It served as an air force base for years and in the years to come it will be turned into an entire community.
On Monday, Base31 officials shared their ambitious plans for the 750-acre property that included the former air base in Prince Edward County.
So far, less than 10% of the acreage has been redeveloped (70 acres). Currently it is home to about 75 commercial and industrial operations as well as a concert venue.
The upcoming project will include housing, retail, restaurants and entertainment facilities including a food and drink complex, as well as parks and trails.
Dozens of staff are being hired by the owner, Prince Edward County Community Partnership Inc. for the development that will likely take decades to complete.
They are expected to soon announce a 40-date concert series as well.
The ownership group says the development will preserve the history of the site, while providing much-needed housing for the community.
They will be launching a community consultation process to inform and receive input from Prince Edward County residents, businesses and stakeholders.
Officials believe it will take decades for the entire plan to roll out.
Job openings have been posted for numerous positions as well. They are looking to hire between 35 and 60 staff
Base31 Neighbourhood Plan – submitted by Base 31
1. Who owns the site at Base31?
a. PEC Community Partners is a group of community builders including Tercot Communities, DECO Communities, Rockport Group, and PEC Placemaking Inc.
This Ontario-based partnership brings together expertise in complete community development, affordable housing and commercial space, mixed-use residential, site servicing and infrastructure, and adaptive re-use of heritage sites with a specific focus on creative placemaking.
PEC Community Partners Inc. were attracted to the unique and bountiful culture of the County and intrigued by the potential of the site’s heritage.
The partnership purchased the former Loch-Sloy Business Park and Airport site in December 2021, an approximately 750-acre property.
2. What has happened or been completed on Base31 since the partnership purchased the lands?
a. The partnership’s first priority was to kick off a multi-year revitalization of the 70-acre portion of the site that included the former barracks, mess halls, hangars and other buildings.
In May of last year, this portion of the site was renamed Base31 and the Prince Edward County community was invited to help co-create its future.
b. Over the course of the last year, the site has started to come back to life through investment in the restoration of several heritage buildings onsite, a major landscape transformation effort, public art, programming and site activations.
More than 50 collaborations and community investments in local organizations have been made, thousands have attended concerts and events, and the team at Base31 has grown significantly to 35 team members, and is expected to continue to grow.
The team at Base31 is operated by a local procurement mandate to create economic opportunities throughout the County.
3. What is the Neighbourhood Plan?
a. When we started this project, we invited the community to co-create Base31 with us because we believe that is how interesting, dynamic and authentic places are made.
b. Our community co-creation efforts are extending to the full site as we embark on the next phase of the project by developing a Neighbourhood Plan for the 750-acre site at Base31.
This is an opportunity for local residents to get involved and help shape the future of this community as we create the vision for the Neighbourhood Plan together.
The Neighbourhood Plan will provide direction for the future vision of the site and is
informed by this community visioning process.
4. What are the plans for the site? Will there only be housing as part of the plans?
a. We are working with the community to envision the future of Base31 as a dynamic collection of neighbourhoods with a mix of uses: retail, restaurants, places to work and create, parks, trails and recreation areas, a full complement of community amenities, and a range of housing to suit many needs
b. Together, we are looking to create a County-made community brimming with opportunity. A place alive with energy, infused with nature, and where history, the arts, and all things culinary are celebrated.
Our aim is to deliver a range of new housing options to help families flourish and bring prosperity through new employment and business opportunities.
5. What type of housing is part of the plans?
a. We understand there is a need for more housing in the County. Our aim is to provide housing solutions to meet the needs of a wide range of income levels, ages, and life stages.
We are looking at a mix of unit types, including affordable rental and ownership opportunities, short-term housing for service workers, family sized homes, and homes for seniors.
This will be defined together with the County and the community.
6. How can the community get involved in the process?
a. At the end of March, we will be launching a series of tools and activities to provide opportunities to contribute to the vision for the Neighbourhood Plan.
These tools and activities include the launch of a new website and a survey series. Details on how to access and participate in the survey will be made available through the Base31 newsletter, website, print media, and social media channels.
b. We plan to run a series of workshops in April and multiple round tables with special interest groups over the next few months. Workshops and roundtable sessions will cover key topics, case studies and will invite local stakeholder and special interest groups.
c. An Idea Fair is scheduled for May and we will invite the community to join us in-personfor idea sharing and discussion surrounding the Neighbourhood Plan.
7. What can the community provide feedback on?
a. Together with the community, our aim is to support discussion and gather feedback on
the following topics:
i. Creating new housing solutions for a wide range of income levels, lifestyles, and ages;
ii. Connecting people to parks, gardens, trails, and the surrounding natural areas;
iii. Expanding opportunities for education, employment, and new business;
iv. Providing much-needed community and family amenities to Picton and beyond;
and,
v. Delivering new infrastructure, amenities, and a combination of commercial and residential uses to advance the prosperity of local businesses and drive economic growth for the County.
8. How will feedback be incorporated into the Neighbourhood Plan?
a. We will continually gather, assess, and report on feedback received through our various engagement tools and activities. A report will be produced and socialized with the planning team and County Staff as a means to assess opportunities for inclusion in the plan based on site constraints, optimal land use, and priorities outlined by the local
community.
9. What is the timeline for the engagement process and project?
a. The process of planning a community of this size is one that takes a long time and has many iterations.
This current phase of engagement will run from April through to September of this year.
We will have future engagement for subsequent planning milestones with many community design iterations.
The community will have an opportunity to provide feedback before, during, and after the submission is made.
Engagement with the local community to help create the vision for the site will be completed in phases and take place over many years, covering a range of topics.
b. This is a phased, multi-year project, and will take many decades to complete. Our aim is to create steady growth over the long term. This is just the beginning of the process, and we look forward to continuing to work with the community as the project evolves.
A history of the site. submitted by Base31
- The 70-acre site includes more than 40 former barracks, mess halls, hangars and administrative buildings. It is part of an approximately 700-acre property.
- The site was built by the Canadian government and originally operated by the British Royal Airforce as No. 31 Bombing and Gunnery School – RAF Station Picton. It was built in 1940 as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan that trained aircrews from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand during World War II.
- After the war, the RCAF took over command. In 1946, the Royal School of Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) used it as a training base and renamed it Camp Picton. In 1962, the First Battalion of the Canadian Guards utilized the base and the site was renamed Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Picton.
- The site was decommissioned as a military base in 1969 and sold to former Mayor of Picton, H. J. McFarland. He renamed it Loch-Sloy Business Park in honour of his Scottish heritage.
- The site transferred ownership again in 1999 but the name was adapted to Loch-Sloy Business Park and Airport. Loch Sloy Holdings Inc. under the management of Jacqui Burley is credited with preserving many of the site’s heritage buildings and adapting them for flexible industrial and commercial spaces.
- Today the site is home to 75 tenants and is used for a wide range of business activities including commercial and industrial operations as well as a functioning space for makers, artists and galleries.
- PEC Community Partners Inc. finalized the purchase of the property on December 16, 2021.
