SUIVI DE LA CONSULTATION DU 11 AVRIL 2015 SUR LES RÈGLEMENTS 254 ET 256

DOCUMENTS DÉPOSÉS

FOLLOW-UP TO THE CONSULTATION MEETING OF APRIL 11, 2015 REGARDING BY-LAWS 254

AND 256

DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED

TITRE FRANÇAIS TITRE ANGLAIS RÉFÉRENCE

Forum citoyen, 19 mai 2015 Citizen Forum, May 19 2015 Document 1

Questions et recommandations de David James

Questions and recommendations by David James

Document 2

Contrôle de l’érosion de Louise Gratton

Erosion control by Louise Gratton

Document 3

Quelle vision du développement économique de Sutton d’Éric Pineault et Daphnée Poirier

What is the Economic development vision for Sutton by Éric Pineault and Daphnée Poirier

Document 4

Pétition d’un groupe de citoyens

Petition by a group of citizens Document 5

Mémoire de Charles Weldon Paper submitted by Charles Weldon

Document 6

Sutton, une ressource non renouvelable par Lydia Weldon

Sutton, a non-renewable resource by Lydia Weldon Document 7

Demande de Catherine Zellweger

Request by Catherine Zellweger

Document 8

Mémoire contre les projets de règlements 254 et 256 par un groupe de citoyens

Paper against the draft by-laws 254 and 256 submitted by a group of citizen

Document 9

Demande de Guy Carignan Request by Guy Carignan Document 10

Lettre ouverte de Gilles Lavoie

Open letter by Gilles Lavoie Document 11

Contribution de Gilles Lavoie Contribution by Gilles Lavoie Document 12

Accès des véhicules d’urgence par Jean Marsolais

Access of emergency vehicles by Jean Marsolais

Document 13

Mémoire de la Corporation de développement économique

Paper submitted by the Corporation de développement économique

Document 14

Consultation publique de Sébastien Landry

Public consultation by Sébastien Landry

Document 15

TITRE FRANÇAIS TITRE ANGLAIS RÉFÉRENCE

État de la situation sur les propriétés de Sutton par Andrew Richards

Sutton Property Situation by Andrew Richards Document 16

Pétition d’un groupe de citoyen

Petition by a group of citizens 17

Sutton Property Situation Compiled 20 May 2015 by Andrew Richards

The by-laws 254 and 256 have over 300 articles. Many of the articles are welcomed clarifications and improvements. Some of the articles have proved highly contentious for the community – particularly around increasing the spread of development in wilderness areas. Two camps have emerged on these contentious points. One camp tends to emphasize conserving Sutton’s wilderness assets. The other tends to emphasize increasing economic development and Sutton’s tax base. The process of debate and discovery has been a very healthy reflection for Sutton and the following data and analysis is in the same spirit – What opportunities can be harnessed in the best interest of Sutton as a whole and also realized for maintaining and enhancing the quality of life of its residents and visitors. Two public requests for the data that precipitated the more contentious proposals have so far gone unanswered. The following data has been gathered and analyzed out of a curiosity as to what is actually going on in Sutton and, from there, to explore what might best serve the town as a whole.

Data on Current Real Estate Situation in Sutton

Current Real Estate Generally o 2014 Demand and Supply

90 real estate transactions (houses, land, rental units) 205 listings

o Current 2015 market balance A sellers market – there are 3 new listings for every offer Average time to sell: 6 months

o Current 2015 availability 94 houses 56 lots

Senior Demographics o Rate of annual increase: 100 people in 65+ demographic o Employee to Patient Ratio1: 1:1

1 Our Lady of the Meadows in Richford, VT has 76 employees for 80 people currently in their care

The Situation for Lots

o Demand for lots: 10 year average: 30 new dwellings each year Peak: 60 new dwellings in 2004 Low: 10 new dwellings in 2011 For 2014: 27 new dwellings constructed Usage: 50% full time residences, 50% seasonal

o Supply of lots Current 2015: 128 lots for sale Listed on Centris1: 59 vacant residential lots Developments2: 69 lots Unbuilt lots3: 100 building lots with no construction Estimated inventory: 228 lots Inventory in years4: 7.5 years

1 Quebec’s real estate listing service 2 These lots are for sale privately & not listed on Centris

3 For every lot for sale there is estimated to be approximately 1 lot that is not for sale and not being built on

4 228 lots / 30 new dwellings/year = 7.5 years inventory

The Situation for Residential Housing o Houses listed on Centris: 94

Houses < $300,000: 37 Houses $68k $209k: Many of the listings are in the greater village area Without an extensive search, a further 5 houses privately for sale

in the $70k - $200k were observed within a short distance of the village core

o Sutton’s current regulations do not readily accommodate small or micro housing and no formal property development or planning, public or private, is under way in this area as yet.

A Picture of Two Competing Priorities for increasing the tax base, creating employment, attracting and retaining citizens, maintaining and

improving quality of life for residents, accessibility for a diverse social cross section of residents, economic development, conserving wilderness areas…

Priority on Core Concentration

Infill residences (subdividing buildings and or adding small units to existing village and village adjacent lots and buildings) for:

o autonomous seniors who would like to remain connected to the community and live in close proximity to services

o young family entry points either in a rental unit or renting a unit to assist with their own home ownership

o entrepreneur employment opportunities – new construction, alterations, landlords, maintenance

Development of senior housing and care facilities o Provide quality later life situations for older citizens of Sutton o Provide jobs for Sutton residents, especially young families o Ensure a supply of larger homes being vacated for following

generations Town accommodation and promotion of small and micro house

building as well as property developments using this mode of building. Muli-unit buildings Limited and carefully planned infill development in wilderness zones

Priority on Wilderness Concentration

A priority on a general expansion of wilderness property development by permitting the density of wilderness area residences to double and relaxing slope and laneway requirements

Provide developer and contractor opportunities Secondary focus on village core development

Summary Points

The current priority seems to be on a general expansion of wilderness property development.

The current opportunities and abundant supply of wilderness property seem to suggest the heavy focus of the town would be more appropriately placed on village and village adjacent opportunities and a secondary focus on well considered and highly specific wilderness area development.

o Sutton currently has a 7.5 year inventory of vacant lots available for building - the supply of building lots is not at all in a critical state.

o Senior housing and care facilities: Are full with waiting lists and this population segment is

growing – this aspect of Sutton is in, or rapidly approaching, a critical shortage phase

Provide one-off jobs for developer/construction jobs and then full time employment for a wide range of vocations and people. While wilderness property development mostly only provides one-off jobs for developer and construction vocations

o Small and Micro housing is a growing phenomena, particularly for younger generations, but has also long been an attractive option for senior generations.

o Multi-Unit and Infill housing opportunities are plentiful in the village core

Appendix - Detailed Data Data on Lots Currently for Sale

Senior Data from Sutton 2035