Laurier proposal clears OMB
By Bill Rea

The required rezoning and amendments to King's Official Plan have been approved by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) for the development proposal put forth by Laurier Homes (27) Ltd. in Schomberg.

Matters pertaining to the approval of the draft plan of subdivision are still waiting for servicing issues to be addressed.

OMB Hearing Officer Susan Schiller Tuesday approved Minutes of Settlement between the developer, the Township and various residents who had raised concerns over what was being proposed by Laurier.

Many of the concerned dealt with the impact the subdivision would have on people living in homes on the east side of Main Street in the village, north of Dr. Kay Drive. Some of them had been worried that their new neighbours to the rear would have houses that were too close.

The Minutes of Settlement call for some of the properties backing onto the Main Street homes to have rear setbacks of 9.5 metres, as opposed to the Township standard of 7.5.

As well, the road pattern in the southwest corner of the property has been adjusted, with a cul-de-sac in the area being extended to the south and shifted a bit to the east. This allows for somewhat larger lots in that area, meaning height restrictions on the proposed homes on the three of the lots (which would have required them to be bungalows) could be lifted. But it also meant two lots have been dropped from the proposal, meaning 228 homes are now in the works.

King councillors voted to support the rezoning and Official Plan designation in February, although residents still had concerns with what was proposed at that time.

Further negotiations resulted in the settlement the board accepted, although some of the residents weren't entirely pleased with what they settled for.

"I'm happy with the decisions that we made," commented Main Street resident Anni Bretschneider, although she added she's still concerned about the impact this development will have on the village. "You never get everything you were striving for."

Area resident Greg Locke was a little more blunt, and critical of the work of council.

"There is obviously room for better planning here," he remarked. "It's a shame that we have to do their work."

Planning consultant Murray Evans testified the proposal has gone through an extensive review process, pointing to several positive features. That included conveying the Dufferin Marsh portion of the property to the Township, along with a 15-metre buffer area surrounding it.

He also told Lawyer Stephen Waque, representing Laurier, that what was on the table represented good planning. "There's always a balancing of objectives and needs," he remarked.

He also told Township lawyer Jose Matera the 7.5- metre rear setbacks for the lots in question would have constituted good planning too. While he said extending them to 9.5 metres "works fine," he didn't see this as a precedent for extending the Township's standards.

Waque added the extra setbacks "provided comfort to the participants."