Roswall Met tower measuring wind speeds at the proposed wind farm site in Milton. Photo Roswall Development

By Rick Conrad

Queens County residents will get their say on a wind farm project planned for Milton.

The Region of Queens plans to sign a development agreement with Roswall Development Inc., the owners of Mersey River Wind. The company would build 33 wind turbines on about 80 hectares of Crown land near the Mersey River.

The company plans to lease the land from the Nova Scotia government. Under the municipality’s land use bylaw, large-scale wind farms are not automatically allowed on the land as it’s currently zoned.

Councillors voted this week to move ahead with the agreement. As part of the process, though, a public hearing must be held before anything is signed.

That hearing is scheduled for March 12 at 9 a.m. in council chambers at 249 White Point Rd.

Mayor Darlene Norman says that while she hasn’t heard much opposition to the project since 2022, it’s important for the public to have their say on the project and the development agreement.

“It gives the region the ability to do some controls and then a development agreement requires a public hearing, so the public has a right to comment on that agreement.

“Anyone can go and present their opinion.”

If they can’t attend the meeting, they can also send written comments to the region.

The company held two public consultations in Milton in 2022, attended by more than 50 residents. It also met with about 40 members of the local indigenous community in February 2023. 

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Future site of proposed Co-op housing along Trestle Trail. Photo Ed Halverson

A Liverpool co-op housing project is closer to becoming a reality as it makes its way through the development process.

Region of Queens sold the Queens Neighbourhood Cooperative Housing Ltd four parcels of land for a dollar in November 2022 to build 26 units of affordable housing.

The housing cooperative petitioned Region of Queens council to rezone the 2.6-acre property at the last council meeting.

Before any building permits can be issued, the land bordered by Amherst, Brunswick, and Lawrence Street on three sides and the Trestle Trail on the other needs to be rezoned.

The area is currently zoned for Lower Density Residential and needs to be redesignated for Multiple Unit Residential to accommodate the two proposed buildings.

The development has already been approved by the Planning Advisory Committee at their June 19 meeting.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says the Co-op housing group is still busily working behind the scenes to move the project forward as they await the rezoning.

“When you’re building these multi-unit residences there’s things you need to consider. You need to have the engineers look at the ground and site suitability and all that,” said Norman. “So they’re getting all their background work done and I guess my answer would be no, they would not be given a building permit to start any of this until it was rezoned although it would not prevent them from doing site work.”

Council voted in favour of the rezoning and a public meeting will be held before the start of the August 8 Region of Queens Council meeting.

If the rezoning is upheld a public notice will be issued Aug 16 and the four parcels will be rezoned Multiple Unit Residential effective Aug 31.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

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