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Large turnout to Everett expansion meeting

April 11, 2013   ·   0 Comments

The latest meeting on plans to increase the size of the village of Everett to upwards of 10,000 residents over the coming decades attracted the largest crowd of residents in recent years.

An overflow crowd of close to 200 people spilled over into the hallways and the community room.

The nearly four hour meeting gave all residents a chance to ask questions about the proposal which would see a radical change in the community of 1,800 people.

With 58 letters about the proposal to council and a petition with 400 names received before the start of the meeting, residents were vocal about the proposal.

“We’re looking at five times as many people in this village. We don’t have a lot of jobs at present. Where are they all going to work?” said Rob LeGar.

Other residents were fearful about the costs of an expanded water system and the spectre of hookup to sewers.

Consultant Jim Hartman told residents that the full cost of hooking up to the water system would be $570 per metre of frontage. An average house would be faced with a cost of $11,400 plus the cost of running the line to their house and any plumbing charges.

“The cost might be reduced by half if the township undertakes some of the costs of roadway improvement during the hookup,” said Hartman.

Hartman said that residents would have to consider the costs of maintaining and installing new septic systems as a long term costs.

“Some septic systems in the village are 20 years old and older. They can cost 15,000 to $20,000 to replace”.

Hartman said that the cost of the sewer hookup could be paid over a 20 or 25 year period on one’s taxes.

At least one resident said that she would have to sell her home if faced with the additional costs of sewers.

Township mayor Tom Walsh said that residents would have to think about the consequences of not expanding the village.

“I can see the province requiring us to have a centralized sewer system and, without new development, that residents would have to pay the full cost.”

David Perryman said that he had concerns about new wells would have on existing wells outside of the village and the impact of a sewage treatment plant proposed for the Pine River.

“I think that residents should be able to vote on whether they want this growth in the village,” eh said.

Other residents expressed concerns about the increase on population on existing social services such as schools and medical care.

“Our hospital can’t support anyone more,” said Bev Ransom.

Ambrose Hubrecht, a long time resident of the area, said that the council needed to have stiff backbone when dealing with developers who want to build more  homes in Everett. “It should be developers calling the shots. Make damn sure you call the shots.”

Some Everett resident said that that there was sufficient available land already approved for development in the village  which should be built on before any plans for expansion.

“I don’t want to live in a place with 10,000 people. That’s the reason that I moved here,” said Colin Bennett.

The remarks at the meeting seemed to affect the perspectives of some members of council.

“These hookup fees are unreasonable to me. Personally, I will be asking the builders to to pay for all the costs of the sewer system including those of existing residents. They shouldn’t be left holding the bag,” said councillor Floyd Keenan.

Councillor Sam Keenan said that the meeting had a lot of good discussion. “There were a number of points mad that I had not considered. I heard that no one is opposed to some level of growth and I think that we much proceed in cautious way. I am also aware that I won’t be able to please everyone. But I will try to maximize the developer’s cost.”

Councillor Doug Little told residents that he understood that residents concern about increased crime and noise but they also had to realize the township was in a difficult position.

“I have lived here for 58 years. I want to keep Adjala-Tosorontio as a separate municipality but without some development, we won’t be able to afford the taxes here. We won’t be able to pay for waste and water costs. We just won’t have the cost efficiencies.”

Councillor Tom Gauley, who represents Everett, said that residents had to look at the proposal as a long term proposal. “Look at it as a 30 year plan.”

Township staff will be reviewing the residents’ comments and reporting back with their responses.

By Richard Blanchard

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