$2.86-million link between Talbot Street and Loyalist Parkway considered
CHAD IBBOTSON
STAFF WRITER
Councillors supported a memorandum of agreement for a new public road to be located between Loyalist Parkway and Talbot Street in Picton during last week’s committee-of-the-whole meeting.
The new public collector road will connect Loyalist Parkway with Talbot Street through the Picton Properties Inc. commercial development, which includes a new Sobeys grocery store, and a residential subdivision proposed by Rollins Investments Inc.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Picton Properties, Rollins Investments, and the County identifies the municipality as the proponent for funding, designing, and constructing the new road, although it could also be facilitated by one or both developments if their development agreements ultimately provide for the construction. A staff report tabled at the committee meeting says a preliminary estimate for the cost of the road is $2,860,000.
The report says the MOA provides for the required land exchanges so the municipality can acquire the necessary road allowance, establishes the County will provide the design and any required studies, and allows either or both developments to act on behalf of the County to accelerate the road’s construction if the need arises. The new intersection with Loyalist Parkway, and likely the intersection with Talbot Street, would have stop light traffic control. The new road would also be included in the municipality’s development charges background study as growth related capital work to facilitate the financing and any cost reimbursement.
The staff report says the construction could take place as early as 2019, but the timing of the work and the related financial expenditures is contingent on approvals for the two developments and on Ministry of Transportation approval. This assumes the province doesn’t take measures to download the portion of the road as the County has previously requested.
The MOA will go forward for council’s approval on Feb. 13.
–Staff