ERIN – Coscorp Homes and Mattamy Homes Limited have been given the green light by council to proceed with their connected subdivisions after addressing public and council concerns.
The Coscorp subdivision will be located at 5552 8th Line and will feature 434 units on 67 acres of land.
The Mattamy portion of the development will be located next door, at 5520 8th Line, and will include 194 units on about 89 acres.
Residents previously shared their concerns at a June council meeting.
Last week’s July 23 meeting saw both companies address the public’s concerns in a report shared with council.
One of the main issues raised in June was traffic management.
Erin residents Tom Clare and Rob Jacket were among those to voice concerns about speeding and the amount of traffic.
“You’re going to give us … three cars per household, and you’re going to put 2,000 more homes in our village … and what’s that? 6,000 more cars?” Clare said.
Developers are referring to a recent traffic study, that considered Empire and Solmar developments, as well as background growth rates.
That study suggests signal lights for the Sideroad 17 and 8th Line (south) intersection, as well as the Sideroad 17 and “Street C intersection” of the development, are not warranted until at least 2034. Nor are all way stop signs.
According to a presentation shared by Tammy Kalimootoo, vice president of the Ainley Group Barrie office, traffic calming measures such as appropriate lane widths, sidewalks, signage, pavement markings and a pedestrian crossing for 8th Line will be implemented.
Additional traffic calming measures, including signage, are also being considered for Erin Heights Drive to mitigate traffic cut-through concerns raised by residents.
As for parking, Kalimootoo told council subdivision residents will have double- and single-car garages, as well as street parking and parking on driveways.
Other residents spoke back in June about pond water levels and water run-off from the subdivision.
Kalimootoo told council that various groundwater and surface water studies and assessments have already been completed for the development, and any changes to the data (water levels and water quality) will be mediated accordingly.
Residents were also concerned about tree preservation.
A tree inventory, preservation plan and a report were completed, according to Kalimootoo.
Tree removals have already been completed as per the approved plans and site alteration agreement. And the existing tree line along the east property line of the Coscorp development, from Sideroad 17 to the central natural heritage lands, has been retained.
Kalimootoo told council that any further landscaping or tree planting would be discussed later. Another big area of concern was property buffer zones.
One resident requested the erection of a 125-foot buffer zone and a wooden privacy fence along the shared east property line of the Coscorp development.
However, due to the town’s engineering standards, it is most likely a smaller, chain-link fence will be erected instead.
The proposed storm management pond block is also expected to provide a buffer.
Council voted unanimously to approve the draft plan amendments.
