Efforts are underway to get the public, and the Bruce County Planning Department on side when it comes to a controversial subdivision proposal in Kincardine.
A series of meetings and open houses have taken place over the past week and wrapped up on Saturday.
They’re being conducted by Parataxis, a Toronto-based design firm hired by the developer.
The idea behind the meetings is to develop a plan for the West Ridge by the Lake development at the north end of Kincardine that is acceptable to neighbouring property owners and the Planning Department.
Council rejected the original plan in March over mostly environmental concerns. Several had been identified by the Saugeen Conservation Authority, the planning department, and nearby residents.
The decision based on that plan that was rejected has been appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.
Andrew Martschenko of Parataxis says the new plan proposes to address environmental concerns by having several storm water management ponds throughout the 550 unit community that are surrounding by a park-like setting.
Bruce Stickney of the Bruce County Planning Department says all of the parties have agreed to take a step back and see if a plan can be devised that suits everyone better than the orignal did.
Martschenko says the meetings are designed to get feedback and provide a team from Canada and the US with information to develop a plan the developer likes based on marketing, engineering, and construction.
Martschenko says a significant wetland area will be left alone and housing will be built further back from the bluff. Access to the shore will be through a series of walkways and lookout platforms.
Martschenko says streets will be laid out in a way that encourages pedestrian use. The neighbourhood will also have a small cafe in the centre of it.
He says they’re trying to create a varied amount of street types and greenspaces while respecting ecological issues and the privacy of neighbours.
The housing will be a combination of freehold homes, condominiums, and rental units.
The plan was developed through what is known as a “charette exercise” open house at the Kincardine Municipal Administration Centre over a week-long period.
That’s where individuals make suggestions and plans are changed accordingly by designers as they go along.
Martschenko says if all goes well, the new proposal could be ready for submission to the planning department in three months.
Stickney says they do have some concerns about the haste surrounding how the week of presentations and meetings was organized.
Martschenko acknowledges attendance was low at the Friday with only 12 people, but he says around 45 people showed up during the course of the week, and it was not the same people making return visits.
He says Mayor Larry Kraemer and several Councillors also gave their input.
Martschenko says a public meeting on the final plan for West Ridge by the Lake will take place in July.