Heather Wright/The Independent

A new, 51-unit seniors development is planned for a piece of land near Wyoming.
But the plan is causing concern to neighbours and politicians who worry about developing the lot surrounded by farmland.

Monday, Plympton-Wyoming councillors got their first look at the Gold Leaf Development at 4386 Confederation Line. It’s a plot of land which has been the subject of Ontario Land Tribunal hearings and a deal which saw its original owner allowed to build housing in an area not yet connected to infrastructure such as sewers and sidewalks.

Plympton-Wyoming officials approved the five-acres for residential development as part of a settlement in legal battles over the town’s Official Plans. In January 2024, the zoning officially changed and there was a plan to build 20 homes on a cul-du-sac. But six months later, the property had been sold to Kerwood-based Gold Leaf Properties which builds senior rental communities including one in Petrolia.
Monday, Gold Leaf’s consultants were on hand as council looked at the 51-unit development on 5.1 acres of land.

Before neighbours could voice opinions about the property. councillors had some concerns.
“We discussed this when this whole thing started…skipping over three farms to start development and then worrying about how we’re going to get infrastructure there,” said Councillor Mike Vasey.

While the complex is self contained, Vasey pointed out seniors couldn’t walk into Wyoming because there are no sidewalks along Confederation there. “ It shouldn’t cost the town a dime to run a sidewalk out because they chose to buy that farm,” he said.

Councillor Kristin Rodrigues agreed the developer needed to provide a sidewalk in the area.

“That’s part of your responsibility to provide that now… all the way down to a connecting point,” Rodrigues said.

CAO Adam Sobanski said councils have not required developers to extend sidewalks for long distances. Deputy Mayor Netty McEwen said the town has learned it may be a good idea and that could change.

There were also concerns about a gravity fed sanitary system the developer is proposing. “It just seems like a short-term band aid fix to try to push this one through with no planning for the fact the rest of it designated to be zoned” for residential use.

Sobanski says staff has talked with the developers on the infrastructure services. Water to the development will be supplied through a LAWSS pipeline that runs past the property. The developer will have to show the proposed gravity-fed sanitary system would work or install a private pumping station on their land and send waste through a force main into the town’s system.

The idea of an elevated sight caused concerns about drainage for some of the residents at Monday’s meeting. Sobanski says the development could not proceed without the drainage issue being addressed.

Neighbour Nicole Moesker also worked about the large number of units close to her home. “There’ll be 12 people’s patio doors and windows looking right into our family’s home with three little children, I’m really concerned about privacy there,” she said.

Other neighbours agreed there needs to be more buffering using fences or trees since people tend to see farmland as open space to use as they like instead of private property.

Neighbour Mike Hanki, a vocal critic of the original deal which allowed housing in the area, again voiced his concerns.

“We need to get these kind of things right in Plympton-Wyoming, or else we’re just going to have cascading effects, especially when you’re allowing settlement outside the town to begin with, when you have a farm in between,” he said.

“We need to get it right today and for the next 50 years.”

Council agreed to allow the 51-units on the lot.

The developer will now work with town staff and planning staff on the details of the proposal. Under the new planning rules, planning staff has the final approval of the development.

Town council will see the final agreement after it has been approved.