Verona Housing Project Update At Council

Verona Housing Project

The water and wastewater systems that are being planned for the Verona Housing project, as well as the studies that have been completed as part of the planning process, were outlined at a during the September 15 meeting of South Frontenac Council.

As part of the presentation, the results of a pump test on the well that will provide water for the project were released.

In a 72-hour continuous pumping test, the well was able to provide 164,000 litres per day with minimal draw down. The required amount for the 92-unit project, according to ministry guidelines, is 100,000 litres per day. The project also includes a trickle flow water storage system, which will provide a buffer against any fluctuations in water supply. A water treatment system will be installed.

The project also includes a wastewater treatment system, and a subsurface disposal bed for the treated wastewater.

As construction is set to get underway, there is a small section of the site that will be cordoned off to allow for the final stage of an archaeological assessment that is ongoing.

A number of butternut trees, which are all infested with the butternut canker, will also be cordoned off during construction, with a 15-metre buffer.

The expected date of completion for the environmental study report for the project is the winter of 2027.

But construction can begin before that report is completed. Plans have not been finalised, but South Frontenac Chief administrator Louise Fragnito said that a ribbon cutting ceremony is being planned for sometime in October, before winter sets in, and construction on the first phase of the project will then begin. The project has an estimated 18-month construction window, putting the target date of completion to the second quarter of 2028.

Peace Park

Council accepted in principle the proposal from Brenda Crawford for a Peace Park in Harrowsmith, at the site of the Memorial Arch. A survey is required for the project, and Mayor Vandewal proposed that the township cover the cost since they will retain ownership of the park, and Council agreed. All of the other costs will be covered by fundraising.

Save South Frontenac

Representatives Matt Veley and Tamara Cordeiro from Save South Frontenac, appeared before Council to outline their continued opposition to the Alto High Speed Rail project.

In recent weeks, opponents of the project have been concerned with the implications resulting from requests to municipalities from Alto, to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). When in place, NDAs enable Alto to share detailed information with those municipalities, about their plans within the boundaries of those municipalities.

Tamara Cordeiro asked Council to commit to not signing an NDA with Alto under any circumstances. She also asked for a number of other assurances and statements to be made by the township, and for some funding support for Save South Frontenac to continue their advocacy work.

Mayor Vandewal thanked Cordeiro and Veley for the presentation, and said that Council would not be responding to the requests at this meeting.

Deputy Mayor Pegrum then outlined Council's response to the Alto project this far, noting the consistent opposition Council has expressed.

Pegrum then said that he does not think it would be wise for Council to respond in advance to a theoretical request to sign an NDA, saying that if a request does come, it would be in the township’s interest for Council to look at the information provided at that time, in order to make an informed decision.

Mayor Vandewal then said that the township has not been approached about an NDA, and that an Alto representative indicated to him that Alto does not expect to be approaching South Frontenac for an NDA

“If we are approached, by any chance, it will be brought to an open council meeting and the public will be informed,” Vandewal said. Staff will not be signing anything behind closed doors. Everything will be done in public.

Building Activity

The building activity report for the 1st two quarters of 2026 shows a decrease from 2025. By the end of June, permits for about $24.5 million in construction had been issued. At the same point in 2025, the total was almost $25.5 million.

Values dropped in 2025 as the post covid boom in 2023 and 2024 abated. In the first six months of 2024, permits for over $30 million in construction value were issued.

But in terms of momentum, after a very slow start this year in the first quarter, permits for over $20.5 million were issued between April 1 and June 30, only the second quarter over $20 million within the last 4 years. The only quarter with a higher total over that time was the second quarter in 2023, when permits for $20.9 million were issued.