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Growth Strategy sets Essa on next course, Angus ‘primary settlement area’

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In Essa
Oct 5th, 2013
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New Tecumseth Free Press October 3, 2013
The Ainley Group’s draft Growth Strategy for Essa Township and presented last night to council, suggests the municipality should reach its growth allocation of 21,500 persons by 2025, six years sooner than the 2031 target date if development keeps on the pace set between 2006 and 2011, which in that stretch, grew annually by 107 new housing units and 320 persons.
In fact, it’s expected Essa’s population will reach 23,255 if all the development planned within the various settlement areas were to proceed.
“This is not considered a concern, however, as the majority of the undeveloped registered and draft plans received approval prior to 2006 and, thus, are grandfathered under the Transition Regulations of Places to Grow,” according to the Ainley report.
There are six designated settlement areas in three different categories including:
Tertiary Settlement Area (primarily residential with private water and sewage services; have limited commercial and community facilities and the potential for further growth is non-existent) includes Colwell, Utopia and Ivy where “employment opportunities do exist within the community. The Feed Mill, Auto Body Shop, commercial dwelling and home occupation provide these opportunities. Community facilities are provided by the Orange Hall, Ivy Presbyterian Church, park and ball diamond. Also St. John’s Anglican Church exists immediately adjacent to the settlement area boundary to the south. With vacant lands limited to one lot in the community, future development is non-existent.”
The Secondary Settlement Area (while residential in nature, provides a higher level of
commercial and community services, which is still limited by municipal water and private sewage systems) includes Baxter, “with an elementary school servicing the rural area.
Commercial and employment opportunities are minimal. Municipal water is available for an equivalent population of 177 persons of which 149 are presently (2009) serviced leaving a residual capacity of 28 persons. Future development will be serviced with municipal water and sewers. Beyond the development of the Marshall subdivision (250 new housing units), further development of Baxter is not anticipated.”
Thornton, the second largest community in Essa with a population of 1,560 people, falls into the secondary category because other than the 17 lot Sardelis subdivision, the community is “fully developed.”
“The settlement area contains two commercial areas, Thornton Crossing Plaza
and the area around County Road 27 and 21. Uses such as restaurants,
variety store, LCBO, gift shops, etc. serve the population. With the
exception of nine accessory dwelling units, the housing type is single
detached dwellings. Several home occupations appear to exist. ….. further development is unlikely.
Angus, with a population of 9,444, is deemed the township’s Primary Settlement Area, “a complete community providing a mix of housing type, community services, institutional services, a mix of commercial and employment uses…. serviced with Municipal Water and Sewage Services which have the capacity to accommodate future growth” including the 1,733 proposed new housing units, that would add 5,199 people in Angus.
The Ainley report recommends revisiting the Official Plan in 2020 to determine whether to expand Angus’s settlement area to accommodate further growth, as there’s currently enough land inventory for the next 10 years. It is also recommended this growth strategy be reviewed prior to 2023.”The priority area for growth in the Angus Settlement Area shall be lands within the Built Boundary. Within the Built Boundary, Council shall encourage the re-development and intensification of lands and will as far as possible and within their legislative powers, fast track applications which meet the goals and objectives of the Township. Consideration is to be given to the development:
being compatible with adjacent lands;
being adequately serviced with municipal water and sewer;
being compatible with the natural environment;
incorporating active transportation facilities including trails, cycling facilities and the separation of pedestrian and vehicular routes;
providing a mix of housing;
providing a mix of uses.
While the Built Boundary is considered to be the priority area for growth, development on those lands outside the Built Boundary but falling within the Settlement Area boundary may proceed providing they can be serviced with municipal sewer and water, are under application or are designated for growth.”

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