The Low Down - June 4, 2008

56 green acres for Hendrick Farm

Horses, farms… developer did his homework

By Nick Anning

He’s posted his blog, talked to the locals and now Sean McAdam is ready to share his first draft plan for his proposed 110-acre Hendrick Farm development in Chelsea.

And the Chelseaite and developer is confident his neighbours will like the design, which he said “preserves a distinction between the city and Chelsea, and preserves the heritage of Hendrick Farm.”

The crowd-pleaser: 56 acres of green space along with an equestrian centre or possibly organic farms.

A total of 110 units of residential and commercial buildings based on the “cluster housing” principle, means McAdam’s development will put density at Chelsea’s current level of one unit per acre.

McAdam aims to present the plans, which he thinks comply with the 2005 master plan, to Chelsea municipality this week.

He also very much wants the “input and collaboration” of Chelsea residents, whether they are saying “great,” or that he’s got it “all wrong!”

But, said the developer who brought the large Chelsea Park housing development, he is “extremely confident” the plans are a “reflection of what people want to see happen” on the farm located west of Hwy 5 adjacent to Old Chelsea Rd.

McAdam anticipates approximately 90 residential units built, which he hopes will include cooperative housing in one sector. Designs for the residential units are not complete, but he expects a mix of sizes, up to 2,100 square feet, clustered together on lots approximately a quarter of an acre in size.

By clustering the houses, which will nevertheless back on to vast areas of green space, he will be able to “preserve the rural sense” that many equate with the land that is the gateway to the municipality.

ORGANIC FARM?
McAdam’s plan also sets aside around 25 acres for agricultural activities. The Chelsea developer announced plans for the riding centre when he announced the land purchased weeks ago. The idea for an organic farm came via the blog he introduced for community input into the development.

MARKET
McAdam also sees a market, which could be both open-air and indoor, which will hopefully utilize existing Hendrick’s family farm buildings.

The commercial aspect of the development will be introduced in two phases, and target primarily recro-touristic enterprises, which McAdam said would be in contrast to the professional retail units intended for the Chelsea Creek development east of Hwy 5.

ACCESS
Access to the Hendrick Farm development, which does not have a set time line at this stage, will be via Chelbrook Rd, which is off Old Chelsea Rd., opposite Café Soup’herbe. A limited number of additional roads will be built within the development to allow access for residents.

PRIVATE WELLS
McAdam has commissioned a hydro-geological study to test water quantity and quality; a green light will see all units drill private wells.

The whole development will hook into the municipality’s future wastewater treatment system for Old Chelsea.

McAdam’s blog can be reached at chelseamatters.blogspot.com.