Image

Fanshawe students design sustainable community for Petrolia

May 5, 2018

Ben Janssen sees a sustainable community with parks and lots of room for pedestrian traffic just off  Discovery Line near Eureka St.
Janssen and his team of architectural design and urban design students from Fanshawe College were declared the winners of the Marshall S. Huzevka Foundation’s Urban Design Project. The Fanshawe students were in Petrolia April 25 to unveil their designs for a sustainable community
The foundation was formed by the Petrolia family after Marshall, an architectural design at Fanshawe student, died in a motorcycle accident in 1995.
Matt Huzevka says the family has been hosting a competition for three years – but this year decided to have the students look at a piece of property the family owns on Discovery Line and come up with a concept for a community there.
Janssen’s group came up with Evergreen Communities. The judges like the unique layout of roads in the community and the people friendly design which includes a park and water feature at the entrance and a park on the northwest side with a storm management pond.
The plan calls for outdoor trails and outdoor gym equipment.
The homes are as close to sustainable as possible with solar panels to generate power, extra insulation to keep heating costs down and light coloured roofs to reflect the sun and cut down on the cooling costs.

For more on the story – pick up your copy of The Independent at Heidi’s Independent Grocer

Share This

Image
Front Page

62-year-old facing assault charge after Brigden confrontation

October 27, 2026

The Independent A 62-year-old St Clair Township man is facing a charge of assault with a weapon after a confrontation in Brigden. Lambton OPP were called to Brigden Road near Jane Street in the community Friday around 1:30 pm. Police found there had been a fight and one person was assaulted with a weapon. Police say the injuries were minor,

Read More

Image
Front Page

One dead, another person arrested on Walpole Island

October 27, 2026

The Independent One person is dead and another is in police custody on Walpole Island. Lambton OPP were called to River Road around 1:30 am Monday for a disturbance. They found one person who was injured and pronounced dead at the scene. Officers arrested one person at the scene without incident. “Investigators believe this to be an isolated incident with

Read More

Image
Front Page

Agar returns as mayor of St. Clair Township

October 27, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent Jeff Agar will return as St Clair Township Mayor. He defeated newcomer Bruce Gibson with a margin of 3,625 to 1,114 votes. “It’s it’s mind-boggling,” Agar said of the wait to find out if he won. “Even if you think you’re gonna win, it’s still is because you never know.” Agar says it was a very long

Read More

Image
Front Page

Entire Plympton-Wyoming council returns to office

October 27, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent The entire council in Plympton-Wyoming has been returned to office.  Mayor elect Gary Atkinson defeated Tim Wilkins 2,061 to 1,633 in the polls Monday. Deputy mayor elect Netty McEwen got more than double the votes of challenger Brad Zantingh.  Alex Boughen topped the polls for councillors with 2,446 votes; John Van Klaveren had 2,164 votes; Mike Vasey collected

Read More