Perth Citizens for sensible development: STOP Caivan

Caivan’s lawyers requested a postponement of the August 19th to September 13th Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing. The OLT allowed it and it is rescheduled until February 10th (2025) to February 28th. THe OLT HAS also scheduled a new case management conference, regarding this case, for 10 a.m. Friday Augusts 13th. Online access for that conference: https://meet.goto.com/943363669 Access code: 943-363-669

Telephone access: You can connect to the call by dialling 1 888 299 1889 (Toll Free) or +1 (647) 497-9373.The access code is 943-363-669

Join the meeting in seconds - GoTo Meet with anyone on any device. GoTo makes virtual meetings simple and secure, so you can always do your best work together, wherever.

LONG POST. Some details of the Witness Statements about Caivan’s proposed huge subdivision for the former Perth Golf Course lands. The fate of the proposal is now in the hands of the Ontario Land Tribunal, but this post will help keep you up to date.

Dear concerned citizens,

If the process of picking a developer was a dating app, the Town of Perth would be concluding that this was not a good fit and would swipe left. It does appear, however, to be more like an uncomfortable arranged marriage by the province.

The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing is scheduled to start August 19 and run through September 13. In preparation for the hearing the parties have collected expert witness statements to address the numerous identified issues with the development proposal and to rule on Caivan's proposed zoning by law and official plan amendments.

To access the witness statements and much of the documentation regarding the development proposal, go to the Perth planning Services section of Perth.ca:

https://www.perth.ca/en/do-business/planning-services.aspx?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2flnligxINiz_bRn4YXVxhhkP6if9tgVLAPThQ009kUzE2Nu7fJlV9XM0_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

Click on "current" then click on "Caivan". You will see the witness statements for all parties, press releases and application documents. It is a massive amount of material.

You can draw your own conclusions, but the witnesses for the Town and County are compelling at addressing the issues of land use, floodplain, wetlands preservation, infrastructure, transportation, wastewater, threatened species, bridges, etc. Caivan witnesses generally repeat the content of the original studies and proposal. It seems there are many more priorities and options for sensible development such as infill and redevelopment, for example, which are much more efficient at accessing water, sewage, gas lines and other services. Something that repeatedly comes up in conversations is the Perth Fair Grounds - what a great spot for multi-story multiplex mixed housing easily accessing water and sewer services.

You will see in the statements that a lot of unknowns and uncertainties remain in the proposal re: watermains, storm sewer design, sewage lines and treatment, solid waste capacity, second crossing, cut and fill result on flood plains, gas and transmission lines, etc. In other words, how can this possibly be approved with so many open-ended questions? The Plan of Subdivision Grid in the application documents reveals a lot of these questions.

A key case in point is the road access issue. Caivan's flawed logic says that it is OK to have a single access point for up to 40 units (revised up to 200) after which the second crossing would be needed. The ONLY perspective for their logic is that traffic impact and trips are manageable with 200 homes. The point for needing a second crossing before any occupation begins is that BOTH emergency/alternative access AND a better distribution of trips away from tiny Peter Street are needed from day one.

Something not addressed in any witness statements or in the proposal itself: Is there really a demand for the pricey single family homes proposed by Caivan? Today, there are about 30 homes for sale within Perth's boundaries. They've been on the market for 65 days on average at an average price over $500,000. This raises two questions - why are people leaving Perth and why are their homes on the market for so long?

52 citizens are participants in the OLT process because they submitted statements to the OLT by the deadline. The rest of you may want to stay informed. If you are still engaged with the issue, please talk it up with your friends and neighbours. The whole issue is now before the OLT, but it wouldn't hurt to continue to voice your opinion with elected officials and staff at the Town and County and other levels of government.

Here are Perth contacts: Mayor and councillors:
Mayor Judy Brown [email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],

Environmental services,
Grant Machan ,
Planner
Joanna Bowes ,

Our MPP:
[email protected]

Lanark county:
[email protected]

Trusting this helps you stay informed. Stay tuned for updates as we approach the first day of the OLT hearing - August 19.

Planning Services General information about building development and planning

IMPORTANT UPDATE. Witness statements, prepared for the upcoming August Ontario Land Tribunal hearing, are NOW posted on the Perth Planning Department Website. Click the + for the Caivan tab. Witness statements for the Town of Perth & Lanark County are posted, along with the Witness statements from Caivan.

Planning Services General information about building development and planning

How much did Caivan change its proposal by the March 1 deadline? Read the PDF from company's lawyers posted below. The number of houses in the revised submission has increased to 975 and a 1.5 acre piece of land, next to pump station, would set aside for affordable housing. Work can begin with just the one access from Peter St. and without a northern access point -- which is deemed essential by many experts for safety and emergency access. Any (possible) future northern access point would depend on various assessments and approvals etc. etc.

Via Sue Green, TVO is doing a series on the issues faced by small towns in Ontario. An episode about Perth should air about mid-June, and it will examine issues about population growth.

The Town of Perth Planning Department has posted the "Memorandum of oral decision..." (which includes, starting on page 17, the "Issues List" -- a series of pointed questions about the Caivan's proposed 940 house development on the old Perth Golf Course land. Click on below (www.perth.ca)

www.perth.ca

Today (Tues. Feb 27, 2024) the Ontario Land Tribunal formally endorsed the "Issues List", prepared by the Town of Perth and Lanark County. The lengthy list consists of pointed questions about the proposed Caivan development of 940 homes on the land of the former Perth Golf Course. (For example: will the entrance and exit to the subdivision be "sufficient from an emergency services perspective" and "does it conform to good transportation planning?")
The list is identical to the Town and County's draft list, submitted late 2023.

Good work Perth! On Monday Feb 12, 72 people join the virtual case management conference about the Caivan proposed development at the Ontario Land Tribunal. Of the total, 4 from the OLT, and 3 lawyers (one each for Caivan, Perth and Lanark County). The rest were concerned citizens. The vice chair of the OLT, Hugh Wilkins, chaired the meeting, which some of us thought was significant. Key takeaways to follow.

If you can, please join TOMORROW -- MONDAY FEB 12 at 9:45 a.m. (for 10 a.m) . -- the case management conference for Caivan housing development proposal at the Ontario Land Tribunal. GoTo Meeting:

Join the meeting in seconds - GoTo Meet with anyone on any device. GoTo makes virtual meetings simple and secure, so you can always do your best work together, wherever.

SAVE THE DATE: On Monday Feb 12, at 10 a.m. the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) is holding a Case Management Conference (CMC) about the proposed huge Caivan housing development on the old Perth Golf Course lands. You will not be able to participate at the meeting but your virtual presence is important! You can join virtually with this link: GoTo Meeting: https://meet.goto.com/558205565. You can view the parties (Caivan, Lanark County, Town of Perth) hashing out an agenda. This is the LAST CHANCE until August to join an OLT hearing on this issue and show the OLT your interest and concern.

UPDATE: The 190-member Perth & Area citizens’ group -- that formed due to serious concerns about key aspects of the proposed Caivan housing development -- has reluctantly decided not to seek Party status at the Ontario Land Tribunal. (To be an effective “Party” involves a great deal of cost to hire a range of professionals who can participate in questioning etc.) Spokesperson Greg Anderson says members are satisfied that Perth and Lanark County have, in their list of issues “appeared to cover” the group’s major concerns “but without specifics.”

We can't provide a link (due to FB "policies" that disallow Canadian news) but search "Land tribunal says what gets built in Ontario, but insiders say it’s broken - Sudbury News" for an in-depth investigative look at the operations of the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Alas, due to Facebook blocking Canadian news, I can't provide a link to The Narwhal's epic feature outlining changes that the Ford government has made to environmental laws -- many relevant/advantageous to housing developers. You can, however, search The Narwhal and the headline: " Here’s the dirt: how Doug Ford is shaping Ontario’s environmental laws in his second term."
This well researched feature is an excellent read.

Epic feature from the Narwhal providing a comprehensive outline of Ford government changes that have a negative impact on the environment, conservation authorities, wetlands, energy policy etc.

Here’s the dirt: how Doug Ford is shaping Ontario’s environmental laws in his second term | The Narwhal Just before the 2022 provincial election, Doug Ford said five words Ontarians hadn’t heard often during his first term. “I believe in climate change,” he told reporters in May, days after a deadly derecho storm left hundreds of thousands of homes without power and caused Uxbridge, Clarence-Roc...

The Toronto Star: By Clarrie Feinstein, Business Reporter

Some bankruptcy specialists say they're getting more calls from preconstruction homebuyers — a trend likely to continue.

Some GTA-based bankruptcy trustees say there's been an uptick in panicked pre-construction buyers either coming to them for advice or to file for bankruptcy. Toronto's Scott Terrio, manager of consumer insolvency at Hoyes, Michalos & Associates, says he's had a rise in pre-construction buyers seeking his advice or filing for bankruptcy as appraisals on their property fall short.
Toronto's Scott Terrio, manager of consumer insolvency at Hoyes, Michalos & Associates, says he's had a rise in pre-construction buyers seeking his advice or filing for bankruptcy as appraisals on their property fall short. Since the spring, Scott Terrio has encountered roughly a dozen homebuyers unable to close on their pre-construction property, as appraisals fall hundreds of thousands of dollars short. It's the first time he's ever encountered such buyers in his 14 years in consumer insolvency.
Distressed and unable to secure financing for the unit they bought two or three years ago, they come to him, unsure of their next steps.
"I really hadn't seen this before 2023," said Toronto's Terrio, manager of consumer insolvency at Hoyes, Michalos & Associates. "It's very telling of things to come."
During the pandemic, the Bank of Canada set the overnight lending rate to 0.25 per cent to help the struggling economy, making it easier for people to borrow money. It led to historically low mortgage interest rates, and buyers piled in, resulting in a boom of pre-construction real estate. But since the central bank began hiking rates in March 2022 to cool swelling inflation, interest rates on mortgages have drastically increased and home prices have dropped by as much as 40 per cent in parts of the GTA.
In its wake, some GTA-based bankruptcy trustees say they've noticed an uptick of panicked pre-construction buyers either coming to them for advice, or in some instances, filing for bankruptcy. And the pain doesn't stop there, as experts say more developers are choosing to take legal action on those unable to close, mounting financial burden to the buyers, who see bankruptcy as their last resort.
As more closings approach in 2024, experts say, the trend is likely to continue.
"What you have are people who bought at the peak and are now closing at the trough," Terrio said. "For pre-built property you really need that appraisal to come in, and during a housing downturn it results in people being unable to close."
If the appraisal comes in with a significant shortfall, putting the property up for an assignment sale, doesn't help the situation, he added.
That's because for a new condo building to be built, 75 to 80 per cent of the units must be sold beforehand to finance the project. On average, it takes three to five years for a mid- to high-density building to be built from start to finish. That means developers rely on the sale of the units to see the onstruction of the building to the finish line. Previously, if a buyer was unable to close on the project, they would resell the unit using an assignment sale — a legal transaction in which the original pre-construction condo buyer transfers the rights and obligations of the purchase agreement to another buyer — which could allow them to make more money or at least break even, but because condo prices have dropped substantially they're having to sell at a loss.
In January 2022, one of Terrio's clients bought a half-completed pre-construction condo in north Toronto for $659,000 with a $35,000 deposit. In the summer of 2023, the unit was ready for occupancy but the appraisal came in at $400,000 — as interest rates skyrocketed and prices dropped. As a result, they were unable to secure financing for the unit and lost their deposit. A month later, they received a letter from the developers' lawyer threatening to sue if they didn't take occupancy. They're still waiting to see if a lawsuit will materialize.
What stands out to Joshua Harris, partner at Harris & Partners, is that previously if a pre-construction buyer was unable to close, the developer would then sell the property to a new buyer for even more money. Because there was no financial shortfall there was no case for developers to sue buyers who dropped out of the deal.
"What we're seeing now is these properties being sold for less than when the pre-construction buyer bought it," he said. "So we're seeing more developers pursuing these people in attempt to get the money recovered."
Harris said his practice has seen an increase in these types of debts over the last couple of years, but they aren't the main reason people are coming to the firm. Nevertheless, there will "no doubt continue to be a trend" of pre-construction buyers seeking help from bankruptcy trustees.
Mihir Chande, a licensed insolvency trustee at Chande & Company Inc., said since the fall he's dealt with more real estate-related issues, accounting for 20 per cent of calls, with the majority stemming from pre-construction buyers. Around half were able to settle with the developer, while the other half moved to the next stage of formally filing to obtain legal protection from creditors. If rejected, they would then file a bankruptcy.
"Bankruptcy really is the last option," he said. "We try to do anything we can to get them to settle."
It's been surprising dealing with pre-construction buyers, Chande added, as home prices have, for the most part, increased steadily since the 2008 financial crisis. His clients come from "all over," in the GTA including Scarborough, Richmond Hill, and Burlington.
"I think in 2024 we'll be getting even more calls as closings come due," he said, "and the stress of interest rates takes a toll on even more people."

RAMSEY HART WRITING IN TODAY'S OTTAWA CITIZEN

Citizens for sensible development: STOP Caivan
Perth needs right kind of growth, not growth for growth's sake
If accepted, the Caivan proposal for housing on the Perth Golf Club would lock down the town’s medium-term development potential.

Author of the article: Ramsey Hart
Published Jan 03, 2024 • Last updated 9 hours ago • 2 minute read

A Dec. 19 opinion piece by Randall Denley characterized opposition to Caivan’s proposed housing development on the Perth Golf Course as unwarranted, bad for the town and rooted in not wanting to see the town grow. He sketched a caricature of community opposition to the proposed development.

Here are some facts he could have considered in painting a more accurate picture of the situation.

It was not a change in the makeup of our Town Council that resulted in a shift in support for the development (four of seven are returning members). It was a change in the proposal, including the fundamentally important access route and the number of homes.

Perth residents are varied in their view of the development, but they are not, generally speaking, opposed to growth. There are other locations and other developers with proposals that many of us feel are a better fit for the town than the golf course development as proposed. We would like to see growth that is inclusive of affordable options and considers the climate crisis we are living with, for example.

If accepted, the Caivan proposal would lock down all of the town’s medium-term development potential, as the town’s infrastructure could not accommodate further growth without major investments that would be far beyond the town’s financial means.

In the first of the Ontario Land Tribunal hearings, representatives for both Lanark County and the Town of Perth indicated an openness to considering a modified development plan. It was Caivan that said it was sticking with the development as proposed.

It was Caivan, by the way, not the Town or County governments, that took the issue to the costly and time-consuming Ontario Land Tribunal process.

In August, Town Council asked Caivan to provide a revised proposal that was more consistent with previous expectations, the Town’s official plan and zoning bylaws. Sounds reasonable to this Perth citizen who is excited to welcome more people to town with the right kind of growth, not growth for growth’s sake.
*********
Ramsey Hart is a Perth resident, member of the ad hoc committee Perth Citizens for Sensible Community Development, and has registered as a participant in the OLT process.

Caivan says it isn't considering making any changes to their proposed development.

Report on Ontario Land Tribunal Dec 14 case management conference published Dec 14 in LanarkLeedsToday.ca (Lake 88.1) notes: "The legal representative for Caivan, the developers behind the 940 proposed homes, said at this time they’re not seeking mediation, and they aren’t considering making any modifications to their application."

The entire story: Over 100 people attended the virtual Ontario Land Tribunal case management conference session Thursday morning to hear more about the proposed housing development at the Perth golf course.

Most of the time was dedicated to reviewing individuals and groups applying for official participant status. 52 were recognized and have until January 22nd to submit or amend their statements to the tribunal.

The legal representative for Caivan, the developers behind the 940 proposed homes, said at this time they’re not seeking mediation, and they aren’t considering making any modifications to their application.

The next case management conference is scheduled for Feb 12 and a full 4-week tribunal hearing will commence on Aug 19.

Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing update information (quoted from the bottom of the Inside Ottawa Valley story)

At the Dec. 14 OLT case management conference, it was decided that a second case management conference would be held on Feb. 12. At this meeting, a decision will be made about whether a community group of 190 participants will be granted a party [standing] to be represented by Greg Anderson and Richard Schooley. In addition, there are 52 registered people who submitted participant comment statements.

All current registered participants are required to have their written statements submitted to the tribunal by Jan. 22.

A four-week hearing has also been scheduled, which will begin on Monday, Aug. 19 and run through Sept. 13. The tribunal will not be sitting on Monday Sept. 2, nor Monday, Sept. 9.

Inside Ottawa Valley has posted a feature on the Caivan development:

‘One of the biggest decisions’: Opposition to proposed Perth golf course subdivision development grows
Evelyn-Harford
By
Evelyn Harford
Perth Courier
Thursday, December 14, 2023
6 min to read

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Opposition to the proposed 940-unit Perth Golf Course subdivision development has grown.

Concern about the Caivan development centres on the lack of proposed affordable housing, infrastructure, traffic, safety, heritage, the environment and potential strain on community services — such as child care facilities and the local hospital.

Estimates suggested, the development would increase Perth’s population by about one-third. Perth a population of 5,930, according to 2016 data.

Perth town council has opposed the Caivan’s Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) appeal surrounding proposal for 940-unit subdivision.

Ramsey Hart, executive director of The Table Community Food Centre, called the issue “one of the biggest decisions our town will face in our life time.”

Around 250 people attended a meeting organized by Perth Citizens for Sensible Development at the end of November to inform residents of the proposal and to highlight concerns citizens have voiced about the development.

Sylvia Pryde, a housing advocate who lives in affordable housing on Harvey Street in Perth, has major concerns about the lack of affordable housing for people in the community.

Affordable housing concerns
Sylvia Pryde, a housing advocate who lives in affordable housing on Harvey Street in Perth, has major concerns about the lack of affordable housing for people in the community. Pryde spoke at the public meeting where the proposed Caivan development was discussed by concerns citizens.

Evelyn Harford/Metroland
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“This is very, very important to me,” she said. “From what I have seen in the development, I am very displeased. Affordable housing is a human right. Affordable housing is an investment in the community.”

Pryde knows from first-hand experience how hard it is to access affordable housing in Perth.

The development calls for 940 units, “mostly singles with a mix of townhouses,” said Hugo Lalonde, director of land development with Caivan.

In response to concerns, Hart said it has been proposed that there could be potential for owners within the development to convert the basement into a rental unit down the road.

Greeting concerned citizens
Coun. Gary Waterfield (right) addresses the crowd gathered at Perth Town Hall ahead of their council meeting to discuss their strategy with the Caivan development of the Perth Golf Club as an appeal has gone to the Ontario Land Tribunal for permission to proceed. Concerned citizens want to stop the development.

Laurie Weir/Metroland
Susan Brandum, co-founder of Climate Network Lanark, expressed the need to preserve and protect wetland — powerful carbon sinks.

“We need affordable housing but we need it to be climate friendly and environment-friendly,” she said.

Brandum said incorporating flood mapping that acknowledges the climate crisis, protecting and preserve all wetlands, 30 metre setbacks from wetlands, a mix of housing — including smaller units — and co-housing for seniors.

“It means housing built for us,” she said — who emphasized the average house size in Lanark County is less than four people.

Brandum encouraged the use of sustainable materials in the building process of energy efficient homes.

“More expensive to build, far less expensive to operate,” she said.

Development meeting
Around 250 concerned citizens gathered at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 244 on Nov. 30, to hear about the development proposed by Caivan and get developments from a group of residents who have been organizing in opposition to the proposal.

Evelyn Harford/Metroland
Perth resident Richard Schooley, who sits as vice-chair on the board of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, also expressed concern. Schooley emphasized that his statements during the November meeting were personal views and observations and was not speaking in his capacity as a hospital board member.

Schooley said the town needs more workers as the population of Perth ages, and housing needs to accommodate people of various income levels so people can afford to work and live in the community.

“We need a place for workers to live,” he said.

Schooley expressed concern for the strain a population increase could place on the local hospital and the increased need for primary care physicians that are already stretched.

“We need more doctors,” he said. “The hospital is bursting at its seams.”

Schooley stressed the exact impact the development could have on social services in town is not known and will depend on the demographic of people who come to occupy the proposed homes.

Jack Tannett described his concerns surrounding the infrastructure and single entry point proposed that would funnel traffic onto Peter Street.

“Clearly, it makes no sense,” he said. Tannett raised questions about where the other access point leading traffic onto Sunset Boulevard, which shows up in previous design drawings, has gone. Tannett wants to see that access point brought back into the design.

“Let’s make the right decision and get on with it,” he said.

Caivan subdivision
Caivan is proposing a 950-unit community for the west end of Perth.

Screengrab/Caivan proposal
In March, Perth council sought a secondary access point for the development after the access point proposed of Peter Street has been called by one town councillor David Bird a traffic “nightmare.”

Greg Anderson, an attorney who lives in Perth, underscored concerns about traffic — as his son lives on Peter Street.

Anderson said instead of mounting a fundraising campaign to fight the development as concerned citizens, the best course of action is to monitor the process and “pray and hope” the town and the County of Lanark with their “very good” legal team are going to be carrying the ball for residents.

“We shouldn't have to do that,” he said. “We’re paying the town.”

Anderson expressed worry that communication has broken down between stakeholders in this discussion — suggesting a mediator through the OLT process could help find compromise that will appease government, citizens and the developer.

“They aren’t going to go away,” he said of Caivan. “They own the land. They know what they’re doing.”

Susan Murphy, president of land and development for Caivan, said there is “a great deal of confusion” regarding the access point.

Residents have raised concern about two access points proposed in a previous design drawing: one on Sunset Boulevard and another on Peter Street.

When asked about the second access point, Murphy said the second bridge access remains an option that Caivan is open to, but they have been unable to engage in discussion with the town on this matter.

“Our objective has been to minimize environmental impact and to maintain fiscally sound options for the town,” she said. “A second bridge crossing does have environmental and financial implications, but we remain open to exploring this if the town deems it to be preferred over the current twinning proposal (two separate bridge structures at the same river crossing location).”

Caivan subdivision
Caivan is proposing a twinning of the Peter Street bridge to access a 950-unit subdivision in Perth.

Screengrab/Caivan presentation
On concerns about the natural environment, Murphy said they are unfounded.

“Ontario has some of the world’s most stringent rules around environmental impacts and land development,” she said. “In the case of the lands in question, our proposal meets or exceeds all applicable environmental criteria in the province. The development application is supported by an Environmental Impact Study that has completed a comprehensive natural features inventory and evaluation on and adjacent to the development area. Minimizing our impact on the natural environment remains our priority and is a central pillar of this development proposal.”

In response to community concerns centred on the lack of affordable housing, Murphy said that “affordability remains front of mind for us all.”

Murphy said the lack of affordable housing is a crisis that is recognized by all three levels of government.

“We will be offering a range of housing types supported by compact form and a cost-efficient development plan that will advance a variety of affordable housing opportunities,” she said. “Additionally, we have met with a variety of not-for-profit organizations to discuss opportunities within the Western Annex lands to explore opportunities for subsidized social housing. At the end of the day however, more supply is the largest driver of affordability.”

Golf course development
Cavian has proposed building more than 900 homes in an area surrounding the Perth Golf Course at 141 Peter St.

Caivan documents/screen grab
Hart, who is connected with various local providers social services and housing services, and spoke at the meeting of concerned citizens, said he was not aware of what consultations have taken place with local organizations.

When asked about concerns the pressure this development places on the local hospital and child care facilities, Murphy said, “The town has planned for this growth and would be included in population projections for the town.”

Murphy asserted the provincial government is the key decision-maker relating to the hospital.

Currently, the development is at the beginning stages of the appeal process to the OLT.

“We view this as an unfortunate moment that should have been avoided. This process may prove lengthy and costly but is necessary to advance the file,” said Murphy. “The role of the tribunal is to hear expert testimony and to, based on planning merits, make a determination of the application. The OLT decision is binding and final.”

Murphy said the application before the town has responded to the town’s designation of the lands for residential development.

“It is important to remember that the Perth Golf Course lands were annexed by the Town of Perth in 2009 as a key growth area to address major shortfalls in the town’s housing supply,” she said. “The residential use is a permission already approved by the town, county and province of Ontario.”

Murphy said a great deal of planning and expense by the town has gone into preparing these lands for development.

“The development proposal advanced by Caivan is simply the next step is a process that has been ongoing,” she said.

Murphy said Caivan has had many letters of support.

“Although there are many concerned residents that are fearful of change, there are hundreds more that have voiced strong support for housing choice and economic growth in this region,” she said. “We sincerely hope to win the trust of the community at large and have committed to build a community that the region will be proud of and benefit from.”

Crowd gathers to voice concerns
A peaceful protest, the morning of Nov. 14, in front of Perth Town Hall as citizens gathered to express their concerns for the Perth Golf Club development by Caivan. A committee of the whole meeting will be held (in camera) to address the town's strategy in light of an appeal by the developer.

Laurie Weir/Metroland
Murphy said at this point in time, “a project schedule is difficult to crystalize” but stated that the development will be built out over many years.

Perth Mayor Judy Brown said the town can’t make any further public comments on the case as it is before the tribunal.

At the Dec. 14 OLT case management conference, it was decided that a second case management conference would be held on Feb. 12. At this meeting, a decision will be made about whether a community group of 52 participants will be granted a party, to be represented by Greg Anderson and Richard Schooley.

All participants are required to have their written statements submitted to the tribunal by Jan. 22.

A four-week hearing has also been scheduled, which will begin on Monday, Aug. 19 and run through Sept. 13. The tribunal will not be sitting on Monday Sept. 2, nor Monday, Sept. 9.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) was circulated on planning applications for the Caivan development.

“Our role is to comment on the natural hazards — such as risks associated to the floodplain,” Diane Downey, director of communications and outreach. “The RVCA has requested additional details from Caivan, but no response has been received at this time. Until RVCA receives additional technical information, we cannot make a recommendation to the County and the Town of Perth on the proposed development.”

Lanark County was contacted, but have not yet responded.

For more information about the OLT process, email: [email protected].

With files from Laurie Weir