After a few years of relative silence regarding the Silver Hills Subdivision, two points of recent progress signal that the 700-unit residential development is inching forward.
On Aug. 19, the city awarded Sudbury-based Teranorth Construction & Engineering Limited a tender to realign a Silver Hills Drive water main.
This step was last mentioned as part of the city’s 2023 linear infrastructure projects early that year, and was cited by city engineering services director David Shelsted as a key piece required to see the Silver Hills Subdivision proceed.
During the Sept. 9 city council meeting, the city’s elected officials will vote on whether to finalize a cost-sharing agreement with the developer regarding the extension of Silver Hills Drive southward from its current endpoint at Best Buy to Bancroft Drive.
City council greenlit the cost-sharing agreement in July 2022, and the bylaw tabled for the Sept. 9 meeting echoes the “approximately $2.5-million” cost they voted to approve three years ago.
The cost-sharing arrangement includes up to $2,440,572 in municipal infrastructure costs including the Silver Hills Drive extension and “the design and construction of the intersection improvements for the intersection of Silver Hills Drive with Bancroft Drive and Bellevue Avenue.”
These intersection improvements are notable for a longstanding proposal which would see a roundabout constructed at what is currently a signalled intersection.
Sudbury.com reached out to Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc, who represents the community on city council, and the developer (ARG DEVCO, a division of Interpaving) this week but did not receive a response from either party.
In the event Leduc and/or ARG DEVCO respond, either this story will be updated or a follow-up story will be published.
The plan of subdivision was approved on June 25, 2012 and has been extended twice, including most recently on Feb. 26, 2024 (to March 27, 2027).
The plan of subdivision consisted of the development of 700 residential units, including 45 lots for single-detached dwellings, 63 lots for semi-detached dwelling units, and two blocks for medium-density residential development (112 townhouse units and 480 apartment units).
In a letter to the city on Aug. 8, 2016, ARG DEVCO development Celia Teale wrote that the Silver Hills Drive extension would better link the Minnow Lake community with existing retail developments.
She also pledged to create “new and enhanced walking trails and bike paths” and a “new and enhanced trail system for walking and biking” through Blueberry Hill. The Silver Hills Drive extension was also to include bike lanes and sidewalks.
At the time, the company’s intent was to have the Silver Hills Drive extension and Bellevue/Bancroft intersection work completed by Sept. 30, 2017. The city’s 2022 report on the cost-sharing arrangement updated this timeline to 2024. Lacking insight from ARG DEVCO, it’s unclear what caused the day.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.