This municipality is experiencing a building boom that has local council members worried about running out of lots.
“Things have been a little busy this spring,” said chief building official Terry Kuipers at the April 18 council meeting.
Kuipers reported the town issued 37 building permits to the end of March, compared to 24 in 2016. Construction value of the permits issued so far this year is $8,693,000, up substantially from $1,992,000 in 2016.
The numbers include six new single family detached dwellings worth $1,598,000 and four new multi-residential dwellings buildings, including a four-plex, one semi-detached and an 11-unit apartment building (a County of Wellington affordable housing project in Palmerston) worth just over $4 million in total.
“Historically speaking,” Kuipers noted the total of 23 residential units is approaching the 25-unit total the town generally reaches for an entire year.
“So we’re off to a good start.”
Kuipers said the number of permits issued is about double the 10-year average for the first quarter, while the 10-year rolling average construction value is about $3 million, compared to nearly $8.7 million for 2017.
New agricultural projects, valued at just over $2 million in total, include two new barns and two large barn additions.
Councillor Ron Elliott commented he heard from someone looking to buy a home in Palmerston who discovered there were only two for sale.
Given that “everything that’s going up for sale is being bought and everything that’s being built is being bought,” Elliott wondered if there were any new subdivisions coming on line.
Kuipers said three subdivisions in Palmerston have draft approval and two of the three may start construction in the fall.
In terms of in-fill lots, Kuipers said there are “a handful” in Palmerston and perhaps five or six “coming on line” in Harriston this year – “which still isn’t a lot.” He noted “a couple of smaller developments” are anticipated in Clifford.
Elliott asked if other land is available beyond what’s allocated for existing approved subdivision plans.
“No. It’s a matter of doing urban boundary expansions to get some more agricultural property within the urban boundary to develop new subdivisions,” said Kuipers.
The CBO noted that option currently isn’t available due to a zoning appeal in the Town of Erin that has essentially “put the whole county’s growth pattern” under appeal.
While new subdivision agreements compel developers to proceed or apply for an extension within certain time frames, Harriston has one older 300-home subdivision plan (the Schickedanz development) on the books that isn’t subject to limitations.
“That one won’t expire … that one’s on the books forever because it was grandfathered in,” said Kuipers.
While the development looked close to proceeding in 2012, Kuipers said he hasn’t heard of any progress on the project “for the past few years.”
“It’s a good News story that we have lots of building going on, but it’s sad News too that were getting filled up,” commented councillor Dave Turton.
