Part 2: Cold Creek, Parking Near Hospital, and Service Levels - 07/22/2025
- PECConnect
- Jul 21, 2025
- 5 min read
When Council moved beyond presentations and public input on July 22,2025, the meeting shifted into a more procedural phase, with a series of motions that clarified Council’s direction on development oversight, parking, service levels, and governance culture.
The most closely watched vote of the evening came with the Cold Creek Subdivision Draft Plan Condition 9(ff) report from the Development Services Department. The motion before Council was to receive the staff report for information. While this did not approve development or amend conditions, it effectively acknowledged staff’s position that the condition had been addressed to a point warranting Council review.
Councillor Roy Pennell requested a recorded vote, underscoring the significance of the issue for Council members and residents following the file. The motion carried 8–4, with Councillors Pennell, Nieman, Prinzen, Roberts, St-Jean, Harrison, Branderhorst, MacNaughton, Hirsch, Maynard, Braney, and Mayor Steve Ferguson voting.
Councillors Pennell, Nieman, Prinzen, and Braney were among those opposing the motion, reflecting continued division around the Cold Creek process and the role of environmental studies before development proceeds.
View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap.
Picton Main Street Parking Near the Hospital
Council then turned to a resolution brought forward by Councillor Brad Nieman regarding parking on Picton Main Street near Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital. The motion directed staff to prepare a report reviewing parking restrictions on the east side of Main Street, where historic no parking rules had been altered through road reconstruction and bylaw changes over time.
Discussion clarified that the issue was not about eliminating parking entirely, but about restoring overnight parking while restricting daytime parking, as had previously existed. Councillors raised questions about access, neighbourhood impacts, hospital use, and whether the Traffic Advisory Committee should be involved. The motion carried, directing staff to return with a report so Council could assess parking needs in context, particularly as hospital operations and nearby land uses continue to evolve.
Sidewalk Snow Plowing and Service Levels
Another motion from Councillor Nieman focused on sidewalk snow plowing, asking staff to report on routes, service levels, costs, and prioritization criteria ahead of the 2026 Operating Budget. Councillors discussed equity between urban and semi urban areas, accessibility needs, and the financial pressures facing the municipality.
The motion carried, directing staff to provide a detailed breakdown of where sidewalk plowing occurs and why. For residents, especially seniors and people with mobility challenges, the forthcoming report will help explain which sidewalks are cleared, which are not, and how decisions are made when resources are limited.
Council then addressed a resolution introduced by Phil St.-Jean supporting the Elect Respect campaign, a province wide initiative promoting respectful conduct toward elected officials. The resolution acknowledged increasing harassment and hostility faced by municipal representatives and committed Council to standards of respectful discussion, online conduct, and public engagement.
Several councillors spoke in support, including Councillors Maynard, Roberts, and MacNaughton, who referenced the impact of public discourse on candidate recruitment and democratic participation. Mayor Ferguson also spoke to the issue, referencing similar discussions at national municipal forums. The motion carried unanimously.
Consent Items and Advisory Committee Matters
Council next moved through a series of consent items, approving minutes from prior meetings, committee reports, and routine administrative matters. These included reports from the Traffic Advisory Committee, Built and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee, and Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Several items were pulled from consent for brief discussion. One focused on municipal video surveillance, where councillors discussed balancing vandalism prevention with privacy considerations. Staff confirmed that the policy update would streamline approvals for future camera installations while requiring Council oversight.
Another discussion centred on a recommendation from the Built and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee regarding the gazebo and inukshuk near the Old Boys’ Memorial Entrance. Councillors emphasized the importance of resolving the issue before Remembrance Day, noting the symbolic importance of the site. Staff confirmed that neither structure is part of the formal heritage designation, allowing flexibility in relocation or removal. Council supported staff returning with recommendations on next steps.
Council also discussed the Accessibility Advisory Committee, following a report noting that a recent meeting lacked quorum. Councillor Roberts raised concerns about procedural barriers discouraging participation from people with disabilities. Municipal Clerk Victoria Leskie confirmed that procedural simplification would be considered as part of future bylaw updates.
The meeting concluded with the passage of several bylaws, including amendments to the Procedural By-law, zoning amendments for properties in Bloomfield and Hillier, and a bylaw related to County road widening. A confirmatory bylaw was then passed to formalize the proceedings of the meeting.
Council adjourned at 9:31 p.m., closing a meeting that moved from community recognition and public deputations into detailed procedural decisions with long term implications. While Part 1 captured the issues brought forward by residents, staff, and community groups, Part 2 showed how Council translated those discussions into recorded votes, staff direction, and formal commitments that will shape future reports and decisions.
What This Means for Residents
For residents near Waring’s Creek, the Cold Creek vote did not authorize construction but did move the file forward procedurally, confirming Council’s reliance on staff review and peer evaluation while environmental concerns remain on the public record.
For residents in Picton, especially near Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital, parking rules on Main Street are now under formal review, with future changes expected to be guided by updated data rather than historical ambiguity.
For residents who rely on sidewalk accessibility, particularly seniors and people with mobility challenges, Council’s direction signals that winter service levels and priorities will be reviewed as part of upcoming budget discussions.
Council’s support for the Elect Respect initiative and attention to advisory committee processes reflect growing concern about governance culture, public participation, and the sustainability of local democracy.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 4:15:34.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.
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