It has been close to a year since the proposed Banks Crescent development concept was first presented to the public, and while the issue has been discussed in depth, a decision has not yet been reached.
The concept was presented at a public forum, organized by the developer, on Nov. 16, 2016. Since that time, further details have been presented on the 424-unit seniors housing facility.
The facility is proposed for a property on Banks Crescent. At present, the property is being used as an orchard, although it is not within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Members of municipal council are now awaiting a third-party re-engineering review.
This is an independent review of an aquifer protection plan, presented to council by the developer.
Dean Strachan, director of development services for the municipality, said the review is needed to determine if the developer’s proposal is suitable.
“The review itself may result in more questions,” he said.
Strachan is hoping to have the report as soon as possible, perhaps in time for the next municipal council meeting to be held on Nov. 14.
In addition, a presentation, made to council’s Committee of the Whole, will be compiled as a report and presented to council at the next meeting.
That presentation examined the costs the developer would pay the municipality, as well as the effects of the development on infrastructure, including road traffic.
Council has passed first and second readings of the required bylaw.
Linda Tynan, chief administrative officer for the municipality, said the re-engineering review is needed before council could go to a public hearing on the proposed development.
If the development proceeds to a hearing, the hearing could be held in late November or early December. The hearing is required before council could make a decision on whether to approve the development proposal.