Flooding concerns prompt Sudbury to delay development

Sudbury city councillors have put off making a decision on a controversial hilltop subdivision.

Sunrise Estates, which overlooks the city's downtown, wants permission to add 77 more houses.

But some already blame the development for flooding in the Flour Mill neighbourhood down below.

A lawyer representing the Sault Ste. Marie-based SalDan Developments showed up, unannounced, at Monday night's meeting.

But it was a move that didn't impress city councillor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann.

"I'm very encouraged that the developer wants to speak to the city, but they haven't done so since 2010," she said.

Solution 'on the table'

Lawyer Steve Vrbanac says his client is interested in working with the city to answer residents concerns.

"I'm tempted to respond to councillor Landry-Altmann's comments," Vrbanac said. "[But] I think I see a solution on the table."

Councillors delayed a decision on the subdivision expansion until next month.

They're hoping for more information on city staff's plans to fix the drainage systems and who would pay for it.

City staff has suggested the developer share in some of the costs of building a new flood wall.

No houses until conditions met

But Councillor Evelyn Dutrisac said shes not sure taxpayers should cover any of the bill.

"How much is he going to get per unit," she asked. "He's going to making money on it for sure. The residents down below are flooded and might be flooded again, are [in a] living hell."

City councillor Fabio Belli said he sees it as a great chance to work with the developer and hopefully make everyone happy.

"[Its] an opportunity to protect the people on Mountain Street, protect the people on Leslie Street, but also have development happening," Belli said.

The city has already given the developer a list of improvements to be made to the existing drainage system, and said, until those conditions are met, not a single new house can be built.