The developer of a large subdivision proposed for Decou Road in Simcoe came back to Norfolk councillors with a modified plan, but some residents still have concerns. Nov 05, 2025 • Last updated Nov 05, 2025 • Photo by Postmedia /File The developer of a large subdivision proposed for Decou Road in Simcoe came back to Norfolk councillors with a modified plan, but some residents still have concerns. This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The applicant, an Ontario numbered company in the care of Paul Halyk, is proposing to construct about 490 residential units, including single-detached homes and street townhouse units, along with future townhouse condos and mid-rise buildings or townhouse condos on about 51 acres of vacant land at 227 Decou Rd. — the Woodway Trails Subdivision. The applicant, who has reduced the number of units by four, including one single-family home and three street townhouse units, is asking for several zoning amendments for the proposed development. At a meeting in January, a full house of residents packed the Norfolk County council chambers to raise concerns about the number of accesses in and out of the subdivision, adequate access for emergency vehicles, increased traffic during and after construction, parking and street congestion, and issues with drainage and stormwater management. This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. John Vallee of Vallee Consulting, who represents Halyk, returned to a public hearing committee meeting on Tuesday with an updated plan meant to alleviate some of those concerns. He said they’ve been working on the application for almost two years. “We’ve made modifications to the plan over the past few months,” Vallee told Norfolk councillors. “We’ve listened a lot to the community, to council, to staff, and we’ve reacted.” The applicant hosted a public information session at Fanshawe College on Oct. 29 to share information about the proposal with the public. About 200 property owners from the area were invited. The project is the second phase of development proposed for the area. About 335 homes were approved in 2008 and later constructed. There is another large area adjacent to the property slated for future development by other owners. This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Among the application changes listed by Vallee is the creation of a park during the first phase of the project on about 1.4 hectares of land, which includes a woodlot, on the northwest corner of the property. To alleviate congestion for street parking, the original plan, which had townhouses facing each other, has been changed to include townhouses on one side and single-family homes on the other. In addition, 25 on-street parking spots have been added to the park area. Although Vallee said their traffic studies indicate Donly Drive South — currently the only access in and out of the subdivision — can handle the increased traffic during construction, the developer has agreed to complete the project in two phases. Vallee said the second phase wouldn’t go ahead until a second connection is made to Decou Road, Ireland Road or Victoria Street. This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. While Darnell Lambert, Norfolk’s director of engineering, said it appears the first phase “could be sufficiently supported by just Donly, after that there would be a need for another access point.” The developer has also proposed creating a construction access from the subdivision over the driveway at the wastewater treatment facility to the west of the property. An access for emergency vehicles is proposed through a cemetery to the north. County planner Fabian Serra said staff continue to have concerns about “potentially overloading” Donly Drive South. A traffic impact study is currently being reviewed. Karen Caulderwood, who lives on Donly Drive South, urged council to reserve approval of the application until there is a plan for a “safe, adequate, convenient and permanent route” into and out of the subdivision. This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Laura Swire, who also lives on Donly Drive South, said on-street parking already creates a “dangerous situation” in the existing subdivision. Questions and concerns raised by the public will be addressed in a report that could come back to council as early as December. In the report, staff will make a recommendation to council about whether the development should be approved. Coun. Chris VanPaassen, noting the timeframe for a municipality to decide on a planning application is typically 120 days, said the matter “could have been in front of the Ontario Land Tribunal more than a year ago.” “They have been kind enough and worked with our staff and community,” he said. “Let’s keep that going. Hopefully, we can get it all resolved before the first shovel goes in the ground. These developers have money tied up in these projects and the longer we hold them up, the more it costs them and the more houses will cost.” Share this article in your social network
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