Seguin Township council has unanimously rejected the plans for a 49-lot residential subdivision proposed southwest of the Village of Rosseau.
The proposed development was back in front of council on July 6, after being deferred following several lengthy council discussions on June 1 and April 20.
Along with denying the draft plan of subdivision, council also passed motions to deny the proposed official plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendments associated with the project.
According to staff, and council, the Township’s official plan currently does not permit a development of this size in a rural designated area. The Official Plan, and Provincial Policy Planning Statement, aim to focus growth in settlement areas – and the development, proposed for a 106 hectare lot southwest of Highway 632, is not in a settlement area.
“The provincial policy that we are supposed to be following is very clear – that you shouldn’t be developing outside of settlement areas. The settlement areas are for condensed growth. Growth where growth belongs,” said Coun. Gail Finnson. “We have a lot of land in Seguin, and in Muskoka as well. If you allow things (to be built) outside of settlement areas then you will have chaos.”
The rest of council had similar opinions to Finnson, believing that the development wasn’t suitable for the proposed location.
“The OP (Official Plan) states where development – high density development – can exist in this township, and that rule has been followed for a great number of years,” said Coun. Terry Fellner. “So to come and say, ‘we think we should change this’, makes absolutely no sense in my mind.”
Fellner referred to the proposal as a “momentous waste of time,” stating that it was “a non-starter from the beginning.”
At a public meeting in September of last year, many residents spoke out about the “unsuitability of the plan” along with the negative impacts they believed it would have on the area. Resident opposition only continued to grow, as the project kept appearing on council agendas.
After the development was officially denied, Mayor Ann MacDiarmid thanked staff and their planning team.
“This council listens to the community, and I think it was clear from the effort you people put in,” she said. “We have a good official plan, and we respect the provincial policy statement. I truly believe we hire the best of the best in the province and our staff gave us a fantastic staff report that we can stand behind.”
The developer is expected to appeal councils decision.
