Off-leash dog park closer to reality in Blenheim
There are going to be a lot of happy, happy, happy dogs in South Kent if a proposed off-leash dog park in Blenheim comes to fruition.
Chatham-Kent council voted May 31 to accept a report from administration that recommends land at the Stormwater Retention Area be chosen for the site.
Administration has recommended a one- to five-acre parcel of land, located in the neighbourhood of St. Anne Catholic School, as the spot for a new fenced-in canine playground.
The approval of the report from administration is the project’s first step. A volunteer committee comprised of a designated chairman, and not less than 15 members, must be struck before any action is taken.
Public consultation with neighbouring residents must also be held.
According to the report, the municipality would look after garbage removal and grass cutting, but all other costs, maintenance and regular upkeep would be the responsibility of volunteers who would also carry out fundraising.
A report with details and cost estimates will be compiled and returned to council.
Shrewsbury drainage
Better drainage for the community of Shrewsbury could be on the horizon.
At its regular meeting May 31, Chatham-Kent council voted to move forward with a master plan study that will examine all aspects related to water and drainage, including stormwater and sanitary sewers, as well as potential watermain requirements for the South Kent hamlet.
Erosion control measures and protection of municipally owned infrastructure will also be studied.
Cost estimates of the project will be evaluated, along with dollar value estimates calculating how costs could be fairly distributed among property owners and the municipality.
Public meetings and community consultation is the next step forward on the Shrewsbury drainage issue, but a timeline has yet to be determined.
Industrial land price hike
Chatham-Kent is hoping to capitalize on new economic growth and is raising the per acre price of municipally owned industrial business park properties.
Council voted to approve a bylaw to increase prices of land currently advertised on the municipality’s web portal.
The change includes an increase in the per acre price of land in Chatham’s Bloomfield Business Park. It’s now $89,000 per acre, up from $50,000 per acre.
Land in the Blenheim Business Park is now $45,000 an acre up from $29,000, and land in the Ridgetown Business Park will cost $35,000 per acre, an increase from $15,000.
Council also authorized administration to continue negotiations with six developers at the Bloomfield Park who are interested in purchasing land for $50,000 an acre. The offer has been extended for a 120-day period.
