Swan Creek Estates in Inverhaugh is now a go.
On Sept. 19, Centre Wellington’s committee of the whole authorized a subdivision agreement between the township and Swan Creek Estates Ltd.
The subdivision includes 30 lots for single detached dwellings and a combined storm water management area and emergency/maintenance access.
Lot sizes range from 0.24 to 0.62 hectares (0.6 to 1.5 acres) and servicing is by individual private well and septic systems.
The developer plans to begin grading this fall for the subdivision, plans for which have been on the books since prior to the 1999 amalgamation of local municipalities into the Township of Centre Wellington.
The subdivision agreement states the streets will be named Goodwin Place and Inverhill Road. The names are not consistent with Centre Wellington’s current policy of naming streets after its war dead, but they were previously approved by former Pilkington Township.
Centre Wellington’s planning and development director Brett Salmon noted a report was brought to council earlier this year recommending council support draft approval.
Following that, Wellington County approved the draft. Salmon explained the subdivision agreement is standard with the exception that the lots will not be municipally serviced.
Councillor Mary Lloyd asked whether sidewalks are needed in a rural subdivision. She suggested “it is not the municipality’s intent to clean the sidewalks for snow removal … I hope.”
Lloyd then asked if there is to be no winter maintenance, “why build the sidewalks in the first place?”
Salmon said the municipal standard for rural subdivisions adopted by the township is the same as the one used by West Garafraxa Township (now part of Centre Wellington).
He said subdivisions in Belwood do have sidewalks that are maintained by the municipality and, “the intention is to maintain the same standard here.”
Infrastructure services director Colin Baker noted the township receives numerous complaints, including rural areas where residents are forced to walk on winter roadways. He said sidewalks provide additional safety for young children and links to the county road.
Lloyd asked whether aspects of low-impact development would be part of the subdivision.
Salmon said the development was designed under current township standards, which do not yet include low-impact development standards.
While there is a stormwater management pond, Salmon explained these are large estate lots and does not have the same degree of pavement as urban subdivisions.
Council authorized the execution of the subdivision agreement.
