The Town of Lakeshore is signing off on plans that will see more than 300 new homes built.
On Tuesday night, council approved plans for the River Ridge subdivision that will see 148 single detached homes built with a further 185 townhome units built on adjacent land.
Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain says the town's building department will be ready to handle the demand for building permits with three new staff hired to help with the workload.
"This is probably our largest subdivision, but we've got two others — possibly three others — that are going to be going this spring, this summer so, it's going to be a big summer for us, no question."
The subdivision is just east of Puce Rd. along the south side of Oakwood Ave. near the Atlas Tube Centre.
To approve the plan that includes the townhomes, council needed to re-zone the land because the previous zoning only allowed single detached homes.
A lot map for the River Ridge subdivision in Lakeshore included in the agenda package for the regular meeting of council on March 6, 2018. (Photo courtesy Town of Lakeshore)
Bain feels the area is a perfect fit for a big subdivision.
"To have our schools in the area, they're always important, to have a commercial district close by and then to have your recreational facilities there," says Bain. "All those amenities are what attract people to the area."
The mayor thinks a nearby subdivision serves as a good example of the kinds of buyers the new homes will attract.
"With the schools in the area we're finding that we are attracting a lot of the younger families who want to see their children go to school close by and also have all the recreational amenities, really right there at their back door," says Bain.
The approved plans will head to the County of Essex for final approval before the developer can apply for building permits to begin construction.