A notice of complete application has been submitted for a residential development in Southampton on a significant woodland property that has been designated Environmental Protection lands in the Town’s Official Plan.
The applicant, Chantry Development Ltd. and GDP Developments Inc. is proposing a residential subdivision of 36 single detached and townhouse lots and six blocks for road and environmental protection purposes.
The subject lands are in the south end of Southampton between Albert, Bay, Island and Huron Streets.
The applicant developer is requesting Saugeen Shores’ Official Plan be amended to allow development among a portion of the wooded area, and to re-zone the lands to allow for residences to be built, while still maintaining some open space and environmental protection lands.
Bruce County Director of Planning and Development Claire Dodds says, “It is identified in the Town’s official plan as a significant woodland, and as it would stand today, as a significant woodland, it would not permit development to occur within those lands.”
Dodds explains, “Every land owner has the opportunity to make an application to ask to have a different designation to permit development on their property, and part of the process is an evaluation as to whether that change is appropriate or not.”
An application for development of those lands has been before Saugeen Shores council in the past. In 2019, council voted unanimously against changing the official plan to allow development on that section of land. A large number of people showed up to a planning meeting to oppose the proposed development, many expressing a desire to protect the woodland area.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau noted at that time, the significant woodland extends beyond the lots in question. Charbonneau expressed concern that rezoning one section could affect other sections of the woodland in the future.
Dodds says, “Going through the process there will be an evaluation through our planning staff in cooperation with local municipal staff in order to evaluate that application and deliver a recommendation to council. So we’re just at the very beginning stages of these applications.”
She explains, the County is the approval authority for subdivisions as well as the approval authority for any local official plan amendment.
She says for example, if Saugeen Shores refuses to adopt a local official plan amendment, then it stops with Saugeen Shores council. If they choose to support an official plan amendment, then in order for that change to take effect, it comes to the County.”
Dodds says the town also has the approval authority for the zoning bylaw amendment, explaining, “The Town uses Bruce County planning staff to review those applications but the authority to make a decision on the zoning bylaw stays with Saugeen Shores council.”
The subdivision application is an application that the County would make a decision on. Dodds says, “We look to the local municipality for support on that application and potentially appropriate conditions but the decision on a plan of subdivision is a County decision.”
Dodds says dates for public meetings about the application have yet to be set.
“We are very much at the beginning of the review of these applications and there’s certainly opportunities for members of the public to be involved locally in Saugeen Shores and share their comments with local council through public meetings,” says Dodds.
