Solmar presents development proposal to council
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

Solmar Development Corp. wants to work with Caledon council over the next many months in considering its Humber Station Villages proposal in southwest Bolton.

The developer made a presentation to council recently with its team of consultants on hand to answer any questions.

Lyn Townsend, lawyer with Townsend Rogers LLP, told council the consulting team has been working for a year on this project. Solmar doesn't own all of the lands, but it is the controlling interest, she explained.

She added Solmar came to town in 2002 and committed to building an industrial park. To date, 180,000 square feet of building space has been built.

Townsend said they need to feed the employment lands with residential growth, and Solmar's plan would complement the employment uses.

The Solmar development would encompass 700 hectares bordering Mayfield Road, Coleraine Drive, Healey Road and The Gore Road. Known as Humber Station Villages, it would include 8,500 housing units and 10,700 jobs and be within walking distance of existing employment uses. It can be easily and economically serviced, can accommodate future transit service and promotes other modes of travel such as walking and cycling.

Townsend noted in 2004 council authorized its consultants to do the South Albion/Bolton Community Plan and her client was encouraged by the growth projected, however, in 2005 the plan turned into a Townwide population project.

"We were disappointed the study took a right turn," she said.

She explained the outcome of the population study was to freeze development in Bolton, allowing only 1,500 more people by 2021.

Townsend said businesses are concerned about this.

"We believe there's an opportunity to grow now," she said.

She explained Solmar initially appealed the official plan amendment for Mayfield West, but later withdrew the appeal because councillors gave them two chances to talk to council - this meeting and again in the fall.

"We're very grateful for these two opportunities to come forward," she said.

Her client believes South Albion/Bolton and Mayfield West can grow together simultaneously. Mayfield West is estimated to grow by 14,000 people by 2021.

James Kennedy, president of KLM Planning Partners Inc., explained their development would include a full range of housing types and densities. It would also include nine elementary schools, two secondary schools, nine neighbourhood parks, a 35-acre community park, walking trails and a mixed use village centre.

Kelly Darnley, president and chief executive officer with the Caledon Chamber of Commerce, told council businesses would like to reopen the discussion on putting population into the South Albion/Bolton plan. They favour allowing phased-in residential growth to support businesses.

Kennedy told Councillor Richard Whitehead they haven't developed a formal phasing strategy, but it would likely be done in two phases. The first phase would be at the southern part of the plan and would include 1,500 to 2,000 housing units.

"We need enough units to kick-start it," he said.

Whitehead asked Kennedy to give council a starting time and how long it will take to build.