Town Hall Proposal Advances
Council voted unanimously to direct Administration to proceed with negotiations with Valente Development on the potential to locate Town Hall in a mixed-used development planned on the site of the former General Amherst High School.
The motion doesn’t commit Council to a particular course of action but directs Administration to do its due diligence and come back to Council with an in-camera report including recommendations on negotiation strategies, expectations and a financial plan.
Leasing or leasing-to-own space for a Town Hall in a mixed used development is certainly not the case for most municipalities, but exploring the option makes sense given the circumstances in Amherstburg and the fact a space needs assessment identified a property immediately adjacent to the site as the optimal location for a new Town Hall.
Phase 3 WEBC Trails Approved in Principle
Council unanimously gave approval in principle for the Windsor Essex Bike Community to construct the Phase 3 trails once they have raised the necessary funds and the Libro Master Plan has been completed.
WEBC has been instrumental in building the Phase 1 and Phase 2 trails at the Libro, raising more than $100,000 in donations from more than 70 residents and 18 local businesses.
Those trails wind about 5 km around the Libro property and feature several downhill runs and even a jump line in addition to meandering cross-country trails suitable for beginners and experts alike. The Phase 3 cross-country trails would stretch 2 km and cost about $30,000 – all of which would be funded through WEBC donations.
Staff are hopeful the Libro Master Plan will be completed in the spring and trail construction could take place after that.
Check out WEBC’s report to Council!
King’s Navy Yard Extension Project Update
Staff remain hopeful that the fence around the Duffy’s property could come down before the end of 2025, opening the area up for public access and extending King’s Navy Yard Park to the south.
The 2023 Budget approved $3 million in funding for the project. About $1 million of that has already been spent on consulting and design drawings, in-water survey work, installation of sheet pile wall, rock revetment, poured wall cap with railings, contaminated soil removal, testing and remediation work.
A tender is ready to go for the next phase, which would see the completion of site grading, retaining walls, lighting, underground site servicing and accessible pathways connecting to the existing park. The greenlight to getting that work started hinges on the Town getting approval on a soil delineation plan from Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
No funding has yet been earmarked for future phases, including the construction of a fishing pier and transient marina at an estimated cost of about $5 million, including a 25 per cent contingency but not accounting for any ongoing operational costs.
Council Supports Motion for Community Safety Zone, Traffic Study
Council unanimously supported my Notice of Motion calling for a community safety zone in front of St. Joseph Church in River Canard and to ask County Council to study the intersection with an eye to making it safer.
While there is currently a safety zone in front of the school on County Road 8, it does not continue onto South Riverview, where parishioners park and cross the street. The intersection is of a unique design with only one stop sign and parishioners would like safety improvements, including a speed limit reduction to 30 km.
Anyone who has driven by there recently knows the intersection is an unusual one in that motorists travelling northwest on County Road 8 can stay to right and cross the iconic bridge or stay straight and head onto South Riverview, where there is only one stop sign for motorists travelling eastbound.
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