Prince Edward County Planning Committee has approved a proposal to rezone a property at 175 Talbot Street, just outside of Picton to eventually allow the construction of a new Catholic elementary school.
The property is currently just over five hectares. The proposal put before the planning committee is to sever three hectares to be used for residential development on the south side of the property, while 2.1 hectares on the north side facing Talbot Street will be used for a new St. Gregory Catholic School.
The current lands are zoned Special Rural One which does not permit a school. The proposal would change the two hectares on Talbot Street to Special Institutional to allow a school to be built there. The other three hectares are set to be changed to Future Development zoning.
The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board has received funding from the Ontario government to purchase the 2.1 hectare parcel of land for a new school.
During the discussion, Councillor Phil Prinzen expressed his frustration that the provincial government announced details about the school project before zoning was approved.
“I’m just not 100% happy on how this process all went. We were kind of backed into a corner here by our provincial government making an announcement before we rezoned land,” said Councillor Prinzen. “I understand there needs to be a new school. I’m not disagreeing and it’s nothing against that. It’s process. I’m about process and rules and this really, really chaps me. So I just want that out there.”
Several conditions were placed on the rezoning and severance, which must be fulfilled within two years. The conditions include road-widening at the severed portions of land, land surveys to identify potential drainage paths, and white prints submitted to the municipality detailing road-widening plans and any required easements for drainage.
The plans were approved by the committee, and referred to council for final approval.
Prince Edward County council hopes it can buy the current St. Gregory Catholic School property when it becomes available and use it for affordable and attainable housing.
