Flooding could isolate Nappan Island residents
Lower Trent Conservation warns causeway might be flooded and impassable
Trent Hills is examining what action needs to be taken to ensure access to Nappan Island for current residents and eventual residents of an approved 67-unit subdivision, if/when we get hit by a major storm that causes flooding.
Lower Trent Conservation Authority has recommended against a proposal to sever and rezone two residential lots on McCann Island, just south of Nappan Island, because new floodplain mapping shows that the Nappan Island causeway, the only route in or out, would be underwater in a major storm.
Jim Peters, Director of Planning and Development, told council on Tuesday during a public hearing on planning proposals that the municipality had been aware of concerns about the height of the causeway for some time, but the conservation authority’s recent work had clarified the issue.
Peters said a survey will be done of the causeway to determine whether it is high enough, as recommended by the authority.
Councillor Rick English asked, “Who will pay for any changes?”
Peters said that would have to be determined, but he hoped to tap the developers to share any cost. Sunny Life Properties Inc. had applied to rezone two parts of a 67-hectare (166 acre) parcel on McCann Island. Those applications are what led to the Lower Trent’s report.
In addition, a subdivision with up to 67 units has been approved for a 311-acre property on Nappan Island.
Peters said the municipality will be working closely with the mapping expert at Lower Trent to determine the flooding boundaries, which are based on the latest projections for rain quantities that we are suffering due to climate change.
The Lower Trent report by Planning Ecologist Kim Stephens said provincial policy “prohibits development in areas that would be rendered inaccessible to people and vehicles during times of flooding hazards unless it has been demonstrated that the site has safe access. The floodplain for the Trent River appears to cross Nappan Island Road and safe access to the subject lands has not been demonstrated.”
The report also said: “Flood waters over the causeway of Nappan Island Road east of South Shores Road may exceed 0.3 metres in depth and safe access with consideration to the flood hazard does not appear to be available to the subject lands.”
Peters said the municipality was looking at the causeway to determine whether it is wide enough to permit it to be raised.
At some point, the planning department will consider all this information and make a recommendation to council on Sunny Life’s severance and rezoning requests.
Residents raise concerns about Oliver Rd. development
Several residents attended the public hearing meeting to raise questions about plans to build housing on a 6.86-acre property that abuts their backyards.
Barb Apars, who raised many issues that worry her and her neighbours, said she supports development but doesn’t want to have a five-storey apartment building overlooking her yard.
Owner James Steele said he and his sister Leah cannot afford to retain the home that they inherited. “I wish I could stay in the neighbourhood, but I can’t afford to buy out my sister and make the repairs to the house that are needed so I can live there,” he said.
The issue before council was a proposal to rezone the property from development to residential. Planner Cameron Law said the municipality had decided it would be best to rezone the property to residential 3, holding, since there are no details about what will be built.
Resident Gord Reid, who lives beside the property on Oliver St., said he was concerned that all the traffic from the property would be funnelled onto the street.
The entrance to the proposed development will be from Major Street, said a report by Neil Allanson, Manager of Roads and Urban Services.
Apars also expressed traffic concerns and asked whether the speed limit could be lowered to 40 kilometres.
Jim Peters said any development would require a report by a traffic engineer who could recommend speed limits, road widening, or other changes.
“There is no detailed proposal at this time but in general it is expected that the development will be a mix of townhouse and multi-storey building,” he said. “The ownership may be freehold, condominium and rental. It is expected to be a mix.”
In response to a question from Apars, Peters said the town permits five-storey apartment buildings, but no developer has ever requested to build one. He suggested a two-storey unit was more likely and said it would be located on the north side of the property away from existing residents.
The existing barns and outbuildings will be torn down, but “the existing house is to be kept and eventually severed off as a separate parcel,” Peters said.
He told the residents they will be informed of plans as they develop, but said that there is no need for another public meeting, unless the developer wants to hold one.
Apars said she wants to have input into what is built and ensure the existing neighbourhood is protected.
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Would you not think the planning department would be aware that the Trent Severn controls the height of water at the massive dam at Healey Fall? Back in my childhood days it was rumoured that Al Capone the gangster vacation at the Puff Ball Inn now torn down. Motorists have used that causeway for years. The taxpayers have got stuck with a 1.7 million dollar bridge at Nappan Island along with a pedestrian walkway. Would the planning dept. be recommending another pedestrian walkway over the causeway. By the way Grand Rd flooded one time due to human error. You could have paddled a canoe down it.
Council should be directing their attention to the fifth concession and Cty. Rd 30 in time for the opening of the health centre. Should look at lights and speed limits.