Proposed townhouse development isn't for Clifford, say neighbours

CLIFFORD – While residents living near a proposed townhouse development are adamant it would overcrowd their neighbourhood, Minto councillors kept their opinions quiet during a public meeting Tuesday afternoon. 

According to a report, Mapleton-based Joshua, David and Alfred Theissen are currently proposing four, four-unit street townhouses on just under an acre of land at 24 Minto St. North which, if approved, would be held until adequate water, storm and sewer services are constructed and available for the property and surrounding area. 

Representing himself and three of his neighbours during the meeting, Clifford resident Mark Johnson contrasted the proposal for fear of overcrowding, not to mention lowered property values and increased traffic volumes in the area. 

"If you look all around Clifford, the average street has five to six homes built on it," said Johnson. "I'm quite worried that if you're going to try and jam four fourplexes into that one small area...there's going to be as many downfalls as there are up to this." 

But one of the developers who attended the meeting, Josh Theissen said they always intended to develop the land and now "seems like a good time to develop" more affordable and attainable housing options for residents like his cousins, who can't afford a home and feel trapped living with their parents. 

"I do see that something could be built there but we were thinking more long the lines of what the rest of the town has," said Johnson, whose land backs onto the property. 

According to Triton Engineering senior planner Bill White, the county's comprehensive review previously found Clifford "is the most capable of all settlement areas" to accept development in Minto. 

"We believe it's also compatible with existing development in the area, especially since most of it is vacant right now," said White, during the meeting. "So this will set the tone in what the town might look like...(and) these units would be very important and would tend to hit what people call the missing middle." 

When asked whether higher levels of government will give Minto some money to help sustain the growth, treasurer Gordon Duff said the township currently intends to apply for a house-enabling water systems fund in April and will continue to look for other grant programs to facilitate the needed services. 

A recommendation report will come back to council at a later date. 

Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program