Creekside Estates development gets another extension

They’ve been waiting long enough for the Creekside Estates development to move forward, and Fort Erie councillors don’t want to have to wait a moment longer than necessary.

Councillors approved an extension of the draft plan of approval on Monday night for the proposed 30-lot subdivision in Ridgeway near the intersection of Nigh and Gorham roads. It’s a familiar move, as several extensions have been given since the proposal got approval following a 2011 Ontario Municipal Board hearing.

But as they continue to deal with a housing shortage and are pushing other newer proposals to get a move on, Mayor Wayne Redekop wasn’t ready to give the full three-year extension recommended in a staff report.

“I’m not prepared, personally, to extend this for another three years,” he said, as he put forward an amendment to give the owners another two years to meet the remaining conditions of approval that would ultimately allow it to move forward.

“I find it hard to believe that anyone investing the amount of money being put into this initiative would allow it to lapse.”

This is the second extension request from current owner Vaughn Gibbons.

The plan has 30 single detached homes built on the property, two blocks for a stormwater management pond, one block for the Nigh Road widening, and a new public road, according to a staff report.

There were a total of 47 conditions that needed to be met before the draft plan approval was finalized. Staff said there are still 22 remaining, and the current owners have been working with the Town to get through them all.

The most recent extension lapsed in 2023, though Section 33.3 of the Planning Act gives municipalities wiggle room to deem an approval not lapsed, if it’s been less than five years and if the property owner hasn’t entered into an agreement to sell the land.

“I like the design of the development,” Redekop said, as he acknowledged the current owners have faced challenges since buying the property five years ago, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff said two years should be enough to get the remaining conditions dealt with, though there could always be unforeseen things that arise.

“There are no glaring red flags that I would point out,” said Mark Iamarino, manager of development approvals.

Section 33.3 of the Planning Act, includes a stipulation that states no further extensions will be permitted if that section is used to grant an extension. Assuming nothing changes between now and then, the Town will have a resolution on the draft plan one way or another come April 2027.

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