Thessalon ready to grow thanks to major development grant

Water and sewer systems grant will allow town to expand economic opportunities across Highway 17, providing homes to new and current residents

The Highway 17 development area. Photo courtesy of Shannon Vine photography

The Town of Thessalon says a grant from the Housing Enabling Water Systems Fund will have a far-reaching impact on the economic future of the community, allowing it to expand everything from homes to businesses and schools.

The Highway 17 Development Project will bring the municipal water and sewer system across Highway 17 to 17.23 acres of vacant land owned by the municipality. This will further expand Thessalon across the highway, which will increase housing opportunities, according to a news release.

“This funding will help the development of a new subdivision that will provide stable housing and homes to new and current residents of Thessalon," said Mayor Bill Rosenberg. "The expansion of Thessalon’s water and sewer system across Highway 17 will also be a benefit to the economic development of Thessalon, the growth of our schools, businesses and the future community development in the town."

The province of Ontario through the Ministry of Infrastructure will contribute 73 per cent of the eligible costs, estimated at $1.1 million.

“It’s an exciting time to be a councillor as well as being part of the planning team as we continue to upgrade and expand our infrastructure," said Coun. Kevin King, who sits as chair of Thessalon’s Planning Advisory Committee. "As we near the completion of the Huron Street Water and Sewer project, with this funding announcement, we can move forward to provide new infrastructure to get us one more step closer to developing the subdivision that the council has been working on for the past few years.”

The Highway 17 Development project has been in the pre-development stage for several years with the council preparing these lands for residential development by securing all of this property, completing an Official Plan amendment, a zoning bylaw update, the passing of a deeming bylaw, a property consolidation, a survey and a reference plan.

Each of these steps was necessary to reach the council’s goal of developing more housing opportunities.

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