The Paris Independent
5
October 14, 2023
COMMUNITY NEWS Proposed subdivision on King Edward Street sparks concerns from Councillors and area residents By Casandra Turnbull Councillors got a first look at a high density, mixed-use neighbourhood proposed for 305 King Edward Street in Paris. Sifton Properties’ plans for a new subdivision were presented to Planning Committee members on Tuesday. Mat Vaughan, Director of Development Planning for the County, showed committee members, and those in attendance from the public, the site plan featuring 405 dwelling units, including 221 townhouses and apartment buildings ranging from 4-7 storeys. There’s a maximum allotment of 500 square metres of commercial floor space as well. The property is located adjacent to Pictured is a map outlining where the new Sifton Properties’ Subdivision will be located at 305 King Edward Street in Paris. The plan is met with a lot of resistance from neighbouring residents and the adjoining Arlington Meadows developer.
the Arlington Meadows Subdivision on the east and abuts Lafarge Aggregates on the west. There’s approximately 551 metres of frontage along Cleaver Road. The entire subdivision spans 24 hectares of land in Paris’ most southwestern boundary of the urban settlement area. Sifton Properties is asking the County of Brant for an Official Plan (OP) Amendment so its proposed plans will front on an urban arterial road, an OP requirement to accommodate medium and high-density housing and the traffic it brings. They also seek a zoning bylaw change from agricultural to (mixed) residential, however that matter is before the Ontario Land Tribunal and has
been since October 2021. During the October 10th Planning Committee meeting this week, the contentious site plan was received as information only, but it sparked lots of questions and prompted residents to share concerns with the proposed development. Nancy Dolson, who lives on Cleaver Road, and Jackie and John McDonald, who live on King Edward Street, have aligning concerns about how the development will affect their daily lives from the grading and subsequent run offs around their properties, to erosion, the quality of their water source, privacy, traffic nightmares and how the severe dust from construction will impact their health. Both asked the county, in signed letters, “will we be forced to connect to city water and sewers and who will pay for the connections?” And more so, “What impact will this zoning change have on our property taxes, not to mention the decreased value of my property?” In the McDonalds’ letter, they stated they purchased their King Edward Street property in August of 2020, after doing their due diligence and being told, they say, that the lands were reserved residential (excess lands) and would not be developed until 2052. Continued on page 6
