By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The 18 proposals presented to Cobourg council last week for accelerating the creation of homes was referred to this week’s Public Works, Planning and Development Standing Committee – which, at its Wednesday meeting, referred it back to council.
The report by Director of Development Chris Challenger and Manager of Planning-Development Review Victoria Heffernan was a response to a mayoral directive, with the idea – originally – of having council select a half-dozen or so to focus on. As the report had not come before a standing committee, council referred it to this one.
At the meeting, committee member Lucas Cleveland said, “To be honest, I really am hesitant at this point for the three of us, or even at the regular council meeting, to address these six.”
Cleveland’s idea is to involve the full council complement for the best debate on making the choice, but to make it a special meeting in order for councillors to give the matter their full attention and take however long they need.
Committee Chair Brian Darling asked what committee members thought about pages seven and eight of the report, in which staff make their own recommendations about the five that “will be the most impactful on tackling the current housing issue for Cobourg with the fastest and most effective results.”
These measures are creating standardized development agreements, applying for provincial and Federal funding and investment programs, expanding pre-zoned intensification areas, consolidating public consultation for minor variances, and streamlining and digitizing planning and development approvals.
“I am in full support, and want to suggest if the six the staff put forward is their professional recommendation, I am in full support of those six,” Cleveland said – though there were only five recommendations.
The motion was to refer the matter to council, identifying the five staff-selected items for consideration, and to direct staff to prepare and present reports on each of the items for further consideration, outlining the steps, required resources, timelines and other key considerations necessary to operationalize and implement each item.
