HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-05-02, Page 9The Huron Expositor • May 2, 2007 Page 9
News
Huron East's $125,000 for new subdivision
'a slap in the face,' say Seaforth developers
Susan Hundertmark
A decision by Huron East coun-
cil to contribute $125,000 in road
construction costs and half of the
the upfront costs of storm, sani-
tary sewers and water lines
towards a new subdivision at the
former Seaforth Public School is
the source of discontent for two
Seaforth developers.
Jack McLlwain and Marlen
Vincent appeared before council
last Tuesday to complain that they
never received any help from
council when creating housing in
town.
"It feels like a slap in the face.
Jack has been living here all his
life and me, for 38 years," said
Vincent.
He said when developing the
Munn's Grove subdivision in 1994,
the municipality did nothing to
help with his costs and "it took 10
years to get street signs on North
Street."
"Where was our share?" said
McLlwain, who put up seven hous-
es at one end of James Street in
1994.
Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler
explained that he and Seaforth
Coun. Bob Fisher agreed to put
$125,000 from the Seaforth
reserve fund towards the construc-
tion of Robert Street in the former
public school subdivision because
it is owned by the municipality.
As well, the contribution
towards servicing will return to
the municipality after the lots are
sold.
Steffler said that if he had been
on council in 1994, he would have
been in favour of helping Vincent
and McLlwain with the servicing
of their lots.
"Bob and I can't answer for the
council of 1994 - we didn't have a
vote," he said.
Steffler added that he thought
spending money in the ward of
Seaforth to increase its population
was a good use of the ward's
reserves.
"To me, Seaforth has remained
at a population of 2,200 for as long
as I can remember for a reason.
It's time to attract more people for
the viability of our main street,"
he said.
McLlwain responded that while
he's in favour of increasing the
population of Seaforth, he wanted
to know if the municipality is
going to help every developer now.
"He's (the developer of the for-
mer Seaforth Public School subdi-
vision) getting a head start on
developing. Is the next fellow
going to get a grant too? That's
4,000 to $5,000 a lot we never
got," he said.
Vincent said council has set a
precedent, which he said was a
mistake.
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He also questioned if the town
would ever get their money back
for the servicing.
"You don't know if you'll get paid
for the levy. It (the market) can be
hot and cold. It took me a long
time to sell," said Vincent.
He asked for $3,000 a lot for the
Munn's Grove development.
Steffler responded that everyone
had a chance to bid on the public
school property when it was up for
public auction.
"You would have got the same
treatment as the developer," he
said.
McLlwain responded that he
went through so much hassle to
develop the lots he did, he'd never
do it again.
He added in a phone interview
that the $125,000 from the
Seaforth reserves would have been
better spent on fixing a street for
residents who lived in town when
the reserves were accumulated.
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