Slokker subdivision agreement passes at Township council
By Bill Rea
After a lengthy and technical discussion, Township councillors Monday night gave their approval to the subdivision agreement for the Noble Ridge development in the northeast quadrant of Nobleton.

The development calls for 698 homes to be built by Slokker Canada.

There had been a bit of discrepancy about the number of units proposed. The staff report that was part of the agenda package had mentioned 699, but Planning Director Stephen Kitchen asserted that was a typographical error.

Township Solicitor Josie Matera pointed out the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) has issued draft approval for only 400 homes so far. The others will be receiving their approvals as soon as various conditions are met. She said the main one is the completion of an environmental assessment to determine there is sufficient water in the area.

Matera pointed out the agreement puts a number of financial burdens on Slokker, including a $1.2 million cash contribution for external servicing, as well as engineering fees in the amount of some $223,000.

The development is to be built in phases, with Slokker posting letters of credit at the final approval of each one.

Slokker is going to be constructing Regional sewer works on King Road, consisting of a treatment plant, pumping station and connecting forcemain. The developer will receive Regional development charge credits for the growth component of these works. Slokker will absorb the nongrowth components, which are estimated at about $9 million.

The community liaison process that Slokker took part in concluded a local sewer connection would be needed along Wellar Avenue. It was also agreed that other areas would be serviced as part of the first phase. Matera said the cost estimates for connecting individual households are being updated, but they currently stand at about $20,000 each. She added that does not take into account the $1.2 million that Slokker is putting up, or financial contributions from other developers in the area, such as Baldesarra.

There were still some issues that had not been addressed, and that prompted concerns that the agreement was being approved prematurely.

Former councillor Susan Lloyd-Swail expressed those concerns, pointing out costs for installing sewers in King City have exceeded estimates, and she wondered if the township could afford to get into more debt.

Mayor Margaret Black told her approving the agreement didn't impose any financial obligations on the municipality. She added the associated costs are slated to be discussed at future meetings, starting with a working session planned for Oct. 1. That meeting will also include discussions on how to reduce the costs.

Matera did say this approval would allow Slokker to carry on with work on Wellar and Goodfellow Crescent. The developer will be picking up the growth-related costs of that work, amounting to about 85 per cent. The remainder will go to the residents, but Matera said that will be a "very small amount." She added council could decide to cover those costs with some of the $1.2 million.

Nobleton resident Mary McGee was concerned about existing lots being severed. She said she had heard of plans to pass an infilling bylaw to address that. Kitchen said such a bylaw wouldn't be needed because the Nobleton Community Plan has clear policies for severances.

There were also questions about whether residents will be obligated to hook up to the sewers. Black said this situation is different from the sewer issue in King City, where York's medical officer of health identified health concerns that prompted the sewers going in.

She added there are residents who are pushing to have their homes hooked up.

Local resident Brad Capon was one of them. he said he's seen septic material in storm water flows on Greenside Drive. "In my mind, it's a huge urgency," he declared.

Capon was also concerned about the traffic situation on Greenside around St. Mary Catholic School.

"This is actually a speed highway," he declared. "It's only an accident waiting to happen."

Area resident Emil Alilovic raised the issue of market conditions, wondering what would happen if Slokker walked away from this.

Matera replied a lot would depend on when that happened, but she pointed out securities have been posted to help protect the municipality in that event.

She also confirmed for Councillor Cleve Mortelliti that $500,000 of the $1.2 million has to be paid within 10 days of the agreement being approved.

Councillor Jane Underhill expressed reluctance to approve the agreement with details missing, but Black pointed out if they didn't, Slokker could take the matter to OMB.

She also pointed out there are a number of benefits coming from this development, including the 172 acres that has been acquired from Slokker by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. The York Region Forestry Department is managing the site, and Black said many trees have already been plated there.

"This is a very green subdivision, as are all the subdivisions in King City as well," Black said, adding she gets numerous compliments from outside King on how green the local plans are.