Despite the small meeting room, there was a great resident turn-out for the Committee of Adjustment public meeting concerning #52 Garden Drive!
Tag: Notes
Agenda: https://grimsby.civicweb.net/filepro/documents…
Public Works Minutes Discussion
Mr. LeRoux presented a few details of the $8M ($5M with “other projects”) Winston Road reconstruction. Costs will be covered through Development Charges (92%), outside contributions ($1.3M) and $600K from the Town. Since DC’s won’t all be received at the time construction starts this June, short term borrowing will need to be put in place with interest payments charged back to DC’s. Potential of 5-8 years to recoup the costs in a “hot” market, and up to 20 years if things slow down (highly probable). Apparently Public Works does not expect too many “extras” and has set aside a small contingency ($100K) for possible overruns.
GO Hub and Transit Station Study – Region of Niagara Presentation
The consultant is working on the draft Secondary Plan for the station area to plan the land use, infrastructure needs and transportation network. The boundary of the study area is approximately 800m (as defined by Metrolinx Mobility Hub guidelines) and includes the Livingston Road extension within the Greenbelt.
Agenda: https://grimsby.civicweb.net/filepro/documents…
IT Strategic Plan
John Naas from Blackline Consulting presented the final IT Strategic Plan and recommendations. The town is now in a position where long-term “band-aid” solutions have created an IT infrastructure and technology gaps where the town is no longer able to meet the pressures and demands to provide appropriate service levels. This means catch-up and a large financial investment over the next 10 years.
Grimsby Beach Conservation Management Plan – presentation by Willowbank School students
This initial presentation by the students proposes a “Cultural Heritage Landscape” for the Grimsby Beach district. The Planning Director (Michael Seaman) has had a continuing relationship with the school since 2010.
The study recommended that proactive measures must be taken to protect the key cultural elements of the neighbourhood from demolition and development, citing a recent listing at 33 Victoria Terrace priced at almost $600K. A small survey of local residents raised common issues of lack of parking, disrespectful tourists and littered garbage.
Agenda: https://grimsby.civicweb.net/filepro/documents…
Asset Management
This team was created by Town Manager Brandt to better manage, monitor and report on the Town assets such as; roads, buildings, IT, sanitary and water systems, pipes, fleet and equipment, parks, street lights, to name a few. Jenn Gross, a GIS Analyst for the Town presented.
It was noted that the Town’s asset plan currently does not have enough detail in it to satisfy government reporting requirements. New software and processes will enhance accountability and transparency and enable the Town to better prioritize asset repair and replacement.
Agenda: https://grimsby.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/79437…
AquaBlu Draft Plan of Standard Condominium
This was passed with conditions. Note that with the three new developments on Concord – AquaBlu, AquaZul and the 5-storey Commercial Centre, the Town Planner stated that “the entire complex will be one large shared complex” for parking. That’s because parking concessions (and easements/shared services agreements) were approved overlapping parking on each other’s lots… so it will be a free for all when it comes to visitors trying to find a legal parking spot.
Agenda: https://grimsby.civicweb.net/filepro/documents?preview=82062
29 Oak Street – Minor Variance
Council discussed at length the Committee of Adjustment’s (COA) decision to approve a new two-storey building replacing the current home at 29 Oak Street. Planning staff had recommended deferral on the basis that the excavated height of the exposed front-facing three-car garage did not meet compatibility criteria for the heritage style of the 1920’s era neighbourhood.
Phelps was taken by surprise that the Planning Committee wasn’t happy with the development’s interior street dead-ends that won’t accommodate regional waste pickup.
After six years of discussions, why was it only at a public meeting that the Planning department made such recommendations and effectively sent the developer back to the drawing board?
Budget
It’s budget time and draft “asks” are being circulated by the various committees. Read the posted committee agendas and find out where your tax dollars are proposed to be spent. Better yet, come to the Committee meetings (they’re open to the public) and hear the discussion – – a lot more is said than gets printed in the minutes.