Township backs land deal

Public meeting planned; township mayor praises negotiators for reaching deal

MILLBROOK – Cavan Monaghan Township council had its first full look at the results of 25 years of on-again, off-again land dealing between the township and the City of Peterborough.

A report on a memorandum of understanding detailing a multi-million-dollar annexation of more than 4,000 acres of Cavan Monaghan by the city went to township council Monday afternoon.

CAO Yvette Hurley took councillors and spectators through the proposal, which also went to Peterborough city council Monday night.

Hurley detailed its highlights: 4,140 acres will change hands with annual payments of $2.5 million going to Cavan Monaghan from the city for 25 years to offset tax losses, as well as an annual payment of $475,000 to Peterborough County. An additional $8 million will be paid by the city toward servicing extensions to the new boundary, as requested by Cavan Monaghan.

The deal would include a 10 per cent cap for 10 years on any tax increases experienced by property owners in the affected area.

If approved, the change will happen Jan. 1.

It was a long time in the works, said Mayor Scott McFadden, praising the negotiators who got it done after more than two decades of talks.

Hurley told councillors that the next phase will involve at least one public meeting, as well as the development of a website that will allow residents to type in their address to determine whether they ’re about to become residents of the city.

That website would also offer questions to frequently asked questions, she said.

“Any information that comes forward will be posted to that specific section,” she said.

The public meeting would likely be held in North Monaghan Ward.

“I’m looking forward to hearing from the public,” said Cavan Ward Coun. Jordan Landry.

That was echoed by her fellow councillors. Coun. Tim Belch, who represents North Monaghan Ward, said the annexation would affect many of his constituents. “It’s a large chunk of land,” he said. “A lot of people have already come to me asking questions. I look forward to hearing from them.”

That will be crucial going forward, said Deputy Mayor John Fallis.

“I think it’s good that this information is getting out,” he said.

If the proposed annexation is approved with its current boundaries, the city would pick up 4,140 acres, ranging from Parkhill Rd. in the north to the Peterborough Airport, adding an area roughly 25 per cent the size of the current city to its western and southern edge. Sections of the land cross Sherbrooke and Lansdowne streets and the North Monaghan Parkway, running just west of the Fleming College campus and absorbing the Peterborough Airport property into the city.

While the city owns the airport, it’s on Cavan Monaghan land. The township collects $73,763 a year in taxes from the city for the site, while the county collects another $39,320.

Overall, Cavan Monaghan will lose $600,000 a year in taxes under the deal, offset by $62.5 million from the city over 25 years. There will likely be other financial impacts in Cavan Monaghan, Hurley said, including to waste management and the policing deal the township currently has with city police.

The land currently includes 186 residential properties, another 52 vacant residential properties, 40 farms, more than 50 commercial or industrial properties, with another eight commercial/industrial vacant.

Some other steps have to be taken, Hurley said, including the preparation of a formal restructuring proposal and consultations with First Nations.

Details of the public meetings and website will be announced at a later date.

NOTE: The Examiner covered this meeting via Cavan Monaghan’s live streaming service, available at www.cavanmonaghan.net.