More on the committee discussions regarding the future of King’s Landing.
Mayor Al McDonald, following that somewhat contentious meeting Tuesday, gave his view of the King’s Landing situation. “You don’t need to replace the dock that’s there, you can just leave it the way it is,” said the Mayor. “But [with the preferred option] you’re actually getting something that will create a commercial node on our waterfront.”
A hybrid approach is recommended for the wharf, including a “phased replacement of the King’s Landing Wharf with a naturalized spit and expansion of the pier on the south side of the marina.”
“If we do get provincial and federal money, a third, a third, a third, similar to what we’ve got in the study, it’s almost the same value,” as undertaking a complete repair of the existing dock, said McDonald. “If we don’t [get the funding], the project is just going to sit on the shelf.”
The potential price tag is what got Anthony’s back up. In order to proceed with a government-funded environmental assessment (EA), a long-range plan is needed. “To file the EA, you must identify a preferred option,” explained Director of Infrastructure and Operations John Severino.
After Councillor Mike Anthony objected to some ambiguous wording as to what the committee would be recommending as a “preferred option,” for the aging wharf, he suggested the Chair of Council’s Engineering and Works committee, Councillor Chris Mayne, clarify it.
Mayne declined Anthony’s request. In an odd twist, Mayne rose to the position only after Anthony stepped down early in the term. As Chair, Anthony could have made the changes he was seeking.
City staff assured the complete scope of the $16-million phased redevelopment project would not go into action immediately, nor without council’s approval.
After spending approximately $750,000 in EA fees to date, the special meeting was called, for the most part, to access additional funds (approximately $50,000-$60,000) to complete it, but ended up hearing key discussions about the future of North Bay’s waterfront.
Staff insists the proposal is a “phased replacement.” With a ten-year EA shelf-life, this sitting council might not revisit this portfolio during its term. If funding is secured, the council of the day, in concert with staff, will make these decisions.
The dock at King’s Landing would be eased out of service, eventually becoming a “functional wave break,” for the marina with options for recreational uses years from now.
McDonald, who expressed his support for the preferred option both during and following the meeting said, “I’m hearing from our community they want things to do down there and it’s going to be close to the same cost as repairing the dock.”
