The Blue Mountains council has voted to approve the proposed Blue Vista development, pending an attainable/affordable housing agreement.
At its committee of the whole meeting on June 7, council voted in favour of zoning bylaw amendments and a recommendation to Grey County to grant draft approval to a plan of subdivision for the Blue Vista development. The committee decision must be ratified at council’s next regular meeting.
Council made its support conditional on an agreement between the developer and the Blue Mountains Attainable Housing Corporation (BMAHC) for the provision of affordable/attainable units at another proposed development owned by the proponent.
Located on County Road 21, the rezoning would permit a maximum of 154 units comprised of single-detached and semi-detached dwellings.
At the meeting, council received written correspondence from local resident Lucy Richmond questioning the density being allowed for the Blue Vista proposal. In response, town planner Natalya Garrod explained that planning staff followed the required process to calculate density and the proposal is in line with current policies.
Coun. Rob Sampson asked for an update from the developer about including attainable housing units in the project. Project planner Colin Travis attended the meeting and said the proponent is working on a memorandum of understanding with BMAHC to provide attainable units at another development - the Aquavil proposal in Craigleith.
“It’s an example of working together. This is an example of a developer being proactive,” said Travis.
Mayor Alar Soever was pleased by the news of the pending agreement on attainable units.
“Certainly this is good news. It’s great that we have this first discussion going on,” he said.
Council voted in favour of the granting approval, conditional on a satisfactory agreement being reached between the developer and BMAHC.
