Last year, the Town of Collingwood officially opposed a development proposed for a wetland. Now, most Councillors appear ready to appease the developer, putting nearby residents at high risk of flooding.
Mayor Yvonne Hamlin, Deputy Mayor Tim Fryer, Coun. Kathy Jeffery, Coun. Rob Ring, Coun. Ian MacCulloch, Coun. Chris Potts and Coun. Steve Perry have worked a closed-doors deal with developer Huntingwood Trails Ltd. to greenlight development based on rudimentary 1-Dimensional flood modelling. This, despite the fact that the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust came to the table with superior 2-Dimensional flood modelling, which is what the Town uses for its own Drainage Master Plan.
The threat of flooding is real.
Based on the 2D modelling, if Huntingwood Trails gets built, a 100-year storm will inundate next-door neighbourhoods like Silver Glen, Cranberry Trails West and Princeton Shores. That means wet basements, impassable roads and backed-up sewers. Does that sound like good planning?
We know.
The Blue Mountain Watershed Trust has been fighting bad developments for 30 years. We have oodles of info to share on this one. The bottom line is that, as per the Provincial Planning Statement (2024) policy 5.1.1, the proposed development will result in unacceptable risk to public health or safety or of property damage.
Q: Why is the Town of Collingwood ready to appease a developer while vastly increasing risk of flooding for its residents?
A: No idea, but it’s a good question.
Q: Why is 2D hydrological flood modelling so important to the Town for their own planning, but not required for a development in a wetland?
A: Again, we have no clue.
But we’re going to find out. On January 26th. And we need your help.
As an official Party to the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing on January 26th, the Watershed Trust will have some hard questions for the developer. For the Town of Collingwood. For the local Conservation Authority. And we won’t let this inferior 1D modelling stand, as it threatens Collingwood residents’ homes, not to mention precious Silver Creek Wetland habitat.
This is what the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust does. We protect our cherished wild places, and we prioritize the rights of residents over developers. For this particular fight, we’ve spent about $65,000 so far on 2D flood modelling, expert opinions and legal fees. We estimate another $25,000-$35,000 in expenses once we go to bat at the Tribunal.
Your donation will protect a cherished wild place and Collingwood residents’ rights. We can’t allow land developers’ agendas to come before citizen rights.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
#1 Learn more at the information session:
Collingwood Council: Don’t Flood Us Out!!!
MEETING @ THE COLLINGWOOD LIBRARY ON FRIDAY JANUARY 16TH @ 4 PM
The Town has struck a closed-door deal with the developer. This agreement relies on the developer’s basic flood modelling, while ignoring more advanced modelling commissioned by the Trust.
Come learn from our experts
The analysis shows that in the event of a 100-year storm, the built development would cause floodwaters to inundate parts of Silver Glen, Cranberry West and Forest neighbourhoods. Alarmingly, the Town has accepted the developer’s rudimentary modeling even though it uses the far superior flood modeling for its own Stormwater Management Master Plan.
Come see the modelling, hear from our experts and get informed. Please don’t miss this important meeting. Your property—and its value—could depend on the outcome. On January 26th we need to WIN at the Ontario Land Tribunal…and we need your help!
Please RSVP: info@watershedtrust.ca
#2 Contact Town of Collingwood Council
Contact Town of Collingwood Council and let them know your thoughts. Call or write. Please send to the Town Clerk clerk@collingwood.ca and copy members of Town Council, asking that your letter be included in the Consent Agenda at the next Council meeting.
Collingwood Council Website
#3 Donate!
We are in dire need of funding to have our lawyer and required experts at the Ontario Land Tribunal starting January 26th 2026.
Thank you!
~ your local natural heritage stewardship team @watershedtrust