The Perth Legion hall was packed with about 175 residents on June 11th eager to hear the details of the mediated settlement between Caivan Ltd, the Town of Perth, and Lanark County on Caivan’s proposal to build approximately 1,000 homes on the former Perth Golf Course Lands.
Town planner, Joanna Bowes gave a 50 minute update on the subdivision’s plans, but admitted there were still details that couldn’t be released until after a final settlement hearing scheduled with the Ontario Land Tribunal on August 6th.
The proposal is to build roughly 975 homes, mixed between detached, semi-detached, town-homes, and stacked town-homes. No specific number was provided. Caivan has agreed to provide a parcel in the new neighbourhood to Lanark County for affordable and social housing. Bowes estimated the block could accommodate up to 77 residences.
Caivan has agreed to build a second bridge access to the water-locked property, but not until after the first phase of 200 homes is built. They will twin the existing Peter Street Bridge with two lanes of vehicle access before starting any construction, and after the first 100 homes are finished, they have committed to adding a multi-use pathway on that bridge. Both bridges will require environmental assessments before construction.
Specific plant, animal and reptile species are included in the Draft Conditions for the builder to recognize and to take appropriate measures to protect and to obtain Provincial recommendations and approvals before mitigation measures are taken. Those species include at-risk bats, grey rat snakes, Blanding’s turtles, and black ash trees. The developer may enter into ‘net-benefit permit’ agreements with the Province to proceed with work that may harm a species or its habitat providing they (the developer) take concrete actions that yield biological ‘net-benefits’ to the species in the wild.
The builder will undertake a cut and fill approach to allow some homes on the 100 year flood plain. Cut and fill entails raising up low-lying areas with fill removed by cutting down the higher spots of ground.
Environmental educator and member of Perth Citizen for Sensible Development, Bonita Ford feels there’s too much risk in this approach to development.
Town staff indicated that the builder must submit a traffic construction plan that outlines mitigation measures to avoid gridlock and the Town must approve that plan. Bowes indicated that the path ahead would be long and she didn’t expect any construction to begin for the next three years.
Perth councillor David Bird said he hoped that message would allay any fears the public has.
A steady stream of residents lined up to the microphone for the question and answer session of the meeting expressing concerns about traffic, the financial security of Caivan, the exact location of the second bridge, how local healthcare will cope with a major population increase, and destruction of at-risk species’ habitats. One even suggested Caivan sell the property to another developer.
Bowes indicated the Town and the County won major concessions in property setbacks to ensure no sidewalks would be partially blocked by vehicles parked in front of a home’s garage. Perth Mayor Judy Brown said she believed the evening would make the public more comfortable with the project
Fire-chief Trevor Choffe expressed his opinion that for emergency access, he would have preferred a second bridge be built before any homes are constructed, but felt his department could assure safety with the agreed-upon arrangements.
Story by Brian Turner
