Affordable Housing

Town Council

(continued)

It was recently recommended that Saugeen Shores Town Council consider donating surplus land to Bruce County for the construction of an affordable housing project.

The land in question is located between River and Elgin streets on Wellington Street. The land is part of the old CN Rail property and, in the past, was used as the Co-op feedmill and the Calvin Kaake Construction works yard. Over the past few years, the land has remained vacant except for the old Kaake building used for town storage.

It has been suggested that 40 housing units be built on the land and that Bruce Councy Housing Corporation wants to begin as soon as possible.

Councillor Diane Huber questioned the proposed project. "Is this site different as there are more units now than originally proposed?"

Mayor Smith said that Bruce County in fact has a numer of single family homes throughout the community. "The intent is to sell these homes and move the families into these units."

"So," said Councillor Luke Charbonneau. "let me see if I have this straight. We are going to lose some, that is, the single family homes, and then pick up some so that we really aren't getting 40 extra units?"

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16/03/2009 06:54 PM

Mayor Smith said that the Affordable Housing Program (AHP) may be able to assist those in the homes purchase them if they wish but the monies from the sale of the existing homes would go toward financing the new project.

That program (AHP) however, ends March 31st.

Councillor Fred Shildroth and Vice-Deputy Mayor expressed concern about Market Street being a 'dead-end' at the proposed housing site. Gowanlock said that Market Street "...goes right through, or would go through, the site if it wasn't a dead-end."

Shildroth asked what the process would be to get Market Street opened up. "Once the site is approved the way it is, that site will never be opened up and Market Street will never go through."

Huber also wanted to know what impact the proposed developed would have on the Rail Trail. Town Clerk, Linda White, said that Wellington Street does not follow the regular road allowance. "The County doesn't seem to be wanting more land but there may have to be an adjustment made to the Rail Trail if necessary."

Shildroth also wanted to know whether any easements would be required for public works. "If there is no easement, how do we get underground services installed?"

Mayor Smith explained that the proposed site is at a very preliminary stage. "We would like to see it started later this year or early next year but, we are at the very early stages right now.