One of the major hurdles to Estevan's first privately developed neighborhood has been cleared.
The members of city council unanimously passed a rezoning bylaw Monday night that will allow the development team behind The Meadows to move to the next phase of their work.
A masterplan neighbourhood, that will be located on the vacant land north of Wellock Road and St. Joseph's Hospital, The Meadows will reportedly have a wide range of housing options that are expected to appeal to a variety of economic levels, something which is desperately needed in Estevan.
Jerry Werhun of Newport Developments was on hand for council's decision Monday and was pleased with the news.
"We are working very hard to get started with some construction this summer if we can," said Werhun. "It's a complicated process and the engineering and design is in full force and we are going forward as fast as we possibly can."
Given the lack of housing in the city, it was fully expected council would approve the rezoning bylaw. Mayor Gary St. Onge, who noted the City did not receive any objections to the proposal from residents, said he is looking forward to seeing work on The Meadows commence.
"I hope they get it going as soon they can because we need it now," said St. Onge. "I had a fellow call me the other day he is running a business in town and can't find a place so he may have to leave. You hear these things every day."
Werhun said the next step for his group is to submit their final engineering plans to the City for approval. Beyond that, he hopes to see homes popping up this year.
"In our first area, we have approximately 100 lots that will be available to third party builders, stick builders, and the home builders of Estevan, we will be offering to them first obviously," Werhun said.
"We hope to have at least 10 homes built this year on Wellock and six apartment units if possible. Weather permitting, we are going to push forward with the soil work, the earthwork and the utilities. It will be a tall order to get any paving done this year but we may, depending on how things go on Wellock, get some paving done."
Werhun added he and his team are excited about entering the red hot Estevan market.
"We view it as a very positive opportunity. There are some big challenges, some very large amounts of money we have to spend and that is going to start as soon as the final engineering plans are signed off on by all the parties."
As part of The Meadows agreement, the City has agreed to extend Wellock Road through to Woodlawn Avenue. That work is expected to take place this summer.
