Sewage capacity constrains size of East Gwillimbury housing development

YorkRegion.com
April 9, 2015
Simon Martin

The 97 acres of land on the south side of Mount Albert Road between Ninth Line and Centre Street are in for quite a transformation.

The farmer’s field is getting prepped for houses to be planted on it in an Oxford Homes development.

Just how many homes seems to be the question.

A staff report recommended council approve a 235-unit development on the western portion of the site, but several councillors voiced concern there is only enough water and sewage capacity for 174 units.

Councillor James Young said he was uneasy about approving the development without knowing exactly what the system can handle.

“It would be prudent to hold off and wait to know what position we are in,” he said.

The Mount Albert sewage treatment plant will provide servicing for the development, but town staff said the region is investigating if expansion of the wastewater plant is possible.   

As it stands now, there are only around 250 units of capacity available within the plant. Council has committed 65 units of allocation elsewhere in Mount Albert, leaving around 185 units for the Oxford Homes development.

“It’s very frustrating for builders and staff that we are always waiting for the region,” Councillor Joe Persechini said.

Council decided to defer the motion on the plan of subdivision until the next council meeting because not enough notice was given to residents with the report being released just before the Easter weekend.

A little more than one year ago, residents packed council chambers with concerns of traffic, school capacity, grading/runoff issues, trails and wanting the homes to have more of a heritage feel.  

There was no such throng Tuesday.

The proposed 235-unit development represents less than half of the 604 units originally proposed.

According to a staff report, Oxford Homes has agreed to move the application forward, only seeking draft approval for the western half of the plan, which assisted in resolving the servicing capacity issue.

For the remaining lands, the town said Oxford Homes would be required, at minimum, to complete grading, place topsoil and seed the lands to ensure the area is stabilized. It will also be required to maintain the property in a neat and tidy condition.