Four Addington Highlands Properties Available For Multi-Unit Housing Projects

Craig Bakay | Nov 13, 2024

Addington Highlands has identified four Township properties they would be willing to donate to a housing project thanks to a report from Dep. Clerk/Planning Secretary Patricia Gray.

The report was presented at the regular Council meeting Nov. 5 in Flinton.

A request from Lennox & Addington County asked the Township to create such a list.

“We had done an exercise where we reviewed all of the Township properties and created a spreadsheet,” Gray told Council. “I went through that list and reviewed all the properties that included the criteria — being on a municipally maintained road, near a hamlet and being greater than three acres.

“It was a multi-residential unit that was proposed.”

She said that each of the properties would have to be investigated to see if they could support a multi-unit dwelling.

The four properties include:

• A four-acre parcel on Oliver Road in Kaladar
• A 3.05-acre parcel at 19 Pineview Drive in Flinton (currently designated as parkland)
• A 3.92-acre parcel on Highway 41 in Northbrook
• a 4.12-acre parcel on Stein Road in Denbigh.

Coun. Ken Hook said these parcels would be a good place to start because they would be available in that the Township owns them, but he acknowledged there could be other parcels depending on price.

“I also notice in the letter (from the County) that they were asking about development charges,” he said. “I wonder if we should put in our reply that we don’t have development charges.”

Gray confirmed that the Township does not have development charges per se but there could be things like building permit fees.

“We’d have to seek clarification on building permit fees to see if we could waive those as well,” she said.

“We’re not including any larger properties because it would be a smaller development,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch.

“It would only be a starting point until funding becomes available anyways,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

Denbigh Community Centre

Council deferred the south entrance canopy project for the Community Centre in Denbigh until 2025.

“We did not receive any tenders for the project,” said Dep. Clerk/Planning Secretary Patricia Gray.

“That’s not unusual, is it,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

“I suspect this will just push itself over until next year, it’s too late in the year to start now even if we beat the bushes more,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch.

Health and Safety Policy

Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch requested several sections of the Health and Safety Policy be reworked to become more generic as they specifically referred to Covid protocols.

Santa Claus Parade

Traditionally, Addington Highlands staff has done a float for the Land O’Lakes Lions Club Santa Claus Parade which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 23. An email will be circulated to staff and Council asking if anyone is interested.

Alcohol Sales

Council gave its permission to Northbrook Gas & Variety to sell alcohol on Statutory Holidays for the remainder of 2024 and 2025.

Environmental and Sustainability Plan

Council approved two of three suggestions from Marlean McLean’s letter regarding an Environmental and Sustainability Plan.

Council approved applying for a grant for fruit trees in Flinton but Coun. Kirby Thompson requested they look at planting around the Township should a grant application be successful.

“About six to eight years ago, through a Healthy Kids grant, we planted 25-30 fruit trees in all the municipality including the park in Kaladar,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch. “There are quite a few of them still around but we may have to look at some sort of maintenance program as fruit trees require pruning and tend to be susceptible to diseases.”

Council was also open to a request for a community garden plot if a group would step up to lead the efforts.

“It would be their initiative,” said Coun. Ken Hook. “We would only be there to support it.”

Council tabled a plan to acquire 5-7 foot Adirondack Chairs with bar codes so tourists could tour the area and try to find them all.

Road Report

Manager of Roads and Waste Brett Reavie reported that his crews are busy battling beavers this year.

“The beavers seem to be working overtime,” he said. “They wanted to make sure we had something to do so they’re plugging culverts and building up their dams for winter.”