Caledonia horked on again...developer Bill Jackson Regional News This Week November 5, 2008 (no online link) The province has made several modifications to Haldimand County's Official Plan that would delete urban boundary expansions for Caledonia and stop a proposed business commerce park that could bring up to 1600 jobs to the area. More than 60 acres of land to the west of Argyle Street, south of Sixth Line were promoted for development after Haldimand approved its official planning document in June of 2006. However, after two-and-a-half years the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has finally finished reviewing the plan and will not support a necessary extension of the urban boundary to encompass that area. The ministry also won't support the extension of the urban boundary along a portion of River Road which would, in effect, eliminate approximately 250 additional acres of urban designated land. The response came as somewhat of a surprise to Haldimand's Manager of Planning and Development Elaine Brunn Shaw, and she conceded that Haldimand is dealing with "unique circumstance". According to her report to council, if 104 acres of fully serviced Douglas Creek Estates land are not suitable for development, inclusion of all or part of the 250 acres off River Road is imperative to ensure that there is ample, appropriately designated urban residential land to meet growth targets. The inclusion is also fundamental to facilitate the county's master servicing strategy for water and waste water, it says. According to the province, neither urban boundary adjustments are justified because a suitable comprehensive review has not been completed in accordance with the Provincial Growth Plan. "MMAH has been advised that Six Nations is also concerned about the location of this proposal, immediately south of Douglas Creek Estates". Coun. Buck Sloat said that the Douglas Creek Estates property is essentially what's preventing Caledonia from hitting its growth targets. "Let's call a spade a spade," he said. Provincial modifications of the official plan would also delete expansion to a hamlet off Unity Side Road. Developers from Forecast Inc. who were at a Council in Committee meeting on Monday said their vision to develop the business commerce park has been met by interest from all sorts of retailers, as well as industry. The commerce park could include a department store such as Zellers, or even a Wal-Mart according to Forecast President, Todd Lisso. The park would probably include some sort of home improvement store such as a Home Depot or a Lowes in addition to other outlets catering to food, apparel, toys and electronics. A bank and restaurants could also be incorporated. Lisso told councillors that many other communities similar to Caledonia have such developments established already. The location is ideal, he said. "This is the no brainer of no brainers." Lisso's partner Mike Corrado said the province's stance is unfair and unfounded. "The province has once again horked all over Haldimand County." Forecast has been involved with similar commercial projects targeting growth areas on this side of the province's greenbelt and had an eye on Caledonia for five years because it's an underserviced area. Lisso said his company has the necessary experts, including lawyers, to fight the province. He asked Haldimand Council to take a stand. "It's time to say no and let's get to the bottom of this." Coun. Lorne Boyko had heard rumblings about the ministry's stance on Caledonia development last December and said the province has been fooling around. He pointed out that it's taken the province two-and-a-half years to provide a response to planning staff and called the process "disgusting". "The province is shutting down absolutely any growth of Caledonia," said Coun.Craig Grice. Sloat said other municipalities have also been frustrated by the province's response to official plans. "What choice do we have anyway...but I think we should take this thing to the wall." Next Monday council will be considering a resolution to respond to the ministry's proposed modifications, before it issues a final decision. "The nature of council's response will determine whether MMAH staff continue with the same list of modifications or revise some," according to a staff report. Council can appeal the ministry's final decision. If the modifications remain the same, Lisso is prepared to take the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board. The commerce park could be built as soon as the necessary approvals are granted, he said, and isn't contingent on Six Nations land claims. ***** Hunh? Argyle and Sixth Line "isn't contingent on Six Nations land claims"? That would be on the Plank Road claim, and it is not resolved yet. It appears, though, that the province is perhaps belatedly getting a conscience about its 'duty to consult' with Six Nations, and reigning in development on its own. It will be interesting to see what the OMB has to say. And ... such colourful language! 'horked on' ... hmm