Plans call for 449 residential lots in second phase of Port Dover subdivision

Plans call for a second phase of the Lynn River Heights subdivision in Port Dover to include 449 residential lots.

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Norfolk’s public hearings committee received a report on Dec. 5 outlining the proposal for a draft plan of subdivision and a zoning bylaw amendment for the development of 56 semi-detached lots and 393 single-detached lots north of Highway 6 at the north-west edge of Port Dover’s urban boundary.

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The plan also includes two pedestrian connections to the Lynn Valley Trail and a public park. The subdivision would be served by nine new roads and extensions of Willowdale Crescent and Cardinal Lane.

The 39.8-hectare (98-acre) property is currently vacant and bordered to the east by the first phase of the development, completed about 10 years ago.

Plans for the second phase, which stalled several times, date back to 2006. In 2019, applications were halted due to a bylaw restricting development for Port Dover due to a lack of water capacity.

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Several Norfolk councilors remarked on the density of the housing proposal, which includes lot frontages for the single-family homes of 10, 12 and 15 meters, and potential problems with on-street parking.

Debra Walker of MHBC Planning, agent for the subdivision applicant, Democrat Port Dover Limited, said the homes would likely attract young families and single people.

“I’m looking at this and thinking that’s a lot of homes and if we’re talking about families, typically, in our community, that means a lot of cars,” said Coun. Alan Duthie. “I’m very much concerned about cars parking all over the roads and kids playing.”

Walker said the zoning requires a minimum of two parking spaces for the single-family homes. There also is a plan to put the driveways together, creating larger spaces at the front of the properties for additional parking.

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“I looked at this and thought, ‘Wow, that’s dense,’” said Mayor Amy Martin. “But it meets our development specs. I think it’s a unique situation with the housing crisis but I really agree with the parking. It’s a safety issue.”

Martin said she’s also concerned about future plans for adjacent property, which include a mix of residential and medium-density commercial development.

“It makes sense that a gateway of a community would have the commercial but you can’t ignore those residential lots that are there,” said Martin. “It is my hope and vision in most of our communities across Norfolk that we build commercial entities small enough that mom and pops are attracted to use that space, not big box stores.”

Councilors also heard from Raymond Wilkinson, who lives on Highway 6. He said he has had substantial flooding in his backyard since a wall was built on the east side of his property during the first phase of the subdivision and worries it will worsen with the proposed new development.

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Peter Dove, who lives in the Lynn River Heights subdivision, told councilors there could be “a rebellion in Phase 1 if they try to run trucks in to build Phase 2 and beyond.”

Dove said the new properties could bring in about 1,500 new residents.

“I haven’t been able to find a doctor and that’s a problem, especially if you’ve got young families coming into the area.”

At a meeting in November, councilors agreed to have county staff prepare a report that will include options and funding sources to recruit family doctors to Norfolk, where about 17 per cent of the population are without a physician.

A report will also come to councilors from staff with a recommendation on whether to approve Phase 2 of Lynn River Heights Subdivision, which Walker said likely wouldn’t get started until 2025.

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