The development of a 22-acre expansion of Rockmosa park will move ahead after Guelph-Eramosa council approved the required rezoning and agreed to seek an amendment to the county’s official plan to permit a Rockwood boundary adjustment for the project.
Township planner Bernie Hermsen, of MHBC Planning Ltd., said several concerns were raised at a Jan. 27 public meeting on the proposal. Overall, however, Hermsen said of the two concepts presented at the meeting, Concept B was the preferred plan.
The rezoning also includes the possible construction of a subdivision adjacent to the park expansion mixed with a planned new Catholic school and church which would take up an eight-acre piece of property.
The Wellington Catholic District School Board and Hamilton Diocese have plans for the new school and church.
“I think there is a benefit to going with concept B,” Hermsen told council at its Feb. 3 meeting. “One of them is the timing with the school opening by 2015.”
Hermsen said several issues were raised at the public meeting, including density on future residential lands. According to the planner, Wellington County provides for a minimum greenfields density target of 40 persons or jobs per hectare.
“Any future subdivision application on these lands would have to indicate how the proposed residential unit mix would achieve this minimum target,” Hermsen said.
Other issues raised included traffic safety and speeds as they relate to the school and parkland. Hermsen said several people attending the public meeting asked about reducing speeds further north on Wellington Road 27 (Main Street).
“This comment seems reasonable given the proposed new school, and ultimately the extent of the potential subdivision layout,” Hermsen’s report said.
“Follow up with county staff indicates it is customary for the reduced speed limit (50km/h) to reflect the extent of the urban boundary”
Sidewalks were also part of the discussion at the public meeting, including concerns about the lack of sidewalks on Main Street North. Hermsen said decisions on sidewalks will be part of site design discussions that would include the township, school board and potential developer.
Council was assured more public meetings would be held as the development moves forward to continue to gather input from residents.
Dan Duszczyszyn, a consultant with the Catholic board, thanked council for its decision to move ahead with approvals.
“We will be excellent neighbours,” he said.
