Several Paris residents expressed their concerns for a proposed subdivision plan at 69 Washington Street during a County of Brant Council meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
The item was just one of the many planning applications up for discussion during a public hearing.
The topic at hand revolved around an Official Plan amendment application and a Plan of Subdivision application submitted by Stantec Consulting Ltd. on behalf of Stone Edge Developments Inc.
The developer is proposing to build eight new lots for single detached dwellings and one semi-detached dwelling at 69 Washing St. (between Ann and Monk Streets) in Paris. The plan also includes a park block, a retained natural heritage block, and blocks for servicing and road widening.
Currently, there is one abandoned single-detached dwelling located on the approximately 17.27 acre-property, which is being restored by Dan Brown House Reconstruction.
The lands are designated as Community Node and Natural Heritage System in the 2023 Official Plan and zoned Residential Single and Semis (R2), Residential Multiple Low Density (RM1) and Natural Heritage (covering about 15 of the 17 acres).
“The bulk of the subject lands, as we know, are designated in the County’s Official Plan as a natural heritage system,” said Ryan Cummins, a County planner. “The intent of which is to identify and protect lands identified as environmentally significant, such as woodlands, watercourses and hazard lands. …Of course, the Natural Heritage zone does not permit development for residential purposes.”
Cummins explained that the applicant’s Official Plan amendment is seeking to provide a reduced Vegetative Protective Zone from designated watercourses, significant woodlands and wetland features.
He also noted that the applicant submitted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Study (EIS), in support of the application and that it’s currently being peer reviewed by consultants retained by the County.
Following the presentation, Joe Lefaive, a project manager with Stantec, provided further details about the proposed development.
“The majority of the site is comprised of existing woodlands and steep slope area. The proposed plan of subdivision aims to maintain this existing woodland, while allowing appropriate infill of the manicured lawn portion of the site that fronts along Washington Street with low density housing,” said Lefaive “The proposed development will make efficient use of the existing services such as domestic water, sanitary and stormwater. The proposed development will also retain and protect the existing historic dwelling with restoration work that’s currently underway by Dan Brown.”
The project manager said that the proposed build will not encroach on the Natural Heritage area, and will stay within the Community Node designation closest to the road.
Going into further detail about the Official Plan amendment, Lefaive said the applicant was looking to reduce the minimum widths required of Vegetation Protection Zones (VPZs) to match the recommendation in the EIS.
Under the current Official Plan, VPZs must be at least ten metres wide from significant woodlands, and at least 30 metres wide from the boundaries of fish habitats, wetlands, seepage areas and springs, as well as permanent and intermittent streams.
“The Environmental Impact Study recommends a reduced minimum Vegetation Protection Zones of five metres for significant woodlands, 15 metres for the surveyed wetland and five metres from the identified watercourses,” said Lefaive. “With respect to the significant woodlands, the minimum buffer recommended is five metres and this is to ensure the root zones are adequately protected from development and to provide space for enhancement planting. … In some areas, there may be closer to 10 metres of available space for enhancement planting along the existing woodland.”
According to the Stantec presentation, the indicated widths are simply a minimum and the actual VPZ width can vary and exceed the minimum in many areas. As well, rear and side yard setbacks will be maintained per the Zoning By-Law.
Lefaive added that other technical studies have been submitted including a planning justification report, a functional servicing report, three stages of an archaeological assessment, a heritage impact assessment, a geotechnical report and slope stability report, a hydrogeological study and a stormwater management brief.
He later touched on several community concerns such as flooding, wastewater and sewer backup, wildlife species, protection of the Grand River, construction impacts and the preservation of forest, trees and natural features.
Following the presentation, just over a dozen residents who live near the area took the opportunity to voice their concerns.
Many spoke of potential flooding and the damage to existing homes as a result, the loss of habitat for wildlife, traffic congestion, loss of environmental protections, concerns around slope stability, construction noise and disruption, wastewater and sewer backup, the size of the proposed dwellings and more.
“We have an acre on Washington and every day we have up to 15 deer and 12 turkeys. After all the other developments on Rest Acres Road, they have all come to live in our forest. That’s where they’re protected, and that’s where they stay; they’re taken care of and safe there. There’s nowhere else for them to go; Paris has been developed, and that’s their home. So that’s my number one concern,” said Lisa Pottruff-Lalonde. “My second concern is the water flow. That hill is full of natural springs, we have them coming through our property. …The back of my property is mushy and wet. …There’s a lot of water there and I’m not only concerned about my home and my property …but what about the other houses that are two doors down for me or up on the hill? What’s going to happen to all that water when you start messing with that hill? Is it going to shift? Is it going to end up in people’s homes?”
The resident added that the traffic on the road is already an issue, noting there’s parked cars up and down the street.
“I have to back out of my driveway a majority of the time, and I do a Hail Mary every day I pull out of my driveway. I’ve probably almost hit some of you [other residents in attendance] coming out because I can’t see because it’s parked cars from one end to the other,” said Pottruff-Lalonde. “Adding another eight houses with how many other parking spots along there, is just going to add that. People also like to use our road as a raceway, whether there’s bumps or not.”
Following the public meeting, Councillor John Peirce thanked everyone for attending and participating.
“I’ll start by saying that I think people can now see the benefit of this type of meeting where people can come and say their piece,” he said. “I would like to thank everybody that came here tonight and those that wrote in letters. That’s what the public meetings are all about.”’
Given that the councillor lives nearby, he too expressed concerns over the water and flooding, and said he hoped that the developer would take the residents’ concerns into consideration.
After a lengthy question and answer period, the item was later received as information only. The developer will return to Council with their application at a later date, noting there is still time for them to adjust their proposed plans.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
