It’s been 10 years in the making, but Orangeville council has greenlit the Orangeville Highlands development on Hansen Boulevard.
The project was first submitted to the town in 2010 and has gone through an extensive series of reviews and public consultations, which ultimately, were greenlit by Orangeville and Ontario Official Plans, as well Credit Valley Conservation policies and town zoning laws.
During Monday’s meeting, council toyed with deferring the decision for 90 days to ensure further communication with residents, hampered by COVID-19.
Ultimately, councillor Grant Peters noted that further discussion and analysis of the development proposal won’t have much of an impact on its design and location.
Instead, Peters added additional water and energy savings requirements for the developer to abide by.
Councillor Debbie Sherwood noted if council doesn’t approve the proposal, the town and developer would be forced to hash out the matter at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, costing the municipality litigation and consulting fees.
Meanwhile, councillors Lisa Post and Todd Taylor were the lone council members to oppose phase two of the development.
Post suggested council hold off the decision for another 90 days, in hopes COVID-19 blows over by then and residents are given enough notice about the motion, which she says was tagged onto the agenda ‘last minute’.
Taylor too was apprehensive about making a big decision while COVID-19 measures are keeping residents outside of council chambers, but he also expressed concerns over potential flooding caused by the development and the sheer density of the project.
The project will bring a total of 541 dwelling units to Hansen Boulevard.