Chatham-Kent council has cleared the way for the St. Vincent de Paul Kent Deanery to create two residential lots at its property on Longwoods Road.
Hard hit by the pandemic, the camp has struggled in the last few years and officials said the camp is badly in need of cash.
The original application to sever the lots included a $1,000 payment by the deanery in lieu of a parking fee, however East Kent Coun. Steve Pinsonneault asked that the fee be waived.
“This organization is basically dividing these lots up because they need the money,” Pinsonneault told council at a recent planning meeting, stating he didn’t think dropping the fees was going to “make or break” the municipality in any way.
“I think it’s just nice to help the St. Vincent de Paul. They’ve had quite a battle over the Covid years and they are asking if we can waive this,” he said.
Chatham Coun. Conor Allin supported Pinsonneault’s recommendation to remove the fee.
Allin noted that it’s mainly volunteers who run the camp and the $1,000 would have to “come out of their pockets.”
Council agreed to Pinsonneault’s request.
The remainder of camp’s rural property is just over 56 acres and includes several outbuildings.
Each of the new residential lots are just over one acre in size.
