Development in Willoughby will proceed a bit more slowly in the future after 91原创 Township council endorsed a new policy to allow the community to grow in phases in the future.
The phasing policy is aimed at guiding 鈥済rowth management鈥� in the fast-growing neighbourhood, which has gone from a patchwork of hobby farms and single-family neighbourhoods 25 years ago to the most populous neighbourhood in the Township.
An annual review would make development subject to the construction of new schools and major arterial roads.
The fact that roads and schools have not kept pace with development in Willoughby 鈥� most local elementary and middle schools, even those built in recent years, have multiple portables 鈥� has been a sore point for residents for some time.
鈥淲ould this not impact development in the area?鈥� Councillor Margaret Kunst asked during the brief debate over the policy change.
Township chief administrative officer Mark Bakken confirmed it would 鈥� future growth in Willoughby would come in phases, rather than all at once.
Development in Willoughby in the past has usually taken place by a series of neighbourhood plans. Within the broader development plan for the region are smaller plans, like for the Carvolth, Yorkson, Routley, and Williams areas, among others.
The Township has completed those neighbourhood plans over the past several decades, with some areas like Yorkson have been developing for years, while some neighbourhoods, including Smith, are only now seeing the beginnings of development.
Later in the same meeting, council voted to move forward on an update of the Smith Neighbourhood plan, with an open house scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the 91原创 Events Centre banquet hall.
The Smith area lies south of Yorkson, and the update focuses on areas east of 208th Street, including sites for new recreation facilities and the construction of the 212th Street Connector.
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