Hastings development plan inches ahead
Hastings development plan inches ahead
Former arena site attracts interest from developers
The plan to redevelop the former site of Hastings Memorial Arena is moving forward, but at the speed of an aging Zamboni.
Trent Hills council has been in discussions with two developers who are interested in the property, which is located on Bridge Street North in the centre of Hastings.
At its meeting on Tuesday, April 28, council passed a motion to issue a public notice seeking interest from any and all potential developers. It also went into private session, as it has several times in recent meetings, to discuss, well, I’m not sure what they discuss in private other than they say it is about selling the property. After the private sessions, council resumes in public and tells Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Phillips to do whatever it was they told her to do in private, without disclosing what that is.
Mayor Bob Crate said the public notice may attract other proposals. Ultimately, council will decide which plan to accept. There has been community support for affordable housing on the location.
The public notice is just the latest step in the process. On April 25, council passed a bylaw formally declaring the land surplus to the needs of the municipality, a prelude to any sale.
Property that floods gets rezoned
Some properties where homes were built in the 1970s at the intersection of Division Street West and Bridge Street North in Hastings have suffered springtime flooding several times.
At the urging of staff, Trent Hills council has rezoned the vacant property the experiences the most flooding, changing its designation from residential to development. Staff said the new zoning would flag the site and be a reminder to future planners not to allow construction.
Councillor Gene Brahaney asked what would become of the property.
Jim Peters, Director of Planning, said the municipality has regularly ensured that the weeds and grass are cut on the property and “it may well be left in its natural state.”
At the public meeting on April 2, residents expressed concern that the rezoning does nothing to prevent future floods. Debra McMullan, who owns 14 Division Street West at the intersection with Bridge St. North, emailed me to say that the flooding has only affected one house, her neighbour. “I would like to clarify with you that at no time in the eight years I have owned this house has my home flooded,” she wrote. Water accumulates on her lawn and on some other properties.
Burnley Creek Bridge repairs may move ahead
An update on my earlier story about plans by Northumberland County to repair the Burnley Creek Bridge in Warkworth.
Tenders for the project are being accepted until Wednesday, May 29, Neil Allanson, Manager of Roads and Urban Services, told council. He said the county hopes to get a bid within its budget and have it approved by county council on June 19 with work starting in July.
Trent Hills passed a bylaw lowering the speed limit on Old Hastings Rd. to 40 km/h from July 2 to November 29, while the construction is under way.
New head of public works
Mayor Crate introduced Steven van De Feere who has just joined the municipality as the Director of Public Works. Van De Feere previously worked as Director of Transportation for the Region of Waterloo. He worked for the region for 25 years.
Phillips said in an email that “the Director of Public Works position is new. It replaces the General Manager of Infrastructure and Public Works Administration position, held by Scott White. When Scott retired, the decision was made to modify the position to oversee the entire Public Works department including roads, water, wastewater, and infrastructure.”
Since the position simply replaces another one, there is no impact on the budget.
Rec centre now 75% complete
Crate said he and other councillors recently toured the Sunny Life Recreation and Wellness Centre and he was looking forward to inviting the people of Trent Hills to see the completed centre because “it is going to be spectacular.”
On May 27 the municipality said on its website and on social media that the centre is 75 per cent complete.
Warkworth has a twin in New Zealand
Mayor Crate has shared an invitation to visit Warkworth, N.Z., on Saturday, Nov. 9 to take part in its Founds Day Celebration.
Dave Parker, chair of Heritage Mahurangi Inc., which is responsible for international relations for the New Zealand township recently wrote Crate to invite him, other councillors, or anyone from Warkworth to join the party.
Apparently, Parker became friends with Wynn Platt who was clerk here in 1984. Then, in 2003 then Mayor George McCleary and others visited New Zealand and a twinning proclamation was signed. Sue Dickens wrote an interesting story about this history on Trent Hills Now. You can still read it and see several pictures here.
If you’re interested in contacting Dave Parker his email is dh.parker@xtra.co.nz.