East Gwillimbury population set to increase 51 per cent by 2020

Yorkreigon.com
April 18, 2017
By Simon Martin

Take a step outside East Gwillimbury Civic Centre this spring and it’s as if you entered a high school percussion practice. The cacophony of hammers and construction equipment is a sign that East Gwillimbury’s population is about to boom.

How much you ask? If the town’s numbers are correct East Gwillimbury’s population could grow by 51 per cent over the next four years. Director of Planning Nick Pileggi said the town has already added an estimated 1,000 people since the York Durham Sewage System extension became operational last fall.

Pileggi told council at special meeting on growth management April 11 that so far there has been 253 new home occupancies but those numbers grow almost daily. There has already been 2,352 permits issued for new construction with a total 7,000 total units available to the town as part of the YDSS extension.

Town staff broke down the numbers of where the growth was happening in town. The Queensville Properties development has 75 occupancies to go with 429 registered permits.

The Minto Queen’s Landing development has 42 occupancies with 212 registered permits.

The Sharon West development has 136 occupancies with 1,065 registered permits. The South Sharon development is in the process of registering 240 permits.

Holland Landing East is in the process of registering 193 permits. Holland Landing West has 213 permits to issue.

Pileggi said occupancies are expected to be robust in 2017 and trickle in 2018 on the Phase 1 projects.

There are a lot more houses coming though. Queensville Phase 2 has 597 registered units. Sharon West Phase 2 has 225 registered units. Holland Landing East Phase 2 has 564 units to be registered. Holland Landing West has 593 units to be registered bringing the total number of units for Phase 2 construction up to 1979. According to the town’s timeline, the majority of occupancies for Phase 1 will be completed by 2018. Phase 2 looks to be close on its heals with permit issuance in 2017/2018 and occupancy expected in 2019/2020.

By 2041, East Gwillimbury’s population is projected to soar from its current 25,000 to 108,700 people according to the region’s growth targets.