ELORA – James Keating Construction Ltd. is proposing a new 14-unit cluster townhouse development in the Beatty Hollow subdivision in Fergus.
On Jan. 29, Centre Wellington Township held a public meeting on the rezoning for the future development.
Keating Construction planning consultant Nancy Shoemaker explained the developer would like to rezone Block 19 from institutional to R3 residential and to rezone portions of Block 21 and 22 from open space to R4 residential and R3 residential.
Shoemaker said Block 19 is a portion of the lands acquired by Grace Fellowship Church during phase one of the development.
When it came time to register phase 3 with the township, Shoemaker said the church indicated it had more land than it needed. The excess land was conveyed back to James Keating Construction in phase 3 through a lot line adjustment.
“So it’s surplus land and that’s why it was previously zoned institutional and we’re seeking a rezoning,” Shoemaker said. The land is also adjacent to a park.
The portions of Blocks 21 and 22 that Keating is looking to rezone were originally going to be conveyed to the township for a watermain loop and emergency or temporary access.
However, the township chose to maintain access through an easement and emergency access is unnecessary because the Storybrook East subdivision is now under construction and the two subdivisions have an access link.
“The focus of the provincial policy statement is that settlement areas are to be the focus of growth and intensification should occur in these areas,” Shoemaker said.
“So we believe the subject property is consistent with this policy. It is within the settlement area boundary, it promotes housing intensification and it maximizes the efficient use of land resources and infrastructure.”
No decision was made at the Jan. 29 public meeting.
