Quinte West Council Briefs: June 22/20

Concerns with industrial park expansion

At least one Quinte West resident has voiced some concern about expansion in the city’s Carrying Place Industrial Park.

Robert Ormston made a presentation during council’s virtual meeting on Monday night saying he’d like to see the boundaries of the industrial park tightened, to lessen impacts on nearby Hanna Park including noise pollution, the introduction of invasive species and negative impacts on the park’s character.

Councillors were receptive to the presentation with Al DeWitt assuring Ormston that environmental concerns are being taken into consideration through any expansion of the industrial park.

Council received the presentation as information.

City to buy back land from pot grower

Quinte West Council has decided to buy back a piece of land from a marijuana grower who couldn’t go ahead with a planned development.

Quinte Grow Corporation bought five acres of land in the North Murray Industrial Park last summer, but has informed the city that they wouldn’t be going ahead with the development and suggested they sell it back.

City staff say the property would be “beneficial for future economic development” in the city and councillors agreed, confirming the repurchase at a cost of $175,000 minus any expenses incurred by the city.

There was no discussion as to why the company couldn’t go ahead with their original plan.

Council backs rent forgiveness to youth centre

There was no discussion as Quinte West Council decided to give some rent forgiveness to the city’s youth centre, which has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic began.Council agreed to forgive rent from April through December totalling $9,000, noting the financial hardships facing the centre in Trenton, since many of its fundraising activities have had to be cancelled.

Council had previously forgiven rent usually charged to the Quinte West Soccer Club because of COVID-19 restrictions.