There is a lot of grading activity on the Vargas property located at 963 County Rd. 10 across from the CMCC. The property is the subject of a Draft Plan of Subdivision that is in the later stages of approval. In 2022, the approval process was expedited when the province approved the property for a Ministerial Zoning Order, which authorized certain commercial and residential uses. At the June 22nd Council meeting, the development received support in principle, subject to a variety of conditions.
The property consists of 83 acre parcel located within the Millbrook Settlement Area sit-ting on the east side of County Rd. 10 across from the CMCC and the municipal office and stretching south of the Fallis Line road allowance. The development plan includes the creation of two commercial blocks along with 159 residential lots for single-detached residential units, 148 townhouse units within 28 blocks, 176 medium-density units in two blocks for a total of 483 residential units. In addition, the development includes two community commercial blocks, two natural heritage system blocks, an institutional and a parkland block. A small section of the property has been secured by the municipality for the installation of an underground water reservoir.
The water storage reservoir and pumping station are required to address water servicing needs identified in the 2024 Water and Waste Water Servicing Study. Additional water storage and pumping capacity were identified as the most urgent need to support the growth indicated in the municipal Growth Management Study. Last August, the township received funding from the province of almost $13 mil-lion to help fund the construction of Millbrookâs new water storage facility and the expansion of its water distribution system. Under the terms of the grant, construction tenders for the reservoir must be awarded by the end of September.
The 2024 Water and Waste-water Study indicated that there is adequate capacity to service the commercial portion of this development but not for the proposed residential units. As a result, the approval in principle includes the condition that the residential development can proceed only when servicing capacity is available. A holding provision ensures that building permits are only issued after water services are allocated to those units.
Many of the other conditions relate to internal roads and external road improvements including a number of significant changes to sections of County Rd. 10. A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment conducted in 2024 indicated upgrades would be required along this artery to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic. These upgrades would include turning lanes and the addition of multi-use lanes, sidewalks and streetlights to support active transportation in the area as well as the provision for the installation of traffic signals funded by the developer. Requirements for specific improvements to County Rd. 10 are managed by Peterborough County.
Other conditions in the approval address items such as storm water management and drainage design approvals, adherence to municipal landscape and architectural requirements and utility distribution.
Rumours abound about the specific commercial businesses that will move into this development but at the moment, specific tenant information has not been disclosed by the property owner. The official plan amendment for this section identifies the types of businesses that are eligible to operate at this location. They include art galleries, financial institutions, building supply outlets, personal service establishments, retail and business offices and mobile refreshment vehicles, among others.
The current grading activity on the property is considered rough grading to change elevations closer to the levels required for future development. Once this work is completed, the same contractors will begin to develop the extension of Fallis Line east of County Rd. 10.
Many factors including market conditions affect the actual timeline of most real estate developments, but the commercial section of this development will happen before the residential construction begins which is controlled through another holding provision established by Council a few years ago. If things go as planned, commercial construction could begin as early as next fall.