The proposed housing development project at the former W.T. Laing Public School site will be on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent Council agenda on Monday, November 28, 2022.
An application for a Draft Plan of Subdivision and Zoning By-Law Amendment is being recommended by staff for the 800 Elizabeth Street location.
“The proposed Zoning By-Law Amendment, and Draft Plan of Subdivision applications have been reviewed in the context of the Provincial Policy Statement and Chatham-Kent Official Plan, and will be in full conformity, if approved,” said Ryan Jacques, director of planning in Chatham-Kent, in a staff report.
“The proposed subdivision is appropriate for this location. It provides an opportunity for new residential units in Wallaceburg. Therefore, the applications are being recommended for approval.”
The staff recommendations, include:
– The re-zoning of lands from institutional and residential low density third to residential medium density first and holding-residential low density fourth be approved and the implementing by-law be adopted.
– The Draft Plan of Subdivision application, which proposes 17 vacant residential blocks, be approved.
– Also that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign the plan and agreement, which includes cost sharing obligations for required municipal infrastructure renewal: applicant/owner – 31%, Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission – 34%; and the Municipality – 35%.
– And lastly upon satisfaction of all conditions, the Mayor and staff be authorized to sign off on the project.
“The lands are approximately 1.75 ha (4.33 ac.) in area and were the former site of W.T. Laing Public School,” Jacques said in his report.
“The school closed in 2001 and was demolished in 2010 and has been vacant since that time.”
Jacques said the project will require infrastructure upgrades to Elizabeth Street and Lisgar Street, including: watermain and sanitary sewer replacement, storm sewer replacement and road and sidewalk re-construction.
The cost of the work, which will be split between the developer, the Municipality at the PUC, will be approximately $2.9-million.
“Based on the recommendations, and provided the development timeline is not altered, Chatham-Kent plans to include the noted construction of Elizabeth Street and Lisgar Street as part of its 2024 lifecycle projects,” Jacques said in his report.
“This construction is not required for development of the medium density residential project fronting Elgin Street.”
The full staff report can be seen, here.
Wallaceburg Councillor Aaron Hall said on social media he was “incredibly thrilled” for this project and is eager to see shovels in the ground
“We’re fortunate to have Trident Builders making this investment in our community,” Hall wrote.
“After having several conversations with their team, I’m encouraged by their vision and their commitment to becoming a part of the Wallaceburg community, being a receptive neighbour and for helping fill some of the housing gap in town.”
For more background, check out this story: Proposed residential development at the former W.T. Laing Public School site discussed in Wallaceburg
Hall said he will be join fellow Wallaceburg Councillor Carmen McGregor at the Tim Hortons on Dufferin Avenue in Wallaceburg on Friday morning, November 25, 2022 from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. to discuss the project.
Monday’s planning meeting will be held in-person at the Civic Centre in Chatham at 6 p.m.
The meeting will be live streamed on Facebook and the YourTV Chatham YouTube channel, here.
