Shot of the construction zone as downtown rehabilitation work continues at the top of the town hill on Picton’s Main Street. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
To reduce the risk of losing $2 million in grant funding and to eliminate further construction woes on businesses, Prince Edward County is moving forward with a major heritage permit for the downtown Picton revitalization.
Tuesday night council discussed deferring the permit a week to allow the Heritage Committee time to expand upon previous recommendations but it lost in a 8-8 recorded vote.
Mayor Robert Quaiff voted in favour of the deferral but says he understands council’s position as construction contracts were already awarded by the time the new heritage committee was formed. Previous recommendations in 2014 weren’t usable as the committee didn’t have a quorum to proceed.
Seven recommendations under the Main Street Heritage Conservation District Plan had included changes to tree plantings, raised crosswalks, the design of streetlights, material choices for the sidewalk and boulevard, the width of the boulevard strip, curb bump outs and the placement and design of the Picton Main Street sign and planter.
Meanwhile, if councillor Jamie Forrester has his way the municipality will get serious about funding heritage projects and events.
Forrester suggested the County include $500,000 in the 2017 budget.
He made the request after it was made clear deferring the downtown project to allow for the new heritage committee’s recommendations could cost the County $2 million in grant funding.
The budget item will be addressed at a committee of the whole meeting in June.
Also at the meeting, County supports the expansion of the Picton Port Terminals.
In April, Co-owner Ben Doornekamp told council how he is seeking $10 million from the province and feds for two huge cranes to get underway next year.
Mayor Robert Quaiff is pleased council supports the revitalization adding the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus and Hastings County do as well.
On May 17, the mayor is taking a group of staff to Queen’s Park to present reasons why they should get behind the project.
