Township of Blandford-Blenheim Council supported the Westside Communities subdivision proposal in Plattsville during its regular Council meeting on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
The subject lands in question are located on the south side of Albert Street East, east of Platt Street South and west of Hofstetter Road, in the Village of Plattsville.
“The subject land was originally approved for a draft plan of subdivision back in 2012 for 34 single-detached dwellings and eight live-work places,” said Dustin Robson, Development Planner for the Township. “Additionally, two commercial squares were also approved, one being 1.2 hectares in size, and the other being 1.1 hectares in size. Since approval in 2012, numerous extensions have been provided for this development in order to ensure that it’s still an active application. However, because the conditions were never fulfilled, these lots have never been registered.”
Robson went on to say that the application at hand, was looking to replace the existing draft plan of subdivision with a new one.
“This would consist of 99 single-detached dwelling lots and 16 semi-detached dwellings; a commercial block, approximately 1.6 hectares in size, would be located on the northeast corner of the lands,” he continued. “A storm water management pond is also being proposed as well …and they are proposing a 10 metre wide pedestrian walkway connecting the commercial plaza with the residential portion of the subdivision as well.”
Robson explained that if approved, the development plan would be built over four phases. The first phase would consist of 50 lots as well as the commercial block, the second and third phases would include 25 lots each, and the final phase would consist of 15 lots.
The planner said that the lands currently have three different designations on them within the Official Plan including: open space, low-density residential and service commercial, and that the applicant was looking to maintain those designations but reorient them to match the new draft plan configuration.
Robson said that the developer was also looking to have the zoning on the lands changed.
“As it exists today, there are four different types of zoning, one being the Open Space (OS) for the storm water management pond. R1, which is your Residential Type 1 Zone, and that’s for your single-detached dwellings,” explained Robson. “HC, that’s Highway Commercial Zoning for your commercial uses that are more oriented with automobiles like fast food, and gas stations. Then there’s HC-4 which is Highway Commercial with a special provision, and the purpose of that zoning was to allow for these live-work places that were originally approved so that someone could live and have a business on their site as well.”
The developer is now applying to have the zoning changed to: Special Residential Type 1 Zone (R1-sp), Special Residential Type 2 Zone (R2-sp), Highway Commercial Zone (HC), Special Development Zone (D-sp), and Special Open Space Zone (OS-sp).
Robson explained that R1-sp would allow single-detached dwellings, while the R2-sp would allow for semi-detached dwellings, and that the D-sp zone would allow for future development.
He also added that there are a number of special provisions (sp) attached to the zone changes because the developer is asking to reduce the lot sizes, as well as the minimum frontage required for the storm water management block.
Overall Robson said that staff believed that the proposal follows the direction of the Provincial Policy Statement and that it meets the intent of the Official Plan.
“In terms of the Official Plan, we do believe that this meets the intent as it is located in an area that is easily accessible to shopping areas downtown, schools, and amenity spaces. We believe the location is sufficient. And in terms of the density, it’s coming in at a density of 20.7 units per hectare, where up to 22 units per hectare is permitted,” he said. “Going back to the zoning tables, there are a number of special provisions that are being proposed and staff have reviewed each one, and we do feel that what is being proposed is reasonable in this circumstance. We are in support of the zone change application for approval in principle, and we’re also recommending that Council let County Council know that it supports both the Official Plan amendment and the draft plan of subdivision that’s being considered.”
As a public meeting was taking place, resident Susan Mitchell stood to raise her concerns about on-street parking and referencing ongoing issues with Fennel Street in Plattsville.
An agent representing the applicant said that while he didn’t know much about on-street parking in the area, the proposed dwellings would have driveways and garages.
Mitchell then expressed her concerns with the lack of amenities in the village
“There’s no reason to, as a homeowner, to keep your home going into retirement because there’s no reason to facilitate your life,” she said. “There’s a variety store but there’s no gas station and there’s no grocery store, so where is the focus here?”
Mayor Mark Peterson told Mitchell that the development was to help meet the needs of the housing crisis.
Later, Councillor Tina Young asked the agents whether or not they knew what kind of businesses are planned for the commercial area, however, the agents said they didn’t know at this time.
Peterson then added that he was disappointed to see that the commercial block had been reduced in size. He also said that the residents of Plattsville have expressed a need for a gas station and he requested that one be considered as part of the commercial lot.
Councillor Nancy Demarest also said that there is a need for shovel-ready commercial lands, and there’s a bit of a “chicken and egg” scenario because businesses require nearby residential development before opening something.
One of the agents said that was exactly why the commercial lot was being included in the first phase of development.
After more questions about parking as well as the sewer systems, and further discussions from Council, the zone change application was approved in principle, and staff will let Oxford County Council know that the Township supports both the Official Plan amendment, as well as the draft plan of subdivision.
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.
