Region of Queens Administration Building. Photo Ed Halverson

Rezoning of an area to accommodate to construction of co-op housing topped the latest meeting of Region of Queens council.

No one spoke in favour or against the proposed multi-unit co-op development at a public hearing ahead of Tuesday’s council meeting.

Council approved the rezoning to allow the construction in the Lawrence Street/Amherst Street part of Liverpool.

Also receiving council approval was a request from the Medway Head Lighthouse Society to allow liquor to be served at the opening night of their annual art show.

Council then approved the $314,700 + HST purchase of a front-end loader for the Queens solid waste facility. The purchase came in over $70,000 less than the budgeted amount of $385,000 + HST.

Next up was the appointment of Miles Harlow as Fire Inspector for the municipality. Harlow is a building inspector for the Region and will continue in that role as he takes on the responsibilities of fire inspector alongside the municipality’s current sole fire inspector Tim Clattenburg.

In the discussion portion of the meeting, a question was asked during the Council Implementation Report as to what progress is being made to sell off some the Region’s surplus properties.

Planning staff had been tasked with developing a policy for the equitable sale of surplus lands but say there hasn’t been time. They are processing a high number of permits which need to take priority over the policy development.

Next council tasked staff with cleaning up graffiti on municipally owned property in Port Mouton.

The first quarter financial review continues to show high deed transfer tax payments. The deed-transfer tax puts 1.5 percent from the sale of any property in Queens into municipal coffers. Staff had predicted $720,000 in tax revenue for the entire year but has taken in $321,905 in just the first three months of the year, almost half of what they were expecting for all of 2023/24.

Finally, council is looking at installing security cameras in the recreation areas at Queens Place after vandals have been leaving broken glass and graffiti throughout the campus. Staff will explore options and bring a report back to council at the next meeting that will outline possible solutions and costs.

The next council meeting will be held in council chambers on September 12 beginning at 9:00am.

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Proposed site for multi-unit housing on former Garika lands. From Region of Queens public meeting package

Region of Queens council approved zoning changes that clear the way for the construction of a proposed 15-unit housing development in Milton.

At Tuesday’s meeting, council voted 6-2 to rezone three parcels of land on the Mersey River to Multiple Unit Residential to accommodate the development.

Council previously agreed to enter into a purchase and sale agreement with developers Eric and Dawn Fry at their August 9 meeting.

The rezoning allows the Frys to build an apartment building on the former Garika land at the corner of Highway 8 and Bridget Street.

Several councillors raised concerns about maintaining public access to the boat launch and the fire service maintaining the ability to fill trucks from a hydrant on site.

Mayor Darlene Norman says those public resources will have to remain accessible for the sale to be considered.

“There was reference given to a meeting the developer had. Those were all preliminary drafts designs,” said Norman. “Unless the developer is able to satisfy the requirements of the agreement, which will be access to the boat launch, access to the dry well, then that agreement will not go through.”

Four members of the public showed up to voice their objection to the rezoning.

They raised concerns about maintaining the public access of the on-site services, asked how traffic safety issues will be addressed and the fact a public piece of land will be lost to a private developer.

Norman says in their discussion council heard the traffic issues are a result of drivers not following the laws.

“It was Councillor Gidney. He said the traffic issues are created by excessive speed and people not obeying the rules. We have traffic issues throughout Queens County,” said Norman. “I am certain that the developer is going to take those issues in.”

Norman says she grew up in Milton and remembers when the only buildings on the Garika site were run down and derelict.

She says the proposed building will bring much-needed housing to the area.

“The activity that was once there on that corner is no longer there. Sadly, I believe people like the quietness of the neighbourhood, but we need places for people to live. And yes, it’s not going to be $700 affordable because we need the province to subsidize housing. You cannot build for that amount of money,” said Norman.

The mayor says the changes to the Municipal Planning Strategy have been sent to the province for approval and realistically it will be months before ground is broken and construction begins.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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