That’s how many homes will now be located in the Mattamy subdivision, following the approval of 80 new homes by the town’s development services committee last Wednesday evening.

The application, from home builder Clearbrook Construction, includes changes to the lot layout of several areas of the subdivision and the internal road pattern.

The changes were more than some committee members would accept.

Bracebridge deputy mayor Steve Clement said the north-end subdivision is becoming overcrowded, especially with the opening of a new high school and the sportsplex in the same area.

Clearbrook Trail, the main road through the subdivision, is too congested and the building lots are getting progressively smaller, said Clement.

A former paramedic, Clement said he also has concerns about emergency access to the subdivision, as most of the roads are dead ends.

The developer also indicated a playground will be constructed at a cost of $60,000, but Clement questioned whether that would be enough money to do a proper job.

Ron Walton, municipal engineer, said from his experience building municipal playgrounds, $60,000 should be enough.

Clearbrook Trail was approved as an adequate road by council in 2004, said Walton, but he agreed that the addition of 80 homes warrants a new traffic study. The developer has already agreed to construct a new emergency access road, he added.

Clement remained unconvinced and voted against the motion.

He was joined by councillor Edith Nichols, who did not speak to the application, but voted against it nonetheless.

The approval passed on the votes of councillors Barry and Scott Young, and Mayor Don Coates.

After the meeting, councillor Barry Young said he had no problem approving the expansion, provided the developer continues to comply with all of the rules and regulations.

“In the end, I think there are enough checks and balances in place to make sure the town achieves what it wants to achieve,” he said.

The developer had asked to remove the traffic study, and Young said he was pleased that the committee “stuck to their guns.”

With the District of Muskoka’s current water and sewer rate predicament, Young said the density of the new homes is exactly the type of development needed to spread out the cost.a