Part 1: Redevelopment, Recycling, Health Care, and Growth Pressures – 08/29/2024

The County’s Committee of the Whole met on August 29, 2024, at Shire Hall in Picton to review major reports, hear public input, and give early direction on several long-term policy and infrastructure matters. Committee of the Whole meetings allow Council to explore issues in depth before final decisions return to a regular Council meeting for approval.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Phil St-Jean, who opened the session, outlined meeting procedures, and reminded attendees that motions passed would be forwarded to Council for ratification on September 10. The agenda reflected a recurring challenge for the County: managing growth, services, and community expectations with limited infrastructure and rising costs.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

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Queen Elizabeth School Redevelopment and Community Expectations

The meeting began with a deputation from Lars Hansen, representing the Queen Elizabeth Community group, regarding the Queen Elizabeth School Redevelopment Project. Hansen explained that residents living near the former school site had organized a community meeting earlier in August, drawing about 40 people, to identify shared priorities for redevelopment.

He outlined four main areas of consensus: moderate density that fits the surrounding neighbourhood, building heights capped at three storeys, publicly accessible green space, and the inclusion of a social or community-oriented hub. Hansen emphasized that the group was not opposed to redevelopment but wanted clearer direction from Council and stronger alignment between community priorities and developer proposals.

In response, Councillor Sam Branderhorst, clarified that the previous selection committee no longer exists and that Council itself will decide on the final direction once revised proposals return later in the year. Several councillors acknowledged that addressing community concerns early could reduce future conflict, highlighting an ongoing tension between development pressures and neighbourhood character.

Blue Box Recycling Transition and Local Impacts

Council next heard from Bill Sandison, General Manager of Quinte Waste Solutions, on the upcoming Blue Box Recycling Transition. Sandison explained Ontario’s shift to extended producer responsibility, which transfers responsibility for eligible recycling materials from municipalities to producers.

For the County, the transition is scheduled for July 2025. Sandison confirmed that E360 Solutions has been awarded the post-transition collection contract and noted that municipal costs are expected to decrease once producers assume responsibility for eligible materials.

Council discussion focused heavily on non-eligible materials, including how commercial properties such as restaurants and farms will be served. Sandison explained that while the Waste Services Board has decided to continue service for non-eligible sources, municipalities will still be responsible for managing and funding that service. Councillors raised concerns about environmental impacts, fairness, and the risk of confusion for residents and businesses as the system changes.

Health Care Access and Public Input

Health care access emerged as another key theme through public comments. Barinder Gill, Executive Director of the Prince Edward Family Health Team, spoke in support of designating municipal land for a future medical building. Gill described the concept of a health hub offering affordable, shared space for medical professionals and emphasized the importance of municipal partnership when pursuing provincial capital funding.

Later, Karen Mayer, a Centre Street resident and hospice board member, spoke about the growing need for hospice and palliative care services in the County. She described current service gaps and expressed interest in being part of the Queen Elizabeth redevelopment discussion, reinforcing how major land-use decisions intersect with health and social services.

Development Charges and Parkland Planning

Council then reviewed a report on development charges for water and wastewater infrastructure, presented by Chief Administrative Officer Marcia Wallace. Wallace explained that the report meets legislative requirements and seeks approval to begin a new background study.

Discussion centred on ensuring developers contribute fairly to growth-related infrastructure, protecting rural residents from urban servicing costs, and the need to have updated charges in place before the next construction season. The conversation reflected broader concerns about how growth is funded and how costs are distributed.

A related discussion followed on the Parkland Reserve Fund, where Wallace outlined how new provincial rules require municipalities to spend most collected parkland funds rather than hold them indefinitely. Councillors supported allocating funds closer to where they were collected and highlighted recent community consultation efforts on park improvements.

Designating Land for a Medical Building

One of the most significant decisions of the meeting was Council’s support for designating municipal land at 375 Main Street East in Picton for a purpose-built medical facility. Julianne Snepsts, Programs Supervisor, explained that the recommendation came from the Primary Care Infrastructure Working Group.

Council discussed parking pressures, proximity to the hospital, impacts on fairground use, and potential funding through the Ministry of Health. Members of the working group emphasized that location and funding opportunities drove the recommendation. Council supported the designation and dissolved the working group, marking a key step toward expanding local medical infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

1. Major redevelopment projects like the Queen Elizabeth site are reaching a stage where community priorities and Council direction will strongly influence outcomes.

   
   

2. Provincial recycling changes are shifting responsibilities and costs, with municipalities still working through how those changes will affect residents and businesses.

   
   

3. Council is actively using planning tools such as development charges, parkland funds, and municipal land designations to manage growth while trying to limit impacts on existing residents.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:58:41. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.