Two new developments and an update to one ongoing project have been proposed for town.
Bradford residents can attend a special council meeting on Feb. 25, at 7 p.m., in the Don Harrison Auditorium at the Bradford and District Memorial Community Centre, 125 Simcoe Rd., to hear about plans for three different developments in town, including a mosque, new townhouses and the Bradford Highlands Golf Club.
In all cases, council is not expected to make a decision until after staff review the public feedback and provide future reports.
New mosque
According to a report from town senior planner Mana Masoudi, SAKIQ 4 and the Bradford Islamic Community Centre (BICC) are proposing a 929-square-metre, two-storey mosque at 3242 County Road 88.
Based on plans from Celeste Phillips Planning, the first floor is set to include a prayer hall, office, ablution areas, washrooms, a library, a multipurpose space, and a chapel, with a women’s prayer hall and support spaces on the second floor.
The site is proposed to include 102 parking spaces accessed from CR 88 via a 600-m two-way private road with walkways surrounded by landscaping and a community garden.
In order to make that all happen, SAKIQ 4 is asking for amendments to the town’s official plan and zoning bylaw to rezone the property from agricultural (A) to a mix of agriculture — special policy area and institutional (I).
Located outside the town’s settlement boundary on the north side of CR 88, west of Sideroad 10, the property is about 4.05 hectares with about 61 metres fronting CR 88 and a depth of about 670 m, according to the report.
Previously used for farming, the property is now vacant with “minimal” active cultivation and surrounded by other agricultural properties and rural residences.
Protected under the Federal Fisheries Act for providing fish habitat, the Fraser Creek runs through the property before continuing south under CR 88 through a concrete culvert.
For more information or to submit feedback about planning files D09-24-06 (official plan amendment) or D14-24-15 (zoning bylaw amendment), contact the Office of Community Planning at 905-778-2055, ext. 1406, or [email protected].
More townhouses
Another report from Masoudi shows 1000468270 Ontario Inc. is proposing a new block of 41 new townhouses at 2856 Line 6.
Based on plans from KLM Planning Partners, that’s set to include 23 rear-lane townhouses and 18 front-loaded townhouses — all three storeys — with 82 resident parking spaces and another 21 spaces for visitors, plus about 204 sq. m of shared outdoor space on the southwest portion of the property — all of which would be accessed from Milligan Street.
In order to make that all happen, 1000468270 Ontario Inc. is asking for a zoning bylaw amendment to have the property rezoned from future development (FD) to residential two with exceptions (R2-2) to increase the maximum height to 13 m from the current 11 m., as well as approvals for site plans and draft plan of subdivision.
Located on the north side of Line 6, east of West Park Avenue, the property is about .75 hectares with about 91 m of frontage on Line 6, according to the report.
Currently on the property is a two-storey detached home listed on the town’s heritage register but not yet designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
In response to the proposal, a group of nearby residents submitted a petition with 58 signatures opposing the development based on concerns about disturbance from construction, traffic increases, pedestrian safety, loss of privacy, environmental impacts, and potential declines in property values.
For more information or to submit feedback about planning files D14-25-03 (zoning bylaw amendment), D12-25-03 (draft plan of subdivision) or D11-25-01 (site plan), contact Community Planning at 905-778-2055, ext. 1406, or [email protected].
Bradford Highlands Golf Club
According to a report from Thomas Dysart, senior planner for the town, ICG Golf, Bayview-Wellington (Highlands) Inc. and 2523951 Ontario Limited — collectively known as Bradford Highlands Joint Venture (BHJV) — are making an updated proposal to redevelop the old Bradford Highlands Golf Club at 23 Brownlee Dr., (plus 2820, 2824 and 2848 Line 5) into a new subdivision with 938 homes.
Based on plans from firm Malone Given Parsons, that’s now set to include 308 detached houses, 208 semi-detached houses, 266 street townhouses and 156 back-to-back townhouses, plus .23 hectares for commercial units, 2.25 hectares for an elementary school, 3.3 hectares for parks and trails, 3.12 hectares for stormwater management and 8.78 hectares for environmental protection.
A new set of roads is expected to provide access from Line 6 east of Brownlee Drive and from Line 5 near the top of the hill, west of the intersection with Canal Road.
In order to make that all happen, BHJV is asking for approval of draft plan of subdivision, an official plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendment to have the property included in the town’s urban area and converted from rural and agricultural to a mix of residential, commercial and community uses.
Located between lines 5 and 6, the roughly 60-hectare property borders 20 existing homes along Brownlee and wraps around a group of 14 more at the end of the street.
The previous proposal for 998 units faced backlash on June 11, when more than 70 people packed council chambers for the public meeting, eager to share their concerns including: impacts on property values, too much density, issues with nearby septic systems, not enough parks or commercial space, an increase in traffic, not enough walking options, impacts on privacy, the proposed maximum heights of 13 metres and the need for affordable units and apartments.
At the time, Don Given of Malone Given Parson, spoke on behalf BHJV — as he had in 2022 — to explain their plan, but residents felt the developer hadn’t considered prior feedback, and several councillors opposed the plan for similar reasons.
In addition to reducing the number of homes by 60, the new proposal also makes room for an elementary school, six-metre-wide walkways and trails to act as a buffer between proposed and existing homes, while also including a revised stormwater pond, and changes to the road network for better drainage and new connection to Brownlee Drive.
For more information or to submit feedback about planning files D09-17-01 (official plan amendment), D14-25-04 (zoning bylaw amendment) or D12-24-05 (draft plan of subdivision), contact Community Planning at 905-778-2055, ext. 1403, or [email protected], or visit townofbwg.com/bradfordhighlands.