What we heard and what's next

What we heard

Thank you to everyone who took the time to review the draft St. George Water and Wastewater Capacity Allocation Policy and share your questions, concerns, and ideas.

Public input helps guide how we plan for growth in a sustainable, fair, and informed way. Below is a summary of the key themes we heard from the community through the comments and questions we received.

• Environmental Concerns and Fairchild Creek

Several participants expressed concern about the environmental impacts of additional development, especially relating to Fairchild Creek, which some believe already experiences poor water quality. Residents asked how future development would be monitored and whether local water systems can support growth without harm to the ecosystem.

• Infill Development and Intensification

Several contributors voiced support for infill housing and increased building height within the existing community, rather than sprawling into undeveloped areas. There was interest in planning that protects farmland and natural areas while increasing housing supply more efficiently.

• Impacts to Surrounding Lands and Specific Developments

Participants asked how the policy will affect certain properties or developments, such as the Oaks of St. George golf course, or lands surrounded by proposed subdivisions. Some residents were concerned about traffic and servicing impacts to their neighbourhoods and future access to infrastructure.

• General Support and Community Engagement

A number of participants thanked the County for being transparent and for publishing information in a way that is accessible and open to feedback.

How your input influenced the policy

You asked: What about protecting Fairchild Creek and the environment?

The policy is grounded in the results of an Assimilative Capacity Study, which confirmed that the receiving water body (Fairchild Creek) can handle the expanded wastewater capacity without environmental harm. The plant will operate within provincial standards to prevent water pollution

You asked: Can we prioritize infill and smarter use of land?

The policy reserves at least 7.5% of the total wastewater treatment capacity (363 m³/day) for infill development, going even further than required by the County’s Official Plan Amendment (OPA 8). These projects will receive priority as long as capacity is available.

You asked: How will the policy apply to existing properties and private landowners?

All developments outside of the Landowners Group are considered on a first-come, first-served basis once they are ready to register and meet County requirements. Infill properties within the existing service boundary will be given priority access while capacity remains.

You asked: How will this be monitored and updated?

The County will:

• Monitor system usage regularly
• Update the Development Tracking Tool twice per year, and share the latest version on the County website
• Revise the policy if water or wastewater systems reach 90% capacity, or if new development would push the system beyond its limits

What's next

The County will continue monitoring system capacities and update the Water and Wastewater Capacity Tracking Tool twice per year, which will be published for public access.

Servicing capacity will be reserved for development applications as they move through planning approvals, in line with the approved policy.

This project is now complete. Thank you again for taking part in this important conversation. Together, we’re helping ensure that growth in St. George is sustainable, fair, and future-ready.