Matt Maguire appearing before Belleville city council, objecting to the extension of Haig Road in the Hickory Grove area, February 12, 2018 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Some east end Belleville residents have won at least a temporary victory in their battle to stop the extension of a major roadway through their subdivision.
At city council’s meeting Monday night, residents of the Hickory Grove area packed council chambers.
They presented a petition to council to halt the plan to extend Haig Road north to Station Street, passing past the backyards of their houses.
Their spokesman Matt Maguire told council the plan was “just forced upon us” at a recent public information session.
From left: Belleville Councillor Egerton Boyce, Mayor Taso Christopher and CEO Rick Kester, February 12, 2018 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
The recommendation before council was that it approve a $3.5 million tender submission for the extension.
During a lengthy debate, Councillor Egerton Boyce said he wouldn’t support it, calling it “a bad choice by the city.”
Councillors Mike Graham and Kelly McCaw both declared conflicts.
The Haig Road extension would run from its present northern end at Oak Ridge Boulevard north of Spruce Gardens to an extended Station Street.
Mayor Taso Christopher said “I would have no problem tabling this and giving it back to staff to come back with three options, in looking at the road and all the features and amenities. Bring it back to the next council meeting and we can make a decision.”
Councillor Jack Miller wanted the costing of any change in plan since staff will now have to do additional studies which would add more cost.
He said there are a lot of residents in the Stanley Park area who are “waiting for the extension for a number of years, with the hopes of reducing traffic” in the Oakridge area.
Mayor Christopher introduced a tabling motion calling for a staff report with other options.
Council supported that motion, and the staff report is expected at the next council meeting which will be in March.
