Grey County’s committee of the whole has given the thumbs up to a recommendation to extend an application of a 242-unit subdivision in Durham.
During a council meeting on May 12, a report was brought forward by Manager of Planning Services Scott Taylor. It recommended council agree the draft plan for the subdivision application to not have lapsed, and to adjust the lapse time to three years from May 26.
The subdivision is located on the north end of Durham, just east of Highway 6. It is currently in the first phase of construction, which includes 61 single detached homes.
The first phase of the subdivision is under construction, but the remaining phases lapsed on Oct. 25, 2021.
The county first approved the Sunvale subdivision in the municipality of West Grey in 2018.
“This is a situation that has occurred a few times over the years in the county, where by a developer didn’t extend their draft approval and therefore they lapsed. Up until just recently, they would have to re-apply for the planned subdivision, go back through another public process, we would have a public meeting and everything else, and that decision would come back to this body,” says Taylor.
A newly passed amendment to the Planning Act allows municipalities to have a one-time ability to deem a subdivision to not have lapsed, if the lapsed date was within the past five years.
Taylor adds they have been in communication with the Municipality of West Grey, and they voiced their support for this recommendation.
Coun. and West Grey Mayor Christine Robinson says, “West Grey is certainly supportive of this recommendation, and although it was noted in the presentation and report, it just felt we needed to have that stated.”