Pushing boundaries
Town of Kensington says it’s full and looks to get bigger
KENSINGTON – Kensington is looking to expand.
A new report, commissioned by town council, has come up with a limited expansion of the town’s boundaries to essentially square them off, as the current border is somewhat haphazard.
The report also states that Kensington is on pace to use up all of its available land in the coming years, which it says would stifle the municipality’s development.
“The town is pretty near landlocked,” said Mayor Rowan Caseley.
“We’re full. So we need to do something for sustainability,” said Caseley.
The report, prepared by DV8 Consulting, has determined that Kensington should move to annex any properties that already have strong connections to the town.
It identified 106 properties in total. It made that determination based on four criteria including: properties already enjoying municipal services, being surrounded by properties already in the town, which might require better environmental protection or possible opportunity for future economic growth.
That last criteria is important because it’s how this whole process started.
Kensington recently purchased 62 acres of land to facilitate the construction of a new industrial park. But the land sits just outside the town’s current boundary, along Route 2.
Caseley said council decided to take a big picture look at the municipal boundary because it was going to have to bring its new industrial park holdings into the fold anyway.
He added that council is acutely aware that annexation is a topic that garners strong reactions from the public, so the town is trying to be as open about the process as possible.
“The town is pretty near landlocked. We’re full. So we need to do something for sustainability.” Mayor Rowan Caseley
Letters have been sent to every impacted property owner, each with a pre-paid envelop and request for comment.
Caseley also said council will phase-in any tax increases for property owners who are brought into the town. There would be no increases until 2021 when they will be incrementally increased over the next four years.
Mike James is one of the property owners Kensington is looking to absorb. He owns Spring Valley Building Centre on Route 2, just outside the town boundary. As a sizable commercial property, his business is facing one of the largest tax increases of any of the impacted property owners.
James had just received his letter from the town when he spoke with the Journal Pioneer.
He was still mulling over news, but at first glance could see positives and negatives for his business.
“Certainly, from a financial standpoint it would be a burden for sure to an operation my size,” said James.
“But on the flip side of it, there’s definitely some perks to being included into the town and the services that would be provided. So, I would certainly have to weigh-out the pros and cons to both. But I think in the end I think it would be a more positive (development).”
Council will consider all the responses it receives before making a final decision whether or not to proceed with DV8’s recommendation at an upcoming council meeting. It’s unclear yet if it will be on the January or February council agenda.
Even if council votes in favour of moving forward, the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission process includes more opportunity for public input before it makes a final recommendation to the province government, which has the final decision.