Alcona residents spark subdivision debate
By Chris Simon

Susan Moore worries that plans for a 55 lot subdivision could disrupt wildlife and create safety concerns in her neighbourhood.

The Alcona resident has lived on Spring Street for the last few decades. But Moore has concerns that a proposed subdivision in the neighbourhood could cost residents money, lower property values and damage the environment. Along with several other neighbours, Moore attended a public meeting concerning the proposed development, which was held at the Innisfil council chambers last week.

"My driveway is an extension of the (proposed) road coming out, so I have a big issue with the plan," she said. "Has anybody done anything about the actual habitat? There are animals and other birds that live in this area. On a regular basis, we have deer, Canada geese and wild turkeys. There's all sorts of wildlife that come out of this area.

"I'm concerned about what happens when you put that amount of homes on what I consider to be a small piece of property."

The subdivision, called Estates of Alcona, would be located along a 4.3 hectare (10.7 acre) stretch of land running between Adullam Avenue and Spring. Each lot would be between 400 and 800 square metres, and include a single detached home.

If approved, about five per cent of the development would run into the provincially significant Leonard's Beach wetland.

Residents also have concerns that the new lots will overlook their backyards, reducing privacy in the area, said Moore.

However, developers say all concerns over the subdivision can be addressed. Houses can be built to face any desired direction, while most of the property in dispute is currently zoned for development. The plan could also be scaled down by another five lots, to avoid the wetland, if necessary.

The development has already scaled down the size of the subdivision, in an attempt to meet concerns from residents, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and various levels of government. The company's original proposal included 75 lots, with development north of the proposed Leslie Drive extension, which would run through the wetland, said Meridian Planning Consultants representative Celeste Phillips.

"Because of the concerns about those lands and the wetland complex, we revised the application to delete these lands. We're only dealing with the southern most part," she said. "About 95 per cent of what we're dealing with is outside the wetland. We've been in discussions with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the conservation authority, Simcoe County and the town in determining what the setbacks should be from that wetland, and how that property might be affected."

Phillips said the development needs to be approved.

"We're to be looking for development that makes efficient use of existing services. The province wants development directed to existing settlement areas and we are to encourage new development to be in character with existing development," she said. "We're in the settlement area, we're designated residential, (and) we believe this development represents good planning."

Meridian has been waiting several months for the town to approve the project, said Phillips.

"The owners are really in limbo here; we would like to move forward," she said. "The county deemed the application to be complete in June, we've been waiting six months to get here."