BY KEITH LACEY
Neighbours from one of Sudbury?s most prestigious areas have taken their concerns over a proposed subdivision development between Bethel Lake and South Bay Road to city hall.
Dalron Construction Ltd. has proposed building a 69-unit subdivision tentatively called the Twin Lakes Subdivision.
Thomas Gerry, a homeowner in the area and spokesperson for a neighbourhood action group, addressed members of the city?s planning committee Tuesday evening.
Neighbours have many concerns about the proposed subdivision and the staff?s recommendation to allow for modifications to the city?s official plan, said Gerry.
Some of the concerns include environmental repercussions to Bethel Lake and Ramsey Lake and vehicular traffic issues along Ramsey Lake Road and the South Bay Road area, said Gerry.
Other concerns include the consequences for existing wells and house foundations during blasting, allotment and preservation of green space in the area, economic impacts on current homeowners? property and the rapid speed in which this project is being dealt with at city hall, he said.
Ron Arnold, president of Dalron and planner Celia Teale said the proposed plan presented Tuesday has many changes that address the concerns of residents.
Dalron management has held four meetings with homeowners. During the last meeting three weeks ago, many neighbours voiced their concerns, causing Councillor Austin Davey to ask for a deferral of this matter to Tuesday evening, said Gerry.
?Mr. Davey had too many questions he wanted answered and agreed this proposed plan was not ready to go before the planning committee and asked for a deferral,? he said.
Very few of the neighbours he?s spoken to object to development, but they are opposed to not having many important questions answered, said Gerry.
?Originally, the proposal was for 54 houses and its since been raised?this is a serious change in density, which is contrary to the city?s official plan,? he said. ?We have all kinds of concerns about this and we haven?t had many of our concerns addressed.?
Several of the neighbours bought their homes from Dalron Construction and were assured there would be limited future development in the area, said Gerry.
There are many beautiful hiking trails and lookout points in the area being proposed ?to be blasted away? to build these new homes, said Gerry.
One of the biggest concerns is the vast increase in traffic the new subdivision would bring to the area, he said.
?There hasn?t been a proper traffic study of this area since 1995 and we?d like one before any future proposal is approved,? said Gerry.
He has circulated a petition with dozens of names on it from residents who are particularly concerned about their existing water wells if any further development is allowed.
?Any blasting has a very good chance of wrecking wells,? he said. ?The petition basically states we want services before there?s any future development. We don?t want insurance guarantees or compensation if there?s trouble, we want full services.
Arnold said his company has listened to concerns of citizens and the revised plan presented Tuesday will hopefully appease many of them.
?We have listened very, very carefully and I believe we have solutions to all of their concerns,? he said. ?Their concerns are legitimate and, of course, the fear factor must always be considered.?
A big part of the revision has included drastically reducing the amount of blasting that would have to take place and ?we have mitigating plans in place to protect homeowners? should any wells be damaged, Teale said.