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HomeMy WebLinkAbout75-160LETTER re: BOWMANVILLE WEST COMMUNITY: - Members will find attached the following correspondence. 1. Letter from the Clerk authorizing Municipal Plann- ing Consultants to provide an assessment of the proposed Bowmanville West and Square 100 proposals. 2. Letter from Municipal Planning Consultants to the Regional Commissioner of Works requesting an opin- ion on the proposal. 3. Letter from the Regional Commissioner of Works which appears to suggest that the Regional Works Department would only make information available after the Town had made its decision on the proposal. 4. Letter from Municipal Planning Consultants requesting further instructions. This last letter was referred by Council to the Planning Advisory Committee. I do not think that it is advisable to consider the development and servicing of one part of an urban community alone in isolation from the planning and servicing of the whole community of which it forms a part. For this reason, I do not agree with Council's deci- sion to undertake a separate study of the Bowmanville West Community in isolation from the planning of Bowmanville as a whole. I am concerned about the lack of momentum towards solving the servicing problems of Bowmanville. The last major subdivision which can go ahead without any expansion of services is now under constru- ction. The only residential projects which remain "in the pipe" in Bowmanville are three townhouse developments. Barring unforseen delays these projects should be complete within one year at the most, 2 - and at that time development will be virtually frozen in Bowmanville until service capacities are expanded. I conclude this because with the normal length of time taken for the design approval and constru- ction of municipal engineering projects, it is already too late to prevent this 'freeze' on residential development from taking effect. It is now merely a matter of the length of time in which the freeze will be in effect. The existing water system of Bowmanville appears to have suffic- ient flexibility to allow a great many options for development. The existing plant site and intake appear to be capable of expansion to serve any areas the town might conceivably wish to develop. There are some problems associated with the storm drainage of certain areas but these may not be crucial to the location of future development. The decision on the location of new sewage treatment facilities is the critical one, since it would close some of the options which are presently available to development. Four alternative sites have been suggested as the location of new sewage treatment facilities for Bowmanville including the expansion of the existing plant. Al- though this decision is ultimately a matter of Regional jurisdiction, I think that the Town of Newcastle should examine each of these al- ternatives and any others which may be feasible, in order to gain an understanding of the planning, economic, and environmental aspects of each alternative. This is necessary if we wish to have any sensible input into the decision which has to be made. Therefore, I am proposing to convene a meeting of representatives of all of - 3 - those agencies which could contribute to the making of this decision. These agencies are: 1. Murray V. Jones and Associates 2. Municipal Planning Consultants 3. Regional Planning Department 4. Regional Works Department 5. Ministry of the Environment, Sanitary Engineering Branch 6. Ministry of the Environment Air Management Branch 7. Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority 8. Ministry of Transportation and Communications 9. Totten, Sims, Hubicki and Associates 10. DeLeuw Cather (Consultants to M.T.C. for 401 widening) 11. St. Mary's Cement Company 12. Parkway Belt Task Force The convening of a meeting of silch a large and varied groups of people could be difficult, but if it is successfuly all parties should be fully appraised of all of the factors which are relevant and this may help to expedite a decision on all levels. Respectfully submi�Jtted, i George F. Howden, Planning Director.