Council tells developer no really means no
Council tells developer no really means no
After 18 years of delays, town confirms insistence on starting with a new development plan for modular home project
FYI, I plan to turn on the pay option on March 1. To be able to get all stories, read the archives and comment you will be asked to pay $5 per month, or $50 a year. I will continue to post some stories for free. Below are highlights from today’s council meeting. As usual, I was the only reporter there.
Developer John Spina of Valley Green Homes tried one last time on Tuesday, Feb. 13 to persuade Trent Hills Council to grant him an 11th extension to give him time to meet outstanding requirements for his housing project that received preliminary approval to in 2006.
While there was some support for his latest plan to install 162 modular homes on the site just south of Blommer Chocolate Co., council stuck with the decision made last month to require Valley Green to start over and apply under current building laws, which have changed dramatically in the past 18 years.
Speaking via Zoom after 15 minutes or so of efforts to get the audio working in the council chamber, Spina said he wanted to make “a humble request” that council reconsider its decision and grant another extension.
Although only two of 25 requirements have been met and the town’s planners have never seen detailed engineering drawings, Spina insisted he could deliver those plans by April, be ready to start construction next spring and have all homes in place by the end of 2025. He said the 1,400-1,500 square foot homes would be affordable since they would be priced under $500,000.
Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf noted that the average selling price in Northumberland County in January was $487,000, so the prices would not be particularly low.
Spina said that requiring him to file a new plan could require rezoning, which would open the project up to community complaints, something otherwise restricted under the Ford government’s new laws.
Spina did not respond to phone or email messages seeking clarification about his plans. An observer who works in the modular home business said there are few manufacturers in Ontario or Quebec and it’s unlikely any would have capacity for such a project until late 2025.
Fire Chief’s annual report shows increase in ambulance calls
The 2023 annual report presented by Fire Chief Shawn Jamieson showed that the department responded to 647 calls last year, an increase of 49, about 7.5 per cent.
More than half the calls, 333, were logged as assisting an ambulance, an increase of 73, or 28 per cent over 2022.
Jamieson said all fire departments in the county had seen similar increases in this category and the chiefs are meeting to determine any reasons for the increase.
Councillor Daniel Giddings noted there was an increase in false alarms to nine from just three in 2022 and asked whether property owners are charged a fee for such calls.
Jamieson said he is instituting a policy that any location having more than two false alarms will be charged.
Next summer will be last one for Ranney St. outdoor pool
Council voted to accept a staff report that recommended closing the Ranney St. outdoor pool after next summer.
Regular maintenance will be carried out on the pool, which opened in 1973, to keep it operating next July and August, said Peter Burnett, Director of Community Services.
Last September council asked staff to assess the outdoor pool and cost of retaining it after a delegation asked the municipality to keep it open after the Sunny Life Recreation and Wellness Centre is completed.
Burnett’s said staff reviewed past reports and met with TaskForce Engineering and Aqua Plans - Aquatic Consultants Inc. assess the pool. They concluded it would cost $1.5 million to $2 million to repair it so it would last a few more years, but that would still not bring it up to current requirements for accessibility.
Decision deferred on request for Sports Wall kiosk donation
After a lengthy discussion, council decided to defer a decision about funding a $7,500 kiosk to promote the inductees in the new Trent Hills Sports Wall of Honour.
Jim Peeling, chair of the Sports Wall of Honour Advisory Board, wrote council seeking $7,500 to finance a display kiosk at the Sunny Life Recreation and Wellness Centre that would provide information about the inductees. So far, 12 have been named.
Council considered two options. It has a policy of not providing cash for such requests, so it could have rejected the request; or it could have ignored that policy and provided the money.
Councillor Gene Brahaney said he supported giving the advisory board the money and moved this as a motion, but didn’t have a seconder, so that failed.
Deputy Mayor Metcalf said he supported the idea but felt there needed to be a fundraising plan so that ongoing costs could be covered. Councillor Rob Pope noted that the board hopes to install kiosks in the Hastings Field House and the Warkworth Arena as well.
Peter Burnett, Director of Community Services, said the plan is for the board to be responsible for maintaining and updating the kiosk information and it could become difficult to manage if town staff got involved.
Councillor Dennis Savery said he supported the wall and suggested a decision be deferred until a plan is available that explains the longer-term funding efforts. In the end, council voted for that option.
Separately, the advisory board announced that the first 12 inductees for the new Trent Hills Sports Wall of Honour will be formally recognized at an induction ceremony on Saturday, May 11 at the Warkworth Arena.
More details about timing and how to obtain tickets will available in March. For further information please contact Jim Peeling at the Heritage Centre at 705.653.2634.
Follow the Trent Hills Sports Wall of Honour on Facebook to see all updates. You can see the induction videos here on YouTube.
Town plans to expand tourism efforts
For the past 20 years the Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce has been paid to provide tourism marketing services for the municipality. Now, the chamber has a three-year plan to expand its activities.
The chamber has worked with Caroline Morrow, Director of Strategy and Development, with Bannikin, a tourism consulting agency, to develop a three-year plan, Charting the Course: Trent Hills Tourism Destination Development Plan, that will see a greater focus on managing tourism projects, instead of just marketing them. The plan was financed by RTO8, a regional tourism agency.
Nancy Allanson, Chief Executive Officer of the chamber, said in an interview that over the past couple of years the it has been spending more staff time on management and it realized this should be a focus in coming years.
Under the agreement, which will pay the chamber $91,237 this year, it promotes Trent Hills as a tourism destination, advertises local events and attractions, operates the Visitor Information Centre, and boat dockage services. Next summer it will offer kayak rentals in conjunction with the opening of the new accessible kayak launch.
In her 2023 report to council, Allanson said that in addition to the town’s money it received provincial and federal grants and invested chamber money, for a total expenditure of $184,017.