A new bakery and cafe will open in Sutton village this month , employing a team of up to five bakers and 25 other staff.
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Sutton resident and Fyshwick Markets' Crust Bakery proprietor Nick Smith says his latest venture, delayed for about two years, should open early next month as a meeting place for mothers dropping their children off at the school, and a growing trail of visitors.
"Before I lived there, it was never on the radar," Mr Smith said. "Having lived out there you get a lot of passing traffic on weekends, people going for scenic drives.
"There is a school there, a lot of residents, traffic along that road has doubled in the last three to four years," Mr Smith said.
Sutton residents say a new bakery and coffee cannot come soon enough. Former Sutton Community Association president Paul Kable says some close-by neighbours were concerned the bakery suppling several other outlets could turn the area into a mini-industrial site. But deliveries to and from the bakery could not happen before 7am.
Mr Kable says the primary school has more than 200 pupils, and most come from outside the village, drawn by its good reputation. A horse riding club and two tennis courts are well supported.
Most village residents are commuters to Canberra, and accept development is inevitable. "The important thing is it is to be done intelligently, and as far as possible maintain the character of the village," Mr Kable said.
"One thing would help is a by-pass, Sutton Road is very busy, a lot of trucks use it as a short cut from the South Coast to the Hume Highway, including logging trucks that come right through the village," he said.
Water and sewerage services would cause rapid growth that would replace the village atmosphere.
Community association president Richard Marson says Yass Valley Council is about to begin workshops on a master plan for the village and is developing a wider settlement strategy across the shire.
Mr Marson says the association does not meet regularly, but is active. "We keep the seat warm for when issues come up, so there is a forum for wider consultation."
Mr Marson says the village of 50 homes, has about 250 people. Most work in Canberra or Queanbeyan and will accept more development so long as it is controlled and managed.
"The feeling has changed a bit since we last had this discussion, when there was a strong push against development," Mr Marson said.
