By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The building boom in Chatham continues to gather steam.
Chatham-Kent council recently approved two recommendations from administration designed to support urban expansion in the southern reaches of the city.
The first involved the purchase of a parcel of private land to allow Keil Drive South to extend through to Indian Creek Road West.
The other dealt with the site plan approval for the construction of a new Catholic elementary school.
In a unanimous vote, council approved the purchase of 1.83-acres of land from Jodamar Properties Ltd. for $335,000.
The extension of Keil Drive South is designated as a high priority in the municipality’s transportation master plan.
According to planning services director Ryan Jacques, the purchase completes the land acquisition necessary to complete the roadway. Chatham-Kent acquired a similar sized parcel for the same purpose at the site in 2021.
Jacques said the Keil Drive South project will be completed to Indian Creek Road West in the short term.
Eventually, he said, the municipality plans on designating Keil Drive South as an arterial road, designed to handle high levels of traffic over the long term.
Jacques said the extension’s next step involves creating detailed drawings for the new road, with construction to follow.
Completion of the project is slated for fall 2023.
The council meeting also saw our elected officials begin the approval process for the future construction of a new Catholic elementary school.
Council approved the site plan control for the new school to be located on the recently extended Tweedsmuir Avenue West, west of Keil Drive South.
The 33,676 sq.-ft., two-storey school will also include a child-care centre. It will be constructed on a vacant eight-acre parcel of land.
The St. Clair Catholic School Board is currently moving through the tendering process for the school that will have space for 564 students.
