MAPLETON – A greater share of a projected increase in the township’s population in the next 30 years will come in urban areas, according to an updated report on Wellington County’s Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) process.
That represents a change from a trend over the past decade, during which a large proportion of growth has been in the rural area on vacant lots within existing/historic rural subdivisions.
Staff planner Linda Redmond outlined the changes in a report to Mapleton council at its Feb. 22 meeting.
Redmond explained a final Mapleton growth management summary report has been completed.
“This report includes the most recent growth allocation numbers for the county as provided by the County of Wellington,” the report states.
The report identifies opportunities and constraints related to growth management and provides Mapleton with long-term growth options, Redmond noted.
Based on the county’s phase 1 MCR report, Mapleton’s population is expected to grow by 4,100, to 15,200 residents and local employment is expected to grow by 2,570 jobs, between 2021 and 2051. Achieving this growth will require sufficient land and intensification opportunities and investment in infrastructure, the report states.
Redmond explained the county is currently showing more of the growth anticipated in urban areas than in a previous report issued in April of 2021.
“What essentially happened is … they decreased the population they had allocated to the rural area and they increased the population they allocated to the urban areas. So that was one of the changes that increased our population (allocation) from 3,300 to 4,100,” Redmond explained.
“As well, they also increased how much we got by 5%. So that was an increase of 700. They’ve also increased the population growth rate from 0.8% per year to 1%. So all these combined changes account for the increase in the population allocation.”
Employment forecast figures also changed between MCR reports issued in April and October of 2021, said Redmond.
“They lowered the rural employment numbers and allocated that difference over to the urban and that provides for an increase in our industrial lands, employment lands in Drayton and Moorefield,” she pointed out.
Previously, she explained the county had “allocated quite a considerable amount to our rural areas. And we didn’t think that jived with where we saw our employment growth happening. So they amended that as per our request.”
Redmond pointed out discussions are being held with the county regarding a proposal to bring more land into the Drayton urban boundary area to accommodate future growth.
Councillor Dennis Craven suggested the Alma area needs to be included as a potential growth area in addition to Drayton and Moorefield.
“The projection for population is pretty optimistic, I think. But if it’s going to happen we’re going to have to have a pretty good look at Alma,” said Craven.
“Alma is ready for growth because of their proximity to Guelph and Kitchener. But we’re certainly going to need a water and sewer project going on there if it’s going to grow much, or its even going to grow at all in Alma.
“And knowing the length of time it takes to do it, we should maybe get started on that fairly soon.”
Redmond replied, “Definitely that would be what would factor into the growth, is whether there is sewage capacity in Alma. Right now they’re not part of the allocation because they aren’t serviced.”
Mayor Gregg Davidson asked if Drayton and Moorefield, along with designated rural areas, would be able to handle the current growth projections.
“The population allocated is intended for Moorefield and Drayton. So there’s the land base available, with the (proposed) expansion …. It provides enough area for that growth,” Redmond stated.
“I think I’m pretty comfortable with the projection that’s there at the moment,” said councillor Michael Martin.
“We would want to get a lot of feedback from the Alma residents if we went water and wastewater and the potential impact that would have on the landscape of that town and feel of that town. So, I think we’d want to have a fairly involved process with that and … I can’t see that happening in the next five years,” Martin added.
“It looks like we’re getting to where we wanted to go,” said Mayor Gregg Davidson.
“This is a long process, both here at the township and the county. But certainly at the township level we’ve moved up our numbers for allocation and that has been great work done by staff.”
A motion to receive the Mapleton growth management study summary final report for information and approve the report with minor modifications was passed by council.
The motion also directed staff to forward the report to the County of Wellington to be considered in the ongoing official plan review and MCR process.
