A new subdivision at the former W.T. Laing site in Wallaceburg was given the green light by Municipality of Chatham-Kent Council on Monday night, November 28, 2022.
An application for a Draft Plan of Subdivision and Zoning By-Law Amendment was unanimously approved by Council for the 800 Elizabeth Street location.
The first phase of the project, which will front on Elgin Street, will include the construction of four townhouse dwellings containing 24 dwelling units.
The second phase will see the construction of 16 semi-detached dwellings, with 32 dwelling units, with 11 dwellings, with 22 units, fronting on Elizabeth Street, and the remaining five dwellings, with 10 units, fronting on Lisgar Street.
David French, a planner with Storey Samways Planning Ltd., told Council on Monday that the developer is now set to move forward with a detailed design for the infrastructure and the buildings.
“We’re not anticipating any delays with moving this forward,” French said.
“It’s the hope and goal of the ownership group to actually begin site construction and building construction of the townhouse units in spring of 2023.”
In order to pave the way for the construction of the semi-detached units, Council agreed to some infrastructure upgrades on Monday for Elizabeth Street and Lisgar Street, which includes: 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.
“Within the recommendation tonight it does recommend a cost share to move the reconstruction of these rights of way up a decade or two in the lifecycle plan to be reconstructed in 2024,” Ryan Jacques, director of planning in Chatham-Kent, said during the meeting.
“The cost share is roughly 31% to the developer and the remaining 69% split the Municipality’s budget and the budget of the Public Utilities Commission.”
Alongside Tim Sunderland, general manager of the PUC, Jacques said plans to bring a report to the PUC on December 15, 2022 for their approval.
“If all approvals are granted, the Municipality to look to enter into a development agreement with the developer, have the lands divided so that construction of anything on Municipal property and private property can proceed as soon as possible,” Jacques said.
The project is also “not being done or marketed” under a governmental, subsidized affordable housing program, French added.
“The owners do recognize that depending on the actual market situation at the time the units come on line, whether they are freehold or rentals, it will be what the market can bear,” he said.
On social media following the meeting, Wallaceburg Councillor Aaron Hall gave thanks to Council for their support, to staff for their work on the file and to the developers for their investment in the community.
“As I’ve said before, this is amazing news for our community,” Hall said.
“I’m thankful for the support tonight at our first Planning Meeting of our new term. A great way to start things off. Hats off to everyone for making it happen.”
The full staff report can be seen, here.
Previous coverage on this story can be seen, below:
– Subdivision at former W.T. Laing site up for approval
– New subdivision proposed at the former W.T. Laing property in Wallaceburg
