A big plan for thousands of new homes in the small community of Midhurst now has the initial go-ahead from the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).
Protest signs can be seen on the front lawns of homes through Midhurst, but the OMB has given the green light to the controversial plan that will see thousands of new homes built in the community.
Springwater’s CAO Robert Brindley says the board approved the first phase of the Midhurst Secondary Plan after settlements were reached with the county, township, school boards and the conservation authority.
“The plans conform to the official plan, they conform with provincial policy, they protected the environment and determined that they could ahead.”
The decision clears the way for thousands of new homes to be built over the next 15 years.This will effectively almost triple the population of the existing the community of Midhurst.
The local rate payers association opposed the plans as they were presented because the subdivisions will consume prime farm land. They are also concerned that storm and waste water could damage the local streams and the Minesing wetlands.
Midhurst Rate Payers won the support of celebrities like Margaret Atwood but that didn't sway OMB. Even so the rate payers president says she will continue to lobby the province to re-consider.
“We are not discouraged by yesterday once so ever, it what we expected, we still have many strategies ready and about to happen, we don't consider this anything but an expected bump in the road,” says Sandy Buxton with the Midhurst Rate Payers Association.
Cheryl Shidruk speaks for the group of developers behind the plan.
“It's a decision that has been coming for a long time it's positions the community tiny into the future and bring a great deal of economic benefit to the community.”
According to Shindruk, shovels could be the ground getting infrastructure started in 2015 and the first houses will be going up some time in 2016.
