Looking for more land

Stratford seeking to extend into Bunbury district for its high school campus

STRATFORD – The town is requesting about 60 acres of land located in the unincorporated district of Bunbury be added to Stratford for its high school campus.

In November, the town spent about $2.4 million on a chunk of land between Bunbury Road and the Stratford Business Park for what it’s calling a community campus. But part of that chunk is located beyond Stratford's boundary line.

To move forward with the project, Stratford will need a boundary line amendment, which the town's council decided to request during its regular meeting on Jan. 13. This would see two portions of the land not currently within Stratford annexed, as well as a 0.57-acre property not involved with the project.

Robert Hughes, the town's chief administrative officer, said the reason for that property – a single two-unit dwelling – being included is that if it weren't it would technically remain in Bunbury but be surrounded by Stratford.

"That property owner has agreed to bring his property into the town," Hughes said. "Because he'll then be able to be serviced (by the municipality)."

Before Stratford's amalgamation in 1995 there were two Bunburys – one was incorporated into the northern part of Stratford, while the other is only considered a civic addressing community, Hughes said.

Mayor Steve Ogden said there shouldn’t be any implications for any of the adjoining landowners.

“We're basically just bring ing this into the town."

SEEKING APPROVAL

Stratford's request will have to go through the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission.

If the amendment is approved, the town's next step is to look at zoning the annexed land accordingly, its Jan. 8 boundary restructuring proposal reads.

Also at the council meeting, Hughes noted a request for a proposal has been sent out to have a consultant develop a master plan for the community campus, with proposals expected back by the end of the month.

"So, we're continuing to move a couple of balls concurrently," he said.

DANIEL BROWN • LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER Stratford mayor Steve Ogden is shown during a regular council meeting at the Stratford Town Centre on Jan. 13.