January 19, 2011
Development up in
Laurentian Hills
by Denise Walker
2010 “was a very good year” for Laurentian Hills. That’s according to
the town's building inspector, Gerry Dupuis.
Last week Dupuis reported to the Laurentian Hills' protection to
persons and property committee that he had issued 18 building permits
for new dwellings in 2010, compared to 12 in 2009.
Dupuis also issued more permits in 2010 for alterations, additions,
decks, and garages.
The value of these new buildings came in at over $4 million.
Dupuis said that 2011 was also getting off to a busy start. He asked
the planning committee to recommend council approve two new planning
proposals.
The first proposal is a site plan agreement for Brian Collins. Collins
has property on Corry Lake and is proposing to demolish the existing
cottage and replace it with a new house and garage.
The second proposal is an application by Stephen and Tracy Fielding to
sever part of their property on Plant Road in Chalk River.
The Fieldings will sell part of their lot to the adjacent landowner,
Walter Cummings. Cummings will use the newly enlarged lot for housing.
Meanwhile, Tracy Lance has cleared another hurdle in his attempts to
open up four more residential lots off Tooley Drive.
Before he could proceed, Lance needed to deal with a disused sand pit
on the property.
Dupuis told the planning committee that the Ministry of Natural
Resources had accepted the surrender of an aggregate licence for the
pit.
Dupuis said the pit would now need to be cleaned up and access provided
to the new lots.
All the discussion of development prompted some of the new councillors
to ask about water and sewer capacity.
Deputy Mayor Anne Giardini, who chairs the public works committee,
explained that the town was trying to ensure it could service about 100
new lots.
The town currently has sewer capacity for an additional 25 lots in
Chalk River. Improvements currently underway are expected to double the
additional capacity.
Mayor Dick Rabishaw said the town was also looking at chemical
enhancements to free up more capacity.
Dial-up woes
Last year’s successful high-speed Internet expansion in Laurentian
Hills has left some residents still out in the cold.
Perry MacDonald wrote asking when the Wylie Road service will be
upgraded. He told council “There are a lot of houses like mine that are
still stuck on dial-up service.”
MacDonald’s complaint found support from Councillor Brenda Blimkie.
She told the committee that she had already arranged to have the issue
put on the agenda for the joint economic development committee that the
town shares with Deep River.
“It’s important that we don’t lose sight of this,” she said.
Mayor Rabishaw agreed, saying he had other calls on the topic.
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