By Pepper Parr
May 18th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
In one of the four public meetings, albeit as virtual events, the Regional government has done a superb job of engaging the public as they explained what the issues were and listened to what the public had in the way of responses and solutions.
Regional planning staff were open and transparent and offered to take calls during office hours to answer questions for those who wanted more detail.
North Aldershot is treated as a separate area with different development rules.
The land in the North Aldershot area was described as not the best place for urban development. The topography and the creek systems made urban development problematic and suggested that there were other locations in the Region that were better options for urban development.
Tom Muir is an Aldershot resident who has followed plans to develop in the North Aldershot community.
He wanted to know why the “Minutes of Settlement” that were signed in the 1990’s were not being discussed.
Minutes of Settlement are an agreement between a government and a developer setting out what is permitted in the way of development for a specific location. The Minutes are very detailed.
Regional Staff seemed to feel that those minutes could be set aside. That will be something that will get worked out going forward.
Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith took a different view on development potential saying “I completely understand the Region’s position in that they act as an upper tier government for the four municipalities and when it comes to growth, they look to the most efficient areas in terms of servicing.
Boundary of North Aldershot
“I think the North Aldershot area is beautiful and would make a very nice community development of low density residential housing that is in such high demand at the moment. It would be very similar topography to the Tyandaga community which includes lots of valley lands and water features and mature trees. They mentioned that it is very complicated in that the elevation difference between the 403 highway and Waterdown is 100 meters and we know that water does not run up hill naturally.”
Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith standing just south of the Waterdown Road bridge over the 403.
Instead of this type of community on beautiful valley lands, the Region has opted to take another easy farm field in the north areas of Milton and Halton Hills and recommend servicing there.
“Where would you rather live as a resident? The choice is easy for me.”
Eagle Heights may very well be that community and that would be it for North Aldershot. Tom Muir asked a good question tonight but the Region did not want to speak to site-specific lands. What complicates their recommendations is that they need to recognize the approvals that Eagle Heights already has.
Eagle Heights is a development that the Paletta interests have an Ontario Municipal Board (now known as LPAT) approval to proceed, however the Regional government has to service the area – putting in water and sewage infrastructure in place.
“This means that the region is obligated to at least service the OMB approvals. If Paletta decides to proceed with his approvals then the next North Aldershot review will be different as the boundary opening will need to be considered.”
