DEBATE BEGINS ON VKH RESIDENTIAL PROJECT PROPOSAL B U S I N E S S
COVID-19 AFFECTS CHAMPLAIN TOWNSHIP BUDGET PLAN
Three capital works projects for Champlain Township, including a neighbourhood storm sewer upgrade, are postponed until next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. —archives
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
next year when contractors are scram- bling to get as many projects confirmed for their work season and may offer bids at lower cost to secure the contract. Council approved a recommendation to postpone the project to 2021. The proposed financing will not be changing for the time being. Recreation work Two projects for the parks and recre- ation department also are on hold until next year. Plans for additional play structures at Miner Park will go ahead in 2021 instead of this year. The project is not considered an essential service need under the provincial pandemic policy. The $60,000 budgeted for the project will go into the parks and recreation reserve for use next year. Tree planting at L’Orignal Park and Desjardins Park will wait until next year. The $18,000 allocated in this year’s budget for the project will go into the parks and recreation reserve for use next year. The township also allocated $2000 for tree removal this year. That can still go ahead as landscaping work for health and safety reasons is considered an essential service. Publié le mercredi par • Published on Wednesday by: La Compagnie d’édition André Paquette Inc. Imprimé par • Printed by: Imprimerie Prescott et Russell, Hawkesbury, ON # convention : 0040012398
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a few changes in the 2020 budget plan for Champlain Township. Finance Director Kevin Tessier pre- sented council with a summary report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected some of the budget priorities for the township. Three capital works projects, one involving extensive replacement of a neighbourhood storm sewer, are now postponed to next year. The Stephen and St-Denis Streets storm sewer upgrade project was one of the priority items for the public works department this year. The $1.35 million project required a long-term loan for the township. Tessier’s report noted that the proj- ect can be postponed to next year. One 20-metre section is in poor condition, though, and may need replacement this year. Overall, the report noted, postpone- ment of the Stephen/St-Denis storm sewer upgrade to next year should pose no health and safety risk. The township may be able to benefit from potential cost saving by re-tendering the project early
A new 331-unit residential project on this land next to rail line on the east end of Vankleek Hill could be part of the village’s development future if the draft plan for the project gets the approval of Champlain Township council and the United Counties of Prescott-Russell. —photo Gregg Chamberlain
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
units proposed for the 26-acre site, and how it would affect the village’s overall profile. “This would be a huge change in the character of the community,” said Council- lor Tittley, adding that the overall village population density would triple when the development was finished and occupied. “I am definitely against a large expan- sion,” said Andy Perrault, who expressed concern about the effect on the village’s green space and local wildlife habitats. “Think long and hard before you decide. The forests will disappear and (community) magic along with it. This project is just too big.” Development support “We need new housing,” said Louise Sproule, a Higginson Street resident. “I think it’s inevitable that people will want to come here.” Sproule noted that Vankleek Hill’s various festivals and other events make it more popular as both a tourism destination and a place to live. She observed that the density issue and lack of green space as part of the development are the main concerns about the Blais project. “We’re really adding a small village to our village,” she said. “If we have more people come to live here, I think it would be a wonderful thing. I just want it to be a good thing.” “I agree green space is very important,” said Mayor Normand Riopel, adding that a large development like the Blais project could be a benefit to the village. The township planning department will prepare a report for council based on the information and comments during the public meeting. Final approval by both township council and UCPR council is need for the subdivision draft plan. A 20-day public appeal period would follow from those decisions.
Supporters for and against a proposed residential project in Vankleek Hill spoke up during a special public meeting. “This looks more like a city-type sub- division plan,” said Julie Beaudoin, a vil- lage resident, during the May 28 special council session dealing with several zoning applications. Beaudoin referred to developer Yvon Blais’ proposal for a 331-unit residential development on a 26-acre property located near the village core, between Stanley Av- enue west of the Ottawa Central Railway line. On the east side of the railway line is the village’s industrial/commercial park area along Terry Fox Drive, where the Beau’s Natural Brewery and other heavy commercial or light industrial facilities are located. Blais’ proposed residential development would include 213 single-family dwellings and 118 semi-detached dwellings. The developer’s plans call for a seven-phase project over a 10- to 12-year period, with 40 to 50 homes built during each phase of the development. The location of the proposed development is within the designated village settlement area for Vankleek Hill, which is subject to both township and United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) planning approvals. Site access would be via Stanley Avenue, Higginson Street, and Farmer Avenue. The land is zoned for low-density residential development and May 28 presentation is part of the subdivision draft plan approval process. Development opposition Beaudoin and several other speakers, including Ward 3 Councillor Violaine Tittley, expressed concern about the large number of
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