Gardens Retirement Development Inc. and their consultant, Greg Bishop, came to the Dysart et al March 26 council meeting to update councillors on their plans for 1 Sunnyside St. in Haliburton.
Bill Mardimae provided a handout to council outlining what he termed a “roadmap” of the project to date and going forward.
He noted one request is that they ensure the large development does not affect the quantity and quality of drinking water for its neighbours. They are awaiting a permit to drill a well and will have Cambium Inc. do appropriate testing.
The Mardimaes and Dysart et al are also digesting correspondence from the Ministry of Transportation and town planner Sue Harrison suggested a meeting as soon as possible with the MTO about items, including highway access to the site.
Harrison also publicly told the Mardimaes the property now has a “Holding” provision.
It emanates from an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board from a different proposal on the site.
She told The Highlander, the OMB decision articulated site-specific zoning for the property which would allow the proposed development.
“The zoning included a list of specific conditions to be met and studies to be completed before the zoning could be actually put in place. Some of these items also required approval from the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
When all of these conditions have been met, the property owner may apply to the municipality to ask council to lift the “Holding” provision which would mean the site-specific zoning which is Residential Type 3 – Exception 8 Zone, will come into effect,” Harrison said.
Deputy Mayor Pat Kennedy asked about the aesthetics of the building and if it could be made to better reflect “Haliburton values and cosmetics.” Mardimae said the drawings to date are preliminary and changes would depend on practicality and cost of maintenance. The Mardimaes are hoping to come back to an April council meeting. They’d like to get shovels in the ground as soon as possible.
