Efforts are underway to have West Nipissing Casa Developments make another presentation to council over its proposal to build 48 lots in Springer Township.
The repeat presentation follows a request from Casa to be exempt from some provisions all parties agreed to last year when the subdivision was first proposed to the previous council.
Staff told council the exemptions Casa is requesting include creating wider shoulders instead of installing sidewalks, offering a 50-foot easement that can be used as parkland and not having to provide a full 100 percent security deposit for some unfinished work.
On the parkland, staff told council it had concerns with this exemption because the land is not useable.
With the security deposit, Casa is asking for the exemption because it doesn’t have a cost yet from Hydro One for work that still has to be done.
Staff says Casa wants to finalize the agreement by the end of the year but can’t move ahead to register the subdivision until it has direction from council on the exemptions it’s requested.
Staff adds without that direction, the developer’s plans to sell the lots will be held up.
Councillor Lise Senecal was worried about moving too quickly to deal with the matter because she said if it’s not done right, the municipality will hear about it in a few years.
Senecal says it’s not her intention to delay the project, but feels strongly that the site needs sidewalks.
That position was shared by councillor Yvon Duhaime who also stressed it’s a good development.
Duhaime pointed out that in the past when council has allowed exceptions, those decisions come back to haunt it.
He used the situation on Dovercourt as an example.
Councillor Dan Roveda agreed with the Mayor that there should be another presentation and didn’t want Casa to lose out on any sales.
Council eventually agreed the best way to approach the issue was to have the developer make another presentation.
With the clock ticking toward the end of the year, plans are underway to see about having the developer make a presentation to elected officials during a regular meeting as soon as possible.