Public meeting for proposed Talisman development Wednesday

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A controversial development proposed at the former Talisman Mountain Resort property north of Kimberley is the subject of a public meeting scheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m.

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Grey County and the Municipality of Grey Highlands are seeking input on a development application by Beaver Valley Development Group (BVFG) seeking to build up to 370 homes in a “mountain resort village”.

The public meeting will be held virtually via ZOOM.

The public meeting is an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about the proposed development, view a brief presentation, and ask questions or make statements about the proposal.

At the meeting members of the public will also hear a summary of any comments received about the proposed development submitted before the public meeting.

In April, Grey County council received a staff report prepared by Grey County planner Scott Taylor detailing the BVDG’s draft plan of subdivision.

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Taylor noted at the time the draft plan still needed to go through agency assessment and public consultation processes before his department would weigh in with recommendations.

The proposed project site within the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area has attracted some community and broader concern over development in a natural, provincially protected setting.

The proposed plan of subdivision seeks to create individual blocks of land for recreational (Block 1), residential (Blocks 2-5), future development (Block 5), natural heritage (Blocks 7-8) and natural heritage/open space (Blocks 9-8). No individual residential or commercial lots are being created. Instead, blocks are being created which will be developed at a later date through future development applications.

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A map submitted with the proposed plan shows how the individual blocks could be developed via those separate development applications, the staff report said.

According to the April staff report, The lands involved are designated as Escarpment Recreation Area and Escarpment Natural Area, but Niagara Escarpment development control has been lifted for portions of the subject lands, “including the majority of those contemplated for development.” The areas proposed for development are within the Escarpment Recreation Area, which allows residential, commercial and recreational uses.

Access would be off Talisman Mountain Drive, which connects to Grey Road 7 in Grey Highlands. The development, referred to as the Beaver Valley Development Group subdivision, would be serviced by proposed municipal water and sewers.

To register for the meeting visit www.grey.ca/government/land-use-planning/active-development and navigate to the Beaver Valley Development Group Subdivision in the Municipality of Grey Highlands. From there, click on ‘Notice of Public Meeting’ under Application Files and follow the instructions.

To watch Wednesday’s meeting visit www.greyhighlands.ca/watchlive.

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