Sign of the times: builders receive extensions on 318 units

With the slowdown in home construction in Greater Sudbury, the city's planning committee approved the extension Monday of draft approvals of several residential projects across the city — plans representing 318 units that will be built later than originally planned.

While resale prices are expected to remain stable, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. forecasts that just 240 homes will be built in the city in 2015, dipping to 230 next year. CHMC reported earlier this month that there was just one new home construction start in April.

Meeting Monday, the planning committee extended the draft approval of an 83-unit project in Chelmsford, being built by Bonaventure Development Company Ltd. It was originally approved in 2010 and involved the construction of 83 single-detached dwelling lots that will be accessed from Pinellas Road and Keith Avenue in Chelmsford.

The committee also agreed to extend the approval of 116-lot development in Hanmer, being built by Dominion Park Developments Corp. First approved in 2008 and extended in 2012, it would see the construction of a subdivision near MR 80 and Dugas Street.

And finally, the approval of a 119-unit development in Lively that was first proposed in 2006 was extended. It's being built by 1257620 Ontario Ltd. Being built on part of the 6th Avenue Golf Course and includes a mix of single, semi-detached, townhouse and apartment style units.

The extended approvals came with several new requirements for the developers, including such things as stormwater management facilities and geotechincal reports.