Council approves Port Dover subdivision proposal

Luke Edwards

Advocate Correspondent

Norfolk County has given the green light for a proposed subdivision in Port Dover that would include 393 new detached homes and 56 semi-detached units.

Councillors at the Dec. 17 meeting voted in favour of a staff recommendation to approve an application for the proposed 449-unit development. The property is just shy of 40 hectares and located in the northwest part of Port Dover’s urban boundary.

During the process leading up to the recommendation report, there were some issues raised by the public and by councillors. They included questions about on-street parking, a lack of sidewalks, traffic and surface water drainage.

In response, the applicant modified parts of the plan and provided updated studies, which was enough to satisfy staff and councillors.

“The last time we had this site application before us I questioned the on-street parking and I’m really pleased it’s been improved in this proposal,” said Coun. Mike Columbus.

Updates to the plan include changes to frontages and driveway layouts to address parking concerns, additional buffering between the development and natural heritage sites to the north, additional space for a stormwater management pond, and adding sidewalks to all internal streets.

The property and proposal also includes a block for commercial development. While the specifics have yet to be determined, Mayor Amy Martin reiterated what she doesn’t want to see.

“I’m not looking for big box stores on Highway 6 coming into the community,” she said.