After possibly 20 years of virtually no progress, it appears residential development on Veterans Way might finally become a reality, depending on the outcome of a one-day hearing at Laurel Jan. 25.

The proposed development - covering essentially Lots 2 and 3 and part of Lot 1 (north of Greenwood Cemetery) - has been before the Ontario Municipal Board for almost four years.

Parties to the hearing have included developers Hamount Investment Ltd. and Valleygrove Investments Inc., as well as both Amaranth and Orangeville, along with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and housing and Credit Valley Conservation.

Amaranth, however, had not been in opposition to the development although the council did require changes from the original subdivision design. It was Orangeville that launched an appeal of Amaranth's apparent approval of the plan.

The Orangeville appeal was based on the proximity of the proposed development to one of the town's wells - on a site north of the cemetery and south of the development.

The developers, represented by the same lawyer, appealed Amaranth Council's "refusal or neglect" to rezone the lands to allow construction of estate residential houses and, at the same time, referred to the Board the ministry's "failure ... to make a decision" on the proposed plan of subdivision.

According to an oral decision by OMB member D. L. Gates, councils of the town and the township are to be consulted for instructions "once they have an entire settlement package. Both municipalities are prepared to attempt to obtain instructions in December. However, each want the ability to send to their respective Councils the package in early January, 2008, if time becomes tight by virtue of late delivery of materials to them or because of the reduced number of Council meetings resulting from the December holiday schedule."

Mr. Gates concluded that all parties have agreed to co-operate to resolve the issues expeditiously.

Former mayor Bob Currie was head of Amaranth council for about 16 years of the development saga. He recalled that the earliest owner of most of the property at issue was a firm called "United Lands." That company attempted to develop but eventually threw in the towel. The present owners got involved several years later.

As a former mayor, Mr. Currie said, he could understand Orangeville's concerns about the proximity of the well. In addition, he said, the development would be on part of the headwaters of the Credit River.

Had the county's plans for a northern extension of Riddell Road been implemented, the northern bypass - an extension of Hansen Boulevard - would have bisected the residential development, and would have intersected with Veterans Way (County 16).

The county did undertake a study of the extension. Amaranth council blocked the extension, not only because of its possible effect on the residential development but also because it would have meant removal of the Greenwood facility and at least one other business on County 109.