Staff
With town council set to hold a public meeting Dec. 12 to garner input on whether or not to re-zone the so-called “Nelson Street Park” for residential development, a petition has been circulating around town, and posted at various businesses, asking for people to sign it in support of keeping the lot zoned as “open space.”
The petition, which first appeared last week, calls on the mayor and council to:
•maintain the zoning of the park as “open space”;
•reaffirm its status as a “park” and protect it from future development;
•invite a community group or service club to consider adding facilities to it, as deemed desirable, to enhance the use of the park for the entire community; and
•promote the park as part of the La Verendrye Parkway/trail system.
The same lot has been considered for re-zoning and residential development several times in the past, including 1990, 2004, and 2008.
Each time, neighbourhood residents stood up and challenged it.
At its Nov. 14 meeting, council directed that the property known as the “Nelson Street Park” (the empty lot located at Nelson Street and Williams Avenue) be re-zoned from “open space” to Residential 2 (R2), surveyed to produce five residential lots, and declared surplus to the needs of the town for intended disposition.
The town also is looking at re-zoning the property on the corner of Minnie Avenue and Front Street from tourist/commercial (C4) to “open space” to offset the eliminated open space that would result from the conversion of the “Nelson Street Park.”
But before any of this can happen, a public meeting must be held to allow citizens to speak either in opposition to, or in favour of, the intended re-zonings.
This will coincide with the Dec. 12 council meeting.
Also at its Nov. 14 meeting, council directed that the unopened portion of Holmes Avenue lying south of Riverview Drive, as well as the unopened portion of Elm Avenue lying south of Riverview Drive, both be stopped up and closed, declared surplus, and surveyed as may be necessary to produce residential lots on each.
A public meeting regarding these two areas will be held during this Monday’s council meeting.
As previously reported, council also directed the town-owned Huffman School property, Lillie Avenue property, and Erin Crescent properties be referred to the Planning and Development executive committee for further evaluation, with input from the Operations and Facilities executive committee.
This further evaluation is necessary to determine possible financial implications and options for lot layout and other applicable issues.
Council had initiated the review of town properties as part of its most recent strategic plan, with the aim to determine whether there was a need for residential lots.
And if so, which lots would be available without a significant financial outlay or delay.
