​Proposed Kincardine Airport Village doesn’t take off with Kincardine council

A proposal to build a residential-commercial development beside the Kincardine Airport has failed to take off with Kincardine council.

Steve Wever of GSP Group and Stephen Cobean of Cobide Engineering were at the council meeting, Wednesday night (July 23), presenting the proposal for a mixed subdivision, “Kincardine Airport Village,” which would include almost 400 housing units, four commercial buildings, a four-storey office building, a hotel and a restaurant, on property west of the municipal administration centre on Concession 5.

Speaking on behalf of the developer, including Kingsbridge Farms Ltd., the Sieber Corporation (Helmut Sieber), and Carena Farms, Wever said this group owns four properties encompassing 60 hectares, northwest of the airport.

The group brought this proposal to Bruce County back in December, during the “Plan the Bruce” Official Plan review, urging the county to establish a special policy area for this development.

Wever said the airport village is a concept that could be used to leverage and support the business and recreational functions of the airport through a mix of complementary urban uses, including housing, parks and open spaces, retail, services, accommodations and offices, among other potential uses. Additionally, this proposal would provide an opportunity to support meeting housing and other needs associated with the Bruce “C” project at nearby Bruce Power.



The proposed site of the Kincardine Airport Village

He urged council’s support to establish a site-specific special policy area to facilitate the phased development of the airport village. He also noted that within the airport property, there is a non-directional beacon located to the north of the primary runway and west of the shorter crosswind runway. No buildings or structures are permitted within 150 metres of this beacon. This 150-metre buffer is shown on the development concept and does not significantly impact the developable area of the land, and future building areas would be located further north and west. The location of the primary runway also imposes height restrictions for any structures on the landlocked parcel within the proposed development.

Wever said the airport village would help address the expected land constraint in Kincardine. About 300-400 housing units could be accommodated, plus commercial and office uses contributing to accommodating growth in employment. Additionally, the land is located within approximately 15 kilometres of the Bruce Power facility and represents a key opportunity to accommodate housing and other needs associated with the facility and employment growth associated with the Bruce “C” project.

“This is a bold vision,” said Wever. “We’re asking Kincardine and Bruce County to be bold.”

He added that the development would be completed in nine phases, over about 10-15 years.

The first phase would include an apartment building with 40 units, a four-storey office building (4,460 square metres in size), an 80-room hotel, and a 50-seat restaurant. Phase 2 would include 28 detached residential units and 22 townhouse units; Phase 3, 15 detached units, 24 townhouse units and 36 semi-detached units; Phase 4, 38 detached units; Phase 5, 43 detached units; Phase 6, 53 detached units and a commercial building; Phase 7, 29 detached units and a commercial building; Phase 8, 29 detached units and a commercial building; and Phase 9, 34 detached units and a commercial building.



The proposed layout of the Kincardine Airport Village

The subdivision would also provide a network of municipal roads, a stormwater management facility, parks, and green space.

Cobean outlined the municipal services required for the development, including water, sanitary sewers, hydro, streetlighting, natural gas, telecommunications, and stormwater management.

“This is a bold move,” said councillor Bill Stewart, “but your timing is premature. We already have a lot of property that is serviced but yet to be developed. Perhaps come back to us in five years.

“This area is not part of the Kincardine urban settlement. I can’t support bringing sewer lines out here for this project.”

Councillor Stellina Williams said she would like an opportunity to look at this phased commercial-residential development. “I’d like to see what happens with this.”

In a 5-4 vote, council agreed to have the project referred to staff for review with a report back to council.