In May of 2015 our company…

In May of 2015 our company made a submission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs as input to the Greenbelt review that occurred at that time. The submission focussed on the merits of removing one of our company properties from the Greenbelt, but there was absolutely no response from the previous government.

We have attached the submission as it provides a comprehensive overview of the property. In a nutshell, it is 50 acres fronting directly on Steeles Avenue in Halton Hills, has existing substantial municipal services running across the entire frontage, with connections that were installed in anticipation of development, is well served by transportation: an urban, 5 lane Steeles Avenue, close proximity to Highway 404 and 407/403 ramps, and direct access to Halton bus service that passes by connecting the site to the Lisgar GO station and downtown Milton.

While we recognize that about two thirds of the property is woodlot, and would not be considered for development, the remainder is clear farmland and a site of the former house onsite, without environmental significance. The Greenbelt boundary should have originally followed the tree line and not Steeles.

With co-operation of the various levels of government, this site could be under construction for residential housing, ( or possibly mixed use development because of it's frontage on a major arterial road), by 2024. This property is exactly the type of property the Province should be removing from the Greenbelt, basically ready to go, and contains land that is not environmentally significant. As well, there would be an opportunity to dedicate the woodlot as public lands. As a property to consider for removal from the Greenbelt, it checks all the boxes.

Our company has the experience, ability and financial capability to co-ordinate the design of a development, guide the application through the process, and build a variety of structures, having built, low density housing, stacked townhouses, and high rise apartments, including commercial units in some. Out last project was a $380M project of 919 condominium apartments and 27 commercial units. We have an excellent reputation with Tarion, and the municipalities we have dealt with.

We sincerely think the current government is on the right track by attempting to quickly increase the supply of housing in Ontario, as housing affordability is largely a function of supply and demand. The approval process as slowed greatly compared to decades ago, and long term planning and installation of municipal infrastructure has not kept pace. Our last condominium took nearly 10 years from planning application to occupancy, which is totally unacceptable. It all serves to throttle the supply and impact affordability.

We feel our small property can assist in the Provincial objectives and would be happy to discuss it further, if and when the Province decides further modification to the Greenbelt is merited, or if some of the other areas to be removed do not come through on their commitments.