Grey Highlands council recently received an update on the proposed 370 unit subdivision for part of the former Talisman resort lands.
Council heard from Grey County Planner Scott Taylor, Grey Highlands Manager of Planning Andrew Payne, and Planning Consultant Arthur Grabowski with the Beaver Valley Development Group, the proponent of the proposed project, during a meeting on June 12.
The proposal is to develop blocks for residential, recreation and mixed-use development, with additional space for future development, as well as natural heritage, and open space.
The development on the 30.48-hectare property is currently designed for 25 per cent to be for residential use, while the remaining 75 per cent would be protected and natural areas.
“From day one, our team has set out on a vision to implement a compatible and sustainable recreation-focused development for the lower parcel adjacent to the Talisman Mountain Resort,” says Grabowski.
County council, which is the approval body for subdivisions in the municipality, met in April to discuss this proposed development. The county will not make a decision on the proposed project until the Municipality of Grey Highlands, residents, and various agencies voice their thoughts.
During the meeting, council heard from a number of community members on their thoughts with some voicing support in making use of the property. Several others voiced their disapproval to the proposed development. Resident Sydney Thompson says the development is a cash grab by the proponent.
“It’s inappropriate, it’s massive, it is going to cost the municipality a huge amount of money to maintain once the developers are gone. It is going to create a visual scar on the valley that we will never get back again,” says Thompson.
During Taylor’s presentation, he highlighted frequently asked questions of the project, including the use of the lands in the Niagara Escarpment. These lands have been designated for growth in both county and municipal official plans.
No final decisions have been made about the current proposed development, as the application is currently being reviewed by staff from relevant agencies and departments.
Once the application finishes review, a recommendation will be made to council if they wish to proceed. If they vote no, then the application undergoes the review process once more.
Coun. Paul Allen says, “This is the first step in a planning process and there is a lot more to come. Eventually a report will come to council, but as our planner said, it could be months. It could be a while.”
People still have the chance to submit questions regarding this proposed development, and while there is no hard deadline to submit, the county would ideally like for questions to be sent in by the end of the month.
Taylor can be reached at scott.taylor@grey.ca, and Payne can be emailed at planning@greyhighlands.ca.