Plans for down the road

Charlottetown buys two Sherwood properties to possibly extend Spencer Drive

The city has purchased two properties in Sherwood for about $538,500 to possibly extend Spencer Drive through to Mount Edward Road.

The properties are located at 241 and 245 Mount Edward Rd., which the city will lease out to existing and future tenants for up to two years. The decision was made during a Charlottetown council meeting on Feb. 8.

A city spokesperson told The Guardian that the purchases are part of a long-term infrastructure plan to potentially build a new road through that land. It would connect Mount Edward Road to Spencer Drive, which runs between Canadian Tire and the mall.

If that plan moves forward, the property buildings would be torn down sometime after the leases expire in January 2023.

If not, the city would sell the properties to recoup the cost.

To cover the expense, the city is increasing its capital budget.

Rent for one of the property's existing tenants will be $900 per month, with rent on the other property to be determined.

The decision passed in a

6-3 vote, with Coun. Mitchell Tweel feeling that public consultations should have been held beforehand.

"We have a responsibility and an obligation to go to the people first before we even entertain an expenditure of this magnitude," he said.

It was noted that there will be public meetings if the long-term plan moves forward, which would consider area traffic.

"(But) if these properties are going to sit there for two years, then what's the rush?" Tweel said.

Coun. Bob Doiron also didn't support the decision and requested that a record be compiled of how many times the capital budget has been increased in instances such as this.

"The budget keeps going up and up and up," he said. "It's certainly a concern of mine."