Township gives support to industrial development plan in Schomberg
By Bill Rea

Councillor Bill Cober was enthused and his colleagues lost little time Monday night approving in principle a draft plan for an industrial subdivision on the east end of Schomberg.

As well, council voted in favour of a rezoning for the property on the east side of Highway 27.

Cober was pleased at the prospect of the municipality gaining more industrial and commercial assessment.

Township planners reported the proposal will see a fully serviced plan of subdivision for mixed industrial uses that will link with the highway at Dr. Kay Drive. They added there will be some lots in the development, fronting onto Highway 27, that will include limited commercial uses.

This proposal of DiPoce Management Limited has been in the works for a number of years. Planners reported it has been held up over matters of servicing constraints.

They stated the lands are already designated for fully serviced industrial development in the Schomberg Community Plan. They added the community plan addresses such issues as timing and availability of water and sanitary sewers, roads and traffic, and uses of adjacent lands.

The report from planners stated Township staff is satisfied with the proposed internal road pattern, which includes a connection with Dillane Drive to the north, as well as lands to the south.

The report did state the local sanitary sewer treatment plant currently does not have capacity allocation available. York Region has finished an environmental assessment for the necessary upgrades to provide more capacity, and those upgrades should be done by the end of this year.

Planners added there is no additional water supply available at this time for allocation. The environmental assessment for those upgrades is being undertaken.

They concluded that given the status of these environmental assessments, the Township can't give formal draft plan approval.

Roy Mason, of KLM Planning Partners, acting on behalf of DiPoce, told councillors they have a user interested in setting up in the development, as soon as the municipal servicing capacity is available.

Planning consultant Claudio Brutto told councillors he was acting for the owner of lands to the south. He said they had no issue with the staff report, but they want to stay informed and involved with what's being done.

The fact that there's already interest in occupying space in the development was more good news for Cober.

He also wondered if the Region has identified any extra water through the EA. Planning Director Stephen Kitchen told him there's been a draft report issued indicating it's possible, but staff has not yet reviewed it. He added there is a policy in place to determine which proposals would have first access to any such supply.

Kitchen also told Cober that the draft plan conditions include provisions that DiPoce would be expected to pick up a share of the costs for the improvements at the intersection of Highway 27 and Dr. Kay.

"Terrific," Cober replied.

Councillor Jane Underhill mentioned the storm water management pond planned for the development, wondering if any thought had been given to open ditches, as opposed to the curbs and gutters planners said are in the works.

Kitchen told her that would affect the size of the pond. He added curbs and gutters are easier to maintain, and are preferred by the landowners.