The Blue Mountains – Town Planners Update 2011

Each year, our local Georgian Triangle Association of REALTORS®, (GTAR) invite a panel of our local municipality’s planners to update our members about current events in their geographic areas. Over a few weeks, we at the The Collingwood Blue Mountain Real Estate Blog are posting summaries from these discussions.

Planners Update 2011

Planners Part 2 – The Blue Mountains – an update:

They are participating in the Southern Georgian Bay Regional Economic Development Strategic Plan (with Collingwood, Wasaga Beach and Clearview.)

50 new “home” developments – with average home value of $475,000

Windfall – OPA approved – 609 units in total – 351 singles, 258 semis; servicing starting in spring of 2012 – 30% open space with 5.7 km of trails

Terrasan – Approved February 2011, but they’ve had no word from the proponent – involved in some serious problems right now with other developments

Blue Mountain Resorts – they’ve take up some off season attractions:  such as tree-top walk; BMR is now operating the Westin; BMR bought the discovery centre

Georgian Woodlands Phase 3 – 101 detached, and 148 multis

New EMS Station – south of the fire station and under construction

Telfer Homes – Thornbury – 86 units proposed – Open House January 10^th, public meeting January 16, 2012

Short Term Accommodation By-law (STA) – approved by the OMB June 2011 – and is in full force and effect

–          They are looking at developing a budget for 2012 for enforcement, licensing, registry

–          STAs permitted in R5, R6, R7 and R8 zoning – depends on number of occupants, parking, setbacks, waste management, etc.

–          STAs and not permitted in R1-R4 zoning

–          All information is available on the town’s website.

Wind Turbines – no current applications, not likely ever to materialize in the Niagara Escarpment Commission area

Tourism Initiatives:

-“Apple Pie Trail” was winner of the 2011 Culinary Experience Award by Ontario Tourism
-Centurion Bike Race was a great success (700+ riders!)

Newcomer’s Profile:

-looking for a) quality of life and b) natural capital
-usually creative, highly intelligent, entrepreneurial; seeking an antidote to suburban lifestyle

The Blue Mountains maps are available online.

Part 1:  Meaford