[1]The Potters Creek development plan from the Belleville Planning Advisory Committee.
By Samantha Reed [2]
BELLEVILLE – Approximately 650 homes are going into the Wallbridge-Loyalist area in a subdivision called Potters Creek.
Project developer Adrian Bax says the original plan was to build 500 homes in the subdivision on Dundas Street West, in between Avonlough Road and Avondale Road, but the numbers have increased to fit the demands of the market.
“Right behind Stream we’re increasing our density for two story homes with no garages aiming for young families and single people that work at stream, so they can walk to work instead of taking a vehicle. Because of the intensification of the project we’re looking more like 650 homes,” said Bax.
Phases one and two of the project started in 2011 with 120 homes are already completed. Bax said he foresees construction on phase three starting in the early spring of next year.
The subdivision’s streets will attach onto Dundas Street West, Avonlough Road and Aldersgate Drive.
Karen Post, manager of economic and strategic initiatives for Belleville, said the developers are “anticipating an influx of new folks to the (CFB Trenton) base, and an influx of new folks to the community in general.”
An estimated 1,500 military personnel and their families are moving into the region as a result of the nearly $1 billion upgrade to the base, according to and article written by the Intelligencer in January of 2014.
Art Mackay, manager of policy planning agreed, saying development would not happen if the city did not need it.
“We don’t willy nilly approve future development if it’s not being absorbed. Obviously you need some growth for that to happen. The base is a good example of that because of all the expansion that’s going on there.”
Mackay said that it is a “bit of chicken and egg,” where there must be a balance between people moving in and the availability of houses.
Development Engineer Alicia Cantwell says the recent construction on Dundas Street West was partially due to the hundreds of homes going into the area.
“That’s (Dundas Street construction) a big portion of it. It was driven by the developers so that they have capacities for their subdivision in the sanitary sewers.”
Post says council is planning ahead for these developments by upgrading the city’s infrastructure. She also commented on how more people in the city would boost the local economy and fill more jobs.
“One of our challenges in economic development is that there are jobs that are going unfilled because we don’t have the skill sets in the community to fill all of them,” said Post. “We’re always happy to see that, particularly if they’re young working-age people because that gives our employers an opportunity to find the skill sets that they’re looking for.”
As for when the Potters Creek development will be completed, Mackay said “your guess would be as good as mine.”
“I don’t have any magic dates or a magic wand where I can look at a crystal ball and say that this will happen in seven years versus fifteen years.”