Zemer Holdings gets the green light on zoning

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Sue Dickens

EMC News -Hastings - An adult lifestyle community in Hastings is several steps closer to becoming a reality as Trent Hills Council agrees to allow Zemer Holdings to move forward with its plans by approving rezoning changes.

"We are glad to have you make such a large investment in Trent Hills and we wish you the very best of success to get this project under way as you move along," said Mayor Hector Macmillan.

Council approved the rezoning of the 6.8-hectare site which involved three zoning changes, the first involving the land to be developed with housing units, the second the land for future development such as a retirement housing complex and the third of the land to be used for open space. They are rezoned to R2, R3 and Open Space Zone respectively.

Draft subdivision approval was granted back in October of last year and one of the conditions was that the lands be rezoned to conform with the municipality's zoning bylaw.

Public circulation of these zoning changes has already taken place.

John Messacar, who lives on Front Street near the proposed development, was at the recent council meeting to voice his opinion on the project.

"I've had some concerns about this development. They are on record now. They are being dealt with although not finalized and they are being dealt with to my satisfaction so far," he told council.

"My wife and I are 100 per cent in support of this development. We further realize that as services go in we may be inconvenienced a little bit and you can expect no complaints from us," he added.

As part of the process to get this development off the ground the developer had previously asked council for a reduction in water and sewer lot levies and the development charge. A request to phase-in charges was turned down. It was recommended that $4,000 be charged for each of the units, a reduced rate.

The total funds generated for the 84 units will be $336,000. Of this total, $119,700 is for water, $119,700 for sewer, and $96,600 for development charges.

Council decided to administer the full charge for water and sewer lot levies and about half of the development charge.

"The water and sewer levies did not get reduced only the development charge," said Director of Planning Jim Peters.

What this means is that Zemer Holdings will pay $336,000.

"We were able to get the development charges reduced. It is because we are putting the roads, our own community centre, developing trains and more. This means not putting that much onus on the town," said Passalacqua.

"Development charges are new to Trent Hills but not new in Trent Hills," said Peters in an e-mail to EMC.

"This is not the first development to be hit by the charges since Trent Hills implemented them. This developer asked for a reduction based on services and facilities that they are providing through the Condominium Corporation," he explained.

At the January meeting council also agreed the developer could move forward with plans for the R3 zoning area, getting together its servicing reports and plans for sanitary sewers, water supply system, vehicular access and impact and other required utilities.

A market analysis for the R3 land, for a proposed retirement housing complex, was deemed not necessary as a requirement.

The submission to council for approval of a site plan will be the next step.

Zemer Holdings' President John Passalacqua hopes his development in Hastings will be something of a legacy.

He and his father Joseph drove from Toronto to attend the recent January council meeting which saw councillors approve the rezoning of the land in Hastings.

Zemer Holdings senior planner Heather Sadler was unable to attend but Passalacqua and his father were there to answer any questions.

"It's been really pleasant working with Jim Peters and staff and everybody on council," Passalacqua said.

"This is just a really good group of people and we are really looking forward to being a part of the community and develop something as a legacy that will be here beyond everybody in this room in the town for the children to use some day. Something that will stand the test of time," Passalacqua told council.

He talked about how his father has been coming to the Hastings area for the past 40 years.

"He has dragged me up to Campbellford and Hastings for years and you know, he is right," said Passalacqua.

On one of those trips he purchased some land in Hastings and now has decided to develop it.

"Up to now we have been focused on the approvals stage," he told EMC.

"The concept has taken a lot of research and attention to meticulous detail so the next stage is beginning which is the building design stage," he said.

Passalacqua expects more information will be available in the next month or two.

The development is geared to people over 50 who are semi-retired or retired and who want to be active. The open space will feature trails where they can walk.

Plans for the adult lifestyle community include provisions for a pool, tennis courts, community garden and a members pavilion for on-site recreational services.

"The anticipation is that the units will be in the 1,250-square-foot range with at least two bedrooms. Other details such as appliances etc. will be made in late stages of the building design phase," Passalacqua told EMC.

He noted he welcomes contact with local builders and trades people as the project progresses.

"It's a great property for this type of a development and it will certainly be a huge economic boost for Hastings," commented Mayor Macmillan.