A proposal for 142 Bowmanville Green Road townhouses is drawing concerns from residents about traffic, infrastructure capacity, stormwater management and the environmental impact of continued growth.
The development applications involve 2495 and 2559 Green Road in Bowmanville and were presented during a Clarington public meeting on August 10.
The Biglieri Group Ltd., acting on behalf of John Boddy Developments Ltd., is seeking an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision.
Clarington says the proposal has not been approved and remains under municipal review.
Bowmanville Green Road Townhouses Would Add 142 Homes
The proposed subdivision would contain 142 dual-frontage, traditional and back-to-back townhouse units.
Plans also call for six internal private roads, approximately 650 square metres of outdoor amenity space and roughly 1,785 square metres of open space.
The overall development site covers approximately 4.2 hectares, or 10.5 acres.
Residents attending the public meeting raised questions about how additional housing would affect services and infrastructure in a rapidly growing part of Bowmanville.
One resident questioned whether water and sanitary sewer systems, stormwater infrastructure and roads would have enough capacity to support the proposed development alongside other growth planned in the area.
Concerns were also raised about school capacity, hydro reliability, cellular service and other community services.
Those concerns remain part of the public consultation process and do not mean municipal staff have determined that infrastructure is inadequate.
Underground Stormwater Tank Draws Questions
Councillors also questioned the development’s proposed stormwater-management system.
The plan includes an underground stormwater-management tank that would remain privately owned rather than eventually becoming a municipal asset.
Clarington staff told council that the municipality does not currently own underground stormwater tanks of this type.
Under the proposal, responsibility for operating and maintaining the system would remain with the development’s condominium corporation.
Council members questioned how that arrangement would work over the long term as the development ages.
Parking Also Raised During Public Meeting
Parking capacity was another issue discussed.
The proposal provides 37 visitor parking spaces.
According to the applicant’s planning representative, the internal roads would be private and would also function as fire routes, meaning on-street parking would not be permitted.
That would make the designated visitor spaces particularly important when residents have guests.
Development Has Not Been Approved
The August 10 meeting was held to gather information and public feedback rather than make a final decision.
Clarington says every development application must go through a municipal planning review, including consideration of comments from residents, agencies and professional staff.
Municipal staff will continue reviewing the Green Road applications before preparing a recommendation for council at a future meeting.
Until then, the Bowmanville Green Road townhouses remain a proposal rather than an approved development.
