Land debate over Eco-park proposal
Acquisition issue sees Summerside council discuss $1.5M price tag, logistics of business park
Summerside wants an eco-park – maybe. Councillors debated the topic during Monday’s city council meeting, discussing the potential acquisition of a plot of land on Greenwood Drive that would be developed into an “Eco-Park.” The park would consist of trails embedded in the property’s marshlands, while the developable land would be used to create another industrial park. The cost of the acquisition would be about $1.5 million, including the land, legal fees, development strategy costs and design costs. The park would combine industry with nature, acting as an addition to the already existing industrial park, while establishing trails in surrounding marshland. Chief administrative officer Bob Ashley suggested that the money for the purchase come from the city’s already existing economic development land purchase reserve – an existing pocket of money that has been set aside to invest in economic development infrastructure. Land acquisition debates are normally discussed during the council’s in-camera committee of the whole meetings, meaning the discussion is not open to the public. But a councillor moved to bring the topic to the public stage. This specific land discussion has been being discussed by the city for a number of years. “I think this council has been very fiscally responsible. In purchasing this land, I think it sets up future councils with a tool in the tool box for future things. It won’t be a tax burden on the residents of the city because we won’t have to borrow to buy it,” said Coun. Tyler DesRoches.
DesRoches added he would have liked to see the discussion featured at a committee of council meeting, the public stage of the process that allows residents, citizens and others who wish to share feedback to council. The plot is made up of 58.9 acres – 39.8 acres of which is developable. It is currently zoned for light industrial development. The city had the land appraised by a private company which valued the parcel at a little more than $600,000. The property owners hired their own appraiser who determined that the land was worth double that – about $1.2 million. But with the doubling of the cost for the land, some councillors didn’t feel it was a wise investment to make. It’s fair to be prudent with public tax dollars, said Coun. Brent Gallant. “We haven’t doubled land prices in Summerside… If this was a screaming result that we needed right away, maybe we could justify paying $625,000 more than the appraised price we received.” Coun. Gordie Whitlock also voiced concerns. “I don’t see the point of putting $1.5 million into a parcel of land for industry, when there’s nobody knocking on our door for it.” For a final word on the topic, Summerside Mayor Bill Martin left his mayor’s chair in order to take part in the discussion. “I heard over and over this evening that people were uncomfortable with the timing of the decision. I feel completely offside with that sentiment. “This council has been discussing this issue for almost our entire mandate. The plan for this park has been on the books for almost 20 years, so when people say they are uncomfortable, I’m not. “This council has the embedded knowledge to address ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ – do we want to purchase this piece of property at $1.5 million or not. Or do we leave it to a new council, a new mayor and the learning curve that will be associated with it.” Martin says he’s thrilled the discussion will continue to be held in the public stage when councillors continue the debate at the next public committee of council meeting. “I’m looking forward to hear back from residents. I’m a business person. So, I think while the land can be assessed arbitrarily at a number, the real value is how you plan to use it.”