by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — There could soon be a new landscape look at the former Century Mill property on Hwy. 17 near Wallace Drive.
Mark Enright and Matt Naismith of Bonnechere Excavating Inc. (BEI) spoke to Whiteawter Region Township council at a planning committee meeting Feb. 4. They spoke about further developing the Wren Subdivision, which is in the area of Caressant Care Retirement and Nursing Home and Whitewater Brewing company expanding their business into a building to be constructed on the former mill property.
There are benefits to developing the Wren Subdivision, such as investing in the community through a larger tax base and improvements to adjacent services, infrastructure and increased opportunities for local businesses, said Mr. Naismith. To continue with the subdivision, there would still be assistance required with the administrative process of developing the property in the township, he said.
The future for the mill property, would be to establish the brewery and a tasting room that would be open and operational by the summer of 2016, Mr. Naismith said.
The benefits of this company expanding would be a larger tax base and possibly improvements to adjacent services for water and sewer extensions, employment opportunities and an increase to the businesses in Cobden, he added.
If the township were to install sewer and water lines to the new business, it would translate into a greater tax base, stronger infrastructure and healthier businesses, Mr. Naismith said.
He noted McLaren`s Systems are willing to donate property to allow the extension of the water and sewer lines.
BEI provided draft layouts for the brewery building.
“At the corner of Wallace Drive and Highway 17, it’s conceptual at this point, but at least it’s a start,” he said.
There are two buildings on the property (in the drawings), but only one is associated with the brewery, he said. There’s a possibility of a second business locating on the property as well, he suggested.
Through diagrams, Mr. Naismith showed the current water and sewer lines. Then, he showed what could be a reality with development of the mill property, which could include water and sewer lines servicing properties along Wallace and Simmons drives.
Mayor Hal Johnson, who is familiar with the current water and sewer lines in that area, noted the east edge of McLaren property is the last manhole for the sewer. The water goes ahead to the east side of Wallace Drive.
“The service that’s there is probably not satisfactory for what you are intending to do, so you will probably upgrade that as well,” he said.
He questioned how the sewer would be expanded upon.
Mr. Naismith said it would come up through an easement through McLaren’s property off the highway, which would avoid the rock and impacting the highway.
By expanding the water and sewer services, Mr. Naismith said businesses could locate on the old Century mill property and service houses on Wallace and Simmons drives and McLaren’s property.
Councillor Chris Olmstead questioned what the impact on the water and sewer would be from the brewing company.
Mr. Naismith believes water usage would be about 7,000 litres per week “based on current brewing rates.”
The material going into the sewer is less than a house, somewhere around 2,000 litres a day, which is what a house puts out now, he said.
If they increase the rates of brewing, it should not increase that rate, because much of the water is re-used.
Mr. Naismith believes the current facility on Fletcher Road would remain open, which means there would be brewing facilities in the township.
Mr. Naismith isn’t sure if McLaren Systems would hook onto the systems, but the opportunity would be there.
Coun. Olmstead suggested there could be other businesses in that area if the lines were extended.
Mr. Enright said there has been some contact from people who may possibly locate to the mill property onces it’s serviced with water and sewer.
Mr. Naismith believes the brewing company could hire as many as 12 people for full-time work. He noted the company just hired someone for marketing.
Coun. Olmstead asked if BEI was asking for something specific form the township.
“We will be requesting, we are putting a proposal to council, to extend the sanitary sewer to the Century Milling property,” Mr. Enright said. “That will come, hopefully in the next month. There has been some engineering done on it.”
However, the proposal was put together prior to there being any businesses that were going to locate on the property, he added.
“Now we do have business, and hopefully that would put council in the position to reconsider,” he said.
Mr. Naismith noted the current zoning on the property is adequate for the brewery.
As for the entrances, the current one on Hwy. 17 will be used and there will be a new one put in from Wallace Drive, he noted.
This is only an initial discussion and there will be many more between BEI and council.
