WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — On Wednesday last week, the Council of the Township of Whitewater Region met with the Development and Planning Committee to discuss the Wren subdivision. The Committee recommend Council to support the granting of a one-year extension to the Draft Plan of Subdivision and Conditions of Draft Approval.
According to Ivan Burton, Planner and Economic Development Officer for the Township, the approval of a plan of subdivision can be viewed as occurring through a two phase approval process.
The first phase occurs when the approval authority, County of Renfrew, approves a draft plan of subdivision and a list of draft conditions of approval. This process can be considered an approval in principle of the proposed development subject to numerous conditions.
For Wren Subdivision, the first phase and the draft conditions were approved back in February 1994 by the Minister of Municipal Affairs. It was amended in October 2014 by the County of Renfrew, with two extensions provided, one in October 2017 and another in October 2018. The present application to Council sought to support a third extension of the draft plan of subdivision and conditions for another year, ending in October 2020.
Chief Administrative Officer, Robert Tremblay, said, “the lapsing date provides an opportunity for the approval authority or local Council to reconsider whether the subdivision fits within the short to long-term development plans for the community as well as whether new conditions should be assigned to the development.”
“As it relates to an extension to the draft plan of subdivision and conditions for Wren Subdivision, staff are supportive of this request as it will maintain the development potential of the concerned parcel,” said Mr. Burton. “Additionally, it will ensure that development is directed to lands that have been designated for these purposes and will provide for the efficient extension of municipal services.”
The motion was carried, being brought forward by Councillor Daryl McLaughlin and seconded by Councillor Chris Olmstead. The Committee is now to provide the Planning Division of the County of Renfrew with a copy of the resolution approved by Council, supporting the granting of a one-year extension of the draft approval.
