of Jan. 1, 2020 the Mount Forest treatment plant had an uncommitted reserve capacity for 591 units.
The report points out planned developments will result in a significant flow of development charges and building permit fees, and increase the tax base in the township.
However, it notes the growth will also make use of much of the wastewater treatment plant’s capacity.
“Consideration to the timing of wastewater treatment plant expansions will need to be reviewed as development progresses,” the report notes.
“I think there’s a lot of good news in this update,” said councillor Steve McCabe.
CAO Mike Givens pointed out the level of development shows that recent and planned spending on local wastewater treatments plants is “money that has been well invested.”
Givens said township staff is busy planning “to address the development needs that we see coming.”
The CAO suggested the report be shared with local chambers of commerce and Business Improvement Areas, as well as the local mayor’s roundtable members.
“A lot of the questions we get from these groups are around ‘is there growth potential?’” Givens explained.
Givens noted the population growth figures should be encouraging to local employers.
“For business, this is a really good news story for them,” he stated.
McCabe said the report “proves that, with our master plan, we are investing in our community and showing our employers that, yes, we want to bring people here for them.”
Mayor Andy Lennox said the report shows “a rather daunting amount of activity” anticipated through the development proposals currently on the books and noted, “they do make up a substantial chunk” of forecasted growth.
“But before we get to breaking new ground and building new houses there’s a lot of time and effort of our staff and the people with those development proposals,” Lennox stated.
“They’ve invested a lot of time and money into even getting as far as we are today with them.
“I think this sends a really strong signal that people see our communities as places that are worth investing in and I think that’s a really positive thing.”
Lennox added, “But I think we also have to recognize that if the private sector is looking to invest in our community, then we need to be willing to invest in our community, too.”
The mayor pointed out infrastructure such as roads, water towers, “even recreational amenities” will have to be looked at as growth occurs.
“While this is a great news story, I think it also means that we’ve got more work ahead of us,” said Lennox.
Council accepted the report for information.
