Latest / North Shore News / April 1st, 2026

Transcript

April 1st, 2026 · North Shore News

0:07
Welcome to North Shore News and Interviews on
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Amherst Island Radio. Each week we keep you updated
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on newsworthy events, happenings and conversations
0:17
that we've had with people in the local community
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and beyond. Loyalist Township Council approved
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an amendment to a zoning bylaw that will permit
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the Windsor in Amherstview to house an alternative
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health facility and add additional site -specific
0:36
provisions, including more parking. This matter
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has come back to Council multiple times and has
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now been approved. Kingston Health Sciences Centre
0:43
also made a presentation about the facility at
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the meeting. Executive Director for Patient Care
0:48
and Deputy Chief Nursing Executive with Kingston
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Health Sciences Centre, Tom Hart, spoke about
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the feedback they received and the work they've
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done since. Of course we take our role very seriously
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and after the council meetings and public feedback
1:00
we had a KHSC senior leadership debrief on the
1:03
feedback from both the public and the council
1:05
and we was already taking action to try and alleviate
1:07
some of those concerns so we have engaged a real
1:10
estate agent to try and look for parking options.
1:13
We've worked with the owner of the home to try
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and arrange a saddle shuttle for employees to
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alleviate some of the parking congestion. We've
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asked that the owner of the home commit to having
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a stop sign prior to the sidewalk, which they
1:27
have committed to do. Hart noted the type of
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activities that go on in the building and how
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their partnership with Loyalist Township can
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move forward. All activity within the building
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is regulated, supervised and aligned with provincial
1:38
health policy and the Public Hospitals Act. We
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have a robust governance, safety and operational
1:44
controls in place. And of course, they're subject
1:47
to continuous monitoring and improvement. Our
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commitment to the community and council at KHSC,
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we have a very long history and proud history
1:54
of collaboration with our municipal partners
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and we are very committed to transparency and
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ongoing dialogue and we respect for the local
2:03
concerns along with our regional health obligations.
2:06
We are certainly open to input on additional
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safeguards and operational adjustments and very
2:11
willing to work with council and the public to
2:13
strengthen. assurances and comfort level. Residents
2:17
came forward again with concerns about on -street
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parking and public safety. It's just kind of
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a concern of being bullied. I don't feel as a
2:26
member of the street that they are equal neighbours
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to us and their initial plea to amend the Residential
2:36
Uses Act and have themselves considered residences
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when it's primarily a temporary facility is I
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think a bad form and bad taste. This small infill
2:53
subdivision of ours has gone through a lot. We
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finally had our developer finish the work and
3:00
there's a lot of problems with that developer.
3:02
Now we have this Windsor thing, we have the school
3:04
ongoing. It's 250 meters of road, but it seems
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a lot of the development And a lot of the problems
3:11
are in this one area. And as residents, you're
3:14
constantly being bombarded by this. The Windsor
3:17
had already been housing the alternative health
3:19
facility before they received official approval
3:21
from Council. They will now provide 64 on -site
3:24
parking spaces, an increase of 13 spaces from
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what was initially proposed, and an increase
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of 30 spaces from what exists today. Councilor
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Paul Proderick noted residents' concerns. We've
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had lots of presentations. I think the views
3:37
of the populace along Park are fairly clear.
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The parking issue, the school construction, all
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these different things. It's like the residents
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have been bombarded for X number of years. And
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I'm hoping that we can develop a parking through
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the staff, some kind of parking zoning commitment
4:02
to whatever that alleviates some of that stress.
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and that further down the road when the building
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across the street is finished we might look at
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a more permanent solution to some of the stresses
4:17
on Park Street because we all know when it was
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built. The entrance to the old church was there
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but certainly it was a different once a week
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type thing and having been a member of that parish
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we didn't fill the parking lot very often so
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I can appreciate what the residents have said.
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Our hands are tied in terms of legislation, Ontario
4:37
Land Tribunal, and this is the best result for
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the residents, a situation that is challenging
4:47
at best. Deputy Mayor Nathan Townand assured
4:49
residents they're doing all that they can. We
4:51
want the public on park to know that we've heard
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them. and that we are doing what we can within
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the limited tool set that we have to try and
5:01
address those concerns meaningfully. Councillor
5:05
Mike Buderich showed his confidence in staff
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coming up with a viable solution. We will have
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an adequate solution proposed by staff, I can
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guarantee that. For Amherst Island Radio and
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the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans.
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This is North Shore News. Loyalist Township will
5:31
be running a programming pilot through the spring
5:33
and summer as they look to transition the use
5:35
of the Leisure and Activity Center to the W .J.
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Henderson Community Center. Council approved
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a staff recommendation to formally close the
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Leisure and Activity Center as a direct programming
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space on August 1, 2026. Staff's report noted
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the programming pilot will help ensure service
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continuity while improving operational efficiency
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and optimizing the use of township recreation
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assets. With leisure programming, fitness amenities,
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aquatics, library services, and select municipal
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payment services under one roof, staff says it
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offers residents a more convenient, connected,
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and accessible experience. They also noted increased
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public transit access at the W .J. Henderson
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Community Center. The Leisure and Activity Center
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has served as a secondary municipal programming
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space for many years. However, staff's report
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noted its condition, accessibility limitations,
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and operational inefficiencies have increasingly
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challenged its long -term viability. Recent reviews
6:26
and facility condition assessments have identified
6:28
significant capital needs, including HVAC modernization,
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accessibility retrofits, and lifecycle renewal.
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Projected annual operating savings from the service
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consolidation are estimated to be between $55
6:40
,900 and $92 ,000. $2 ,600 in recurring cashi
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28 to 32 hours per week in manager of recreation
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par with the township Matthew the recommendation.
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We did and the asset replacement items that are
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included as we're nearing some fur financial
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pressures that within the wreck FM divi moving
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forward to remove that pressure from our sustainable
7:15
services moving forward is to not segment our
7:18
services and try to move towards additional savings
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that would be associated with. let's say delaying
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potential capital projects. Sibolsky spoke about
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the evaluation process for the programming pilot.
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We do have three pivot periods that are built
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into the trial plan that outline if we're not
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necessarily meeting milestones that are anticipated,
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we will have a review period at that point. The
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goal is to have our residents participate that
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are over at the L. A. C. As users participating
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in the pilot program over at the W. J. H. And
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then there will be a pilot evaluation framework
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that will be asking users, instructors as well
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as staff to all complete. Councillor Paul Broderick
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noted his concerns with the programming pilot
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and staff recommendation. My concern is that
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when you put a hard date on something and do
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a trial run before that, it almost looks like
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the decisions made before the trial run. And
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honestly, I'm having trouble seeing a class in
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that community room, given my experience with
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the. the facility. Residents who use the Leisure
8:21
and Activity Center regularly brought concerns
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to Council, including the size of the space,
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privacy, and the costs associated. The committee
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room at the Henderson Center is quite small.
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I don't personally understand how you could fit
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16 people in there, given the size of the exercise
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requirements. Right now, the Henderson Center
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does not have, in my opinion, appropriate facilities
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to run exercise programming. There's a bigger
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picture here and it's not just about dollars
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and cents. Right now the community that participates
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in the Leisure Centre, we're anxious because
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to put an August 1st date and then do trial runs
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through this spring, we've all taken a hike over
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to the WJ Henderson to see what facilities will
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be available and it doesn't suit what we're providing.
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And I understand the idea of making everything
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in one building, but it looks like there was
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no consideration done to build a leisure facility
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with fitness components to it. We're talking
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dollars and cents or something that we need.
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You close it down, the building is still going
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to be there. Why are they thinking of forcing
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us into that little room which takes 16 people?
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It just doesn't make sense. There's a time for
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dollars and cents, and this is not the time for
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dollars and cents. We're a senior center. It's
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the only thing that we have in this area, and
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it should be kept going. Deputy Mayor Nathan
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Townand addressed concerns. I understand the
9:58
concerns raised by residents, but, you know.
10:02
It's more than simply dollars and cents. The
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dollars and cents are that this township's invested
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nearly $50 million in a recreation facility that
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is part of a recreation master plan to consolidate.
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And change is difficult, but this is the direction
10:19
that we as a council have chosen. And I think
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we need to follow through with. That said, I
10:27
think there needs to be very careful attention
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paid to the impacts of that change on the residents
10:34
who have spoken and provision for council to
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be able to keep touch with them and address those
10:41
concerns how we may following the pilot. Sabolsky
10:45
spoke about how staff are addressing concerns
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as well. We have taken some considerations for
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some assessments regarding privacy. requirements
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at the WJH community room. So some of those considerations
10:56
are for privacy screenings, as well as spatial
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needs for the space or for the for the area in
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the layout. There is a capacity of that community
11:04
room of around 60 participants to be in that
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space for general meeting purposes. And we have
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used a formulaic approach to outline our capacities
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that for certain classes would be 12 to 16 in
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capacity, 16 to 20 in other areas, depending
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on programming and specific needs. Outside of
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the privacy assessment that would be implemented
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to, let's say, upgrade the features of that community
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space to be utilized for a direct programming
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facet. We have looked at a scheduling matrix
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and paradigm regarding additional outlets for
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access. So this would include additional programming
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schedules for early morning programs, afternoon
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programs, evening programs. After staff and council
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weighed in, it was a close three to two vote
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in favor of the recommendation. For Amherst Island
11:53
Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm
11:55
Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The town
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of Greater Napanee and Lennox and Addington County
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will be going ahead with the reconstruction of
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Center Street and Isabella Street in Napanee.
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As part of a successful joint application this
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year, the town and county received funding under
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the municipal housing infrastructure program
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health and safety water stream. The town expects
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to receive funding covering up to 73 % of the
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project's estimated total cost of just over $10
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.5 million. As part of this project, staff plan
12:33
to replace all water infrastructure on Center
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Street and Isabella Street. The project will
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also include new asphalt, curbs, sidewalks and
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traffic lights as required. This includes installing
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approximately 600 meters of trunk water main,
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along with valves, fire hydrants, and services
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on Center Street between Dundas Street and Isabella
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Street, as well as 250 meters of similar works
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on Isabella Street between Center Street and
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West Street. The project will also replace 600
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meters of wastewater main and associated maintenance
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holes and services on Center Street, as well
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as 175 meters on Isabella Street. 690 meters
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of stormwater main, maintenance holes, and catch
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basins will be replaced on Center Street between
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Dundas Street and Isabella Street as well. Engineering
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work is expected to be completed in 2026 with
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the intent of releasing the project for contractor
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bidding later this year. Construction is anticipated
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to occur over two construction seasons beginning
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in early 2027. Additional project information
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will be presented to Council later this year,
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providing Council with the opportunity to consider
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the proposed approach and budget and then later
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to make a decision on the construction contract
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award. Christy Kelly, Director of Environmental
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Services, Growth and Infrastructure Services
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with the Town of Greater Napanee, speaks about
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the project's timeline. With this, we're hoping
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to move forward as part of the town and utilities
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budgets for 2026 with engineering and hoping
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to break ground in 2027. Likely will be a phased
13:57
project over two years, but we'll work with the
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engineers and the contractors when we get to
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that time to determine the phasing and rerouting
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and that sort of thing. Kelly explains some of
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the work staff has done and what they'll be doing
14:11
moving forward. We have just started some engineering
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work. There was a little bit prior to the funding
14:16
application, but this year's budget allowed us
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to, the 2026 budget will allow us to move forward
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and complete the engineering for the project.
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And with most of our procurement processes, this
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will be a public tender allowing. applicants
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to determine the successful contractor for the
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project. Michael Nobes, General Manager of Growth
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and Expansion with the Town of Greater Napanee,
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talks about the county's plans for new traffic
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lights. The county has confirmed with us that
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their intention is to build in traffic lights
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where the pedestrian crossing is currently, replace
14:50
that, that's an interim measure, and the lights
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would be installed as a permanent fixture through
14:55
this project specifically. Councillor Michael
14:57
Shank noted his concerns about the disruption
14:59
of traffic on Centre Street. I have a hard enough
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time, you know, you have a little bit of a rush
15:03
hour now and when you start tearing up Centre
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Street, how are you going to bypass the volume
15:09
of traffic to get south? All I'm saying is how
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does the average Joe go down Centre Street when
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Centre Street is no longer there for a year or
15:18
two years? I can see Center Street in 15 or 20
15:21
years time, it's going to be backed up immensely.
15:24
So there's got to be an alternative route because
15:26
the only reason why, because you look at the
15:28
city of Kingston, if I want to get to the other
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side, you know what I mean? That are past RMC
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and thank goodness they put the bridge in when
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they did because what it's done, but I can see
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that same problem happening here. Nobz noted
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that traffic planning is a high priority for
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staff. That is the ultimate question on our minds
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at this moment in time, but there's going to
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need to be very careful traffic planning to go
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along with that. We have a substantial amount
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of time to plan that out, but that is the number
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one question on our minds right now and with
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the county too is how are we going to accommodate
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that traffic flow and lessen the burden as much
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as possible on residential areas east and west.
16:05
out of center street. Nob that upcoming county
16:08
pla the future of roadways in where future collector
16:17
order roads are planned that are going to be
16:19
under the jurisdiction of the county. But the
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county is also very soon going to be presenting,
16:25
county staff will be presenting to county council
16:27
the county transportation master plan update,
16:32
which will look into considerations such as that.
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Noebs noted the possibility of widening the area
16:38
beside the street. There's no intention on Center
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Street to expand the limits of the road right
16:44
of way, the ownership, because it's almost building
16:46
wall to building wall. There's really no room
16:48
there. But there is the opportunity to look at
16:52
overall lane widths and therefore that would
16:54
open up more room for sidewalk width. We would
16:56
need to consider existing utilities that are
16:58
in there and relocating them to get them out
17:00
of the way of the sidewalk. There's a lot that
17:02
would need to go into it, but both vehicular
17:03
and pedestrian movement is going to be top of
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mind in the design efforts that would be underway
17:09
very shortly. For Amherst Island Radio and the
17:12
Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This
17:15
is North Shore News. Leaf and yard waste is not
17:37
included in this collection and is scheduled
17:39
for May. For more information, visit Loyalist
17:42
.ca. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
17:46
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
17:49
News. Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Social
18:00
Services invites residents, service providers
18:03
and community partners to join one of the upcoming
18:05
town hall meetings on housing and homelessness.
18:08
At these sessions, you can hear key findings
18:09
from the Housing Needs Study, share your experiences
18:12
and challenges, explore ideas to improve housing
18:14
affordability and stability, and help guide local
18:17
priorities and future solutions. Upcoming Town
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Hall dates include April 1st in Amherstview at
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the Amherstview Community Hall at 177 Upper Park
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Road from 6 to 8 p .m., April 7th in Napanee
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at the Best and Bash Arena at 16 McPherson Drive
18:32
from 6 to 8 p .m., April 8th in Odessa at the
18:35
Loyalist Township Municipal Office at For Amherst
19:00
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
19:03
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. The
19:15
Bath Museum and Visitor Center are welcoming
19:17
the community back this spring for another season
19:19
of Culture Talks, a speaker series celebrating
19:21
history, heritage, and storytelling. Hosted at
19:24
the museum, the series brings together local
19:26
historians, musicians, and researchers who share
19:28
unique perspectives on the region's history.
19:31
Held on the third Monday of the month from 6
19:33
to 7 p .m., Culture Talks offer an opportunity
19:35
to explore fascinating cultural topics in an
19:38
intimate setting. Tickets are $5 per person and
19:40
seating is limited. April 27th, lifelong collector
19:43
and local historian Michael McKinnon will present
19:46
highlights from his personal collection of historic
19:48
artifacts, sharing the stories behind objects
19:50
that reflect daily work, family life, and baths
19:53
early years. May 25th singer -songwriter David
19:56
Archibald brings the maritime history of the
19:58
Great Lakes to life through original music from
20:00
his acclaimed collection, Spirit of the Inland
20:02
Sea. Through storytelling and songs, audiences
20:05
will hear tales of shipwrecks, heroic voyages,
20:08
legendary figures, and the lonely lives of lighthouse
20:10
keepers. Archibald's work has been featured in
20:12
parks across Ontario and frequently aired on
20:14
CBC Radio. June 22nd, local historian Lloyd Tarian
20:18
will deliver an illustrated talk examining the
20:20
opening years of the War of 1812. Tarrion explores
20:23
the Alliance's personalities and decisions that
20:26
shaped the conflict's early course. His presentation
20:28
provides insight into how British, Canadian militia
20:31
and First Nations forces defended Upper Canada
20:33
during a pivotal period. Culture Talks take place
20:36
at the Bath Museum located at 434 Main Street
20:39
in Bath. Tickets for each talk can be purchased
20:41
online. For more information about Culture Talks
20:43
and other upcoming programs, visit Loyalist .ca.
20:47
For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
20:50
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
20:54
News. This has been North Shore News and Interviews.
20:59
If you have an idea for a story or want to create
21:03
stories for the show, consider joining our volunteer
21:06
team. Contact Amherst Island Radio for more details.