Exeter condo project backed by South Huron council

By John Miner

South Huron council has given its blessing to a condominium project that will add 34 dwelling units in the southeast section of Exeter.

The condominium units will be contained in three stacked townhome buildings on land that is next to the Pinnacle subdivision.

While South Huron council voted unanimously in favour of the project, the plan still has to be approved by the County of Huron.

In a presentation to council, planner Celina McIntosh noted that condominiums are a less common form of property ownership in Huron County.

Under a plan of condominium, individuals hold title to a portion of a building and a share of the property that is common to all of the individual owners.

In addition to the 34 dwelling units, the condominium plan includes 53 parking spaces, visitor parking, a private road, and snow storage area.

The private road will connect to Simcoe Street on the north and there will be pedestrian access to Albert Street on the east side.

In recommending South Huron approve the project, McIntosh noted the land has already been zoned residential - high density and Exeter is designated as a primary growth area under the municipality’s official plan.

The stacked townhomes will give more options for South Huron buyers and makes good use of existing infrastructure such as the storm water management pond and roads, she said.

“It is definitely an area where we want to see growth,” McIntosh said.

Residents within 120 metres of the property were notified of the application and one response was received.

Bill and Karen Brintnell raised several concerns, including the increase in vehicle traffic from the condominiums and the subdivision south of Simcoe Street.

If traffic from the proposed development uses the Highway 4 Huron Street intersection that is controlled by stoplights, the busy intersection would become further overburdened. This could have a deleterious impact on the ability of emergency vehicles to access South Huron Hospital.

The Brintnells also wrote they were concerned that the peaceful and tranquil setting for Jessica’s House Hospice will be negatively impacted if the development proceeds.

Asked by Coun. Marissa Vaughan how the concerns raised were addressed, McIntosh said she responded to the commenters with background information and forwarded the material to the applicant.

McIntosh also noted the province recently changed the rules and there is no longer a public meeting required when a file is brought to council. The province has also given councils the option of no longer notifying residents within 120 metres of a development application.

“In terms of public process, there really isn’t much of one in terms of this type of application given the changes to the Planning Act.”

McIntosh said in the case of this development application neighbours were notified because that has been the past practice. The county planning department will be considering whether it should continue doing that in the future.

Vaughan suggested the practice be dropped.

“If we don’t have an obligation for public comment and we are not going to do anything with the public comment, we probably shouldn’t be asking for them. That is going to create an expectation we are not able to live up to.”