The message that Centre Wellington needs a coordinated effort to plan for the future was made loud and clear at a recent town hall style meeting on April 23.
About 60 people attended the presentation hosted by the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber president Janet Harrop commented, “Our official purpose is to help businesses succeed.”
Harrop said that night’s town hall meeting falls into those categories.
“We realize that local businesses are most affected by municipal government, so we see great importance in keeping businesses updated regarding local activities and programs.”
The session involved a look at infrastructure – timelines, locations and impacts – allowing business owners to plan around those impacts.
Centre Wellington director of planning and development Brett Salmon said that after several years of not much residential development there are now three.
“People will be able to buy new homes and move into the community,” said Salmon.
New developments underway in Fergus include the St. Andrew’s subdivision along McQueen Boulevard in south Fergus which includes a highway commercial block and a block for a retirement home.
Related to that is the Westminster Highlands development along Aberdeen Street which involves over 300 single detached, townhouse and apartment units.
Along Beatty Line in the north end of Fergus is the Beatty Hollow development which includes more than 160 single detached, townhouse and apartment units.
The unique feature, Salmon said, is that the development includes a church site.
He noted the land was originally purchased by Grand River Community Church which then realized there was more land than needed.
In addition, work is underway for the Strathlea development at the north end of Fergus which will have more than 200 single detached, semi-detached and townhouse units.
“We have quite a significant supply of lots available for development, for construction, for building permit revenues and development.”
In terms of the Fergus industrial park, Salmon said servicing and site plan approval are in for two locations on Gregson Court.
In addition, the township recently sold a lot to Wightman Telecom. The company is getting set to bring fibre optic cable service to urban homes in the municipality.
Plus, a private developer is working on plans to extend Dickson Drive further east, Salmon said.
He added the proponents are making use of a provincial program which will also put that land on the radar for industrial development opportunities.
“We’re quite excited about that. In the past, people have looked to the municipality to be the ones to develop industrial land. In this case we have a private sector developer willing to take on the challenge.”
In terms of future growth, Salmon said a strategy has been developed to look at when and how growth will occur – and use that information to prioritize areas where work needs to be done on infrastructure such as water and sewers.
The township is also working on a community improvement plan to provide incentives for brownfield (former industrial lands) and downtown development.
“We’re part way through that process. And we’re hoping to complete that plan in July or August.”
He noted what the Landmark Development (Elora Mill) has brought to attention with its focus on the Grand River, is that the township would like the community improvement plan to not only focus on the street side, but encourage people to improve their properties on the river side.
“At the end of the day, the more people spend on upgrading their property, the more revenue the municipality will get back (as a result of increased property values).”
Salmon noted other areas that have provided similar incentives, such as Guelph, have seen huge investments in their downtown cores and brownfield areas.
“The goal is to align infrastructure, development approvals and financing with other municipal plans and strategies.”
