In 2021, 29 new dwellings were raised in East Ferris. This year there have been 42, and there is still plenty of time left in construction season. The municipality’s population is growing, and so is the money being invested in local builds. Last year those 29 houses represented about $15 million in construction costs, and the 42 from this year are valued at approximately $22 million.
The municipality’s director of community services, Greg Kirton, noted “we’ve seen a lot of individual land severances this year,” as property owners are parcelling out their land. From experience Kirton knows that when a lot of severances come across municipal desks, “the next year there will be a lot of homes built,” because it takes about a year to get all the required permits to begin construction.
For example, in 2020 there were 12 severance applications, and in 2021 there were 49 applications filed, “which are contributing to the 2022 house numbers.” Builds are also occurring on non-severed lots, and pockets of development are taking place at Oak Ridges subdivision off Highway 94, along Guillemette Road, and “we’ve had some growth along Quae Quae Road” as well.
There are 25 lots almost ready to go at Macpherson Drive and Centennial Crescent— “an area where we can expect growth in the coming year,” Kirton said.
Last year, the municipality issued 177 building permits, and in 2020, 152 were issued, with 20 new units built in the community. The municipality’s chief administrative officer, Jason Trottier, commented last year that he expected “another busy construction season” for 2022, and he was on the money.
See: East Ferris’ 2021 building boom
Kirton mentioned there seems to be “more demand than supply now” for land within the municipality, adding that at least once a month someone will call Town Hall to see if there is any vacant land for sale within the area.
With the development “higher than we’ve had historically,” Kirton noted the “controlled growth makes it easier to manage municipal services,” as it increases the tax base, but also acknowledged new development creates “a bit of a balancing act” for the municipality.
“The biggest thing for us is making sure that all our planning policies are managed, and we manage that growth properly so there is no detrimental impact to existing residents.”
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
