City planning director: Pointe Estates would be good for west end

Don McConnell, city planning director, told an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing Friday the proposed Pointe Estates subdivision proposal was, based on reports provided by experts, a good one for the far west end of Sault Ste. Marie.  

It was McConnell’s second straight day at the OMB hearing, being held in council chambers at the Civic Centre.

McConnell said the application to build the 91-lot subdivision was in line with provincial policy and would not harm wetlands in the area of the proposed development, situated on land south of Pointe Aux Pins Drive, west of Dalgleish Road, north of Alagash Drive and Pointe Louise Drive.

McConnell recommended approval of the Pointe Estates proposal, but council turned down the application at its July 15, 2013 meeting.

The property owners, contractor Jeff Avery and Dr. Patricia Avery, launched an appeal to the OMB.

The Averys have conducted over 20 studies of the area since 2006, compiled by various engineers, which say the development would not environmentally harm the area.

However, the Pointes Protection Association (PPA), which represents over 20 homes in the area, and supported by expert reports of its own, has said the subdivision would damage the wetlands in the area.

Both sides presented their findings at the July 2013 council meeting, and will again be presenting details of their studies to the OMB as the hearing continues next week.

Pointe Estates would include a man-made canal with access to the St. Marys River for its residents who enjoy boating, and an island for fish habitat.

The Averys are represented at the OMB by lawyer Orlando Rosa, while the PPA and other opponents are represented by lawyer Helen Scott.

McConnell, cross-examined by Scott and Klaas Oswald (a member of the St. Marys River Bi-National Public Advisory Council, or St. Marys River BPAC), agreed Friday that 40 percent of the wetlands in the area would be affected by the development.

However, McConnell said the wetlands in the area have not been considered as provincially significant by the Ontario government, a view that opponents of the development strongly disagree with. 

McConnell said a provincial policy statement regarding wetlands, updated this year, is more protective of wetlands in southern Ontario, where there has been sprawling development, and said the provincial policy statement recognizes that is not the case in northern Ontario.

Homes at Pointe Estates, if developed, would be maintained by a condominium association.

McConnell said condominium owners are usually diligent in taking care of their living areas, and would likely ensure the area would be kept safe from such things as erosion of the shoreline.    

The OMB’s Blair Taylor is serving as chairman over the hearing.

The hearing began this week with evidence presented by Avery’s team, cross-examined by Scott and Oswald.

The PPA will present its own evidence against the proposed development next week. 

An artist's rendering of the proposed Pointe Estates development is pictured above.