MORRISBURG – After nearly five years of planning, paperwork, applications and approvals, the first phase of the Dutch Meadows subdivision at the west end of Morrisburg is moving forward.
The 20 year development project by Iroquois-based contractor Swank Construction, received its final environmental assessment approval on February 1st.
First announced in September 2016, the development is split across four phases and will see 74 detached and 62 semi-detach homes built. In addition, the developer has three condo buildings with a combined 48 units planned for the southern edge of the 54 acre development.
Site work began in Fall 2020 to prepare for the development, which has continued over the winter.
“It’s exciting news for us to receive the necessary approvals for the project,” said Ron Swank with Swank Construction.
He said that the company plans to start construction of detached and semi-detached homes in the first year of the project.
“We have received very high interest in all the types of homes we are offering to build,” Swank said.
The company is offering custom-built bungalows, two-story homes, single-level homes, and semi-detached homes. Construction of the condo buildings will not begin right away however.
“After a review of the project and registered interest, it’s more efficient to start building homes first, then shortly after we will start building the condo-style building,” Swank said adding the time line doesn’t mean nothing is happening with the condos. “We have been working on the planning process for these buildings and continue to do so. It’s just unfortunately a lengthy process compared to building a single-dwelling home.”
The condo project is expected to begin in 2022 and will have two different floor plan layouts to choose from.
In February the company began contacting potential home buyers who registered for more information on the project.
Lot prices for semi-detached homes are $40,000, detached home lots are priced between $65,000 and $75,000.
Swank said that models and prices for homes will be released later in March but expect them to be between $240-$280 per square foot for detached homes, $200-$240 for semi-detached homes. All prices are depending on finishes, plus the lot price. Lots are not for sale individually.
Phase one of the project will have 19 detached and 18 semi-detached homes.
Swank said that with the high demand for homes, as soon as the first phase of the project is sold and near completion, the second phase will immediately begin.
Work on connecting the subdivision to Steward Drive will be completed in the summer months Swank explained. This entrance to the development will be for residential pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The company will use the construction entrance on County Road 2 for heavy equipment and contractor vehicles.
Swank said that like everyone else, the last year has been challenging with the COVID-19 pandemic. It slowed the company’s progress in some areas as they worked towards the final project approvals.
“With the high interest and support we have received indicated the demand for new homes in South Dundas, we remain excited to be moving forward to allow those the opportunity to build a new home in this great community.”
Progress towards the project has also been made at the municipal level. South Dundas council approved at its March 8th meeting a $1,027,453 bid from David Brown Construction for the new sanitary pumping station.
The infrastructure is required for connecting the Dutch Meadows project to Morrisburg’s wastewater system.
The project tender attracted eight bids and was lower than the engineer’s estimate of $1.2 million.
“I’m really glad to see that we received competitive bids on this,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds.
The completion date for the pumping station project is August 31, 2021.
South Dundas chief administrative officer Shannon Geraghty said that the completion date lines up with the developers time lines, saying that Swank Construction is looking at a September start.
(With files from Rebecca Comfort.)
