Piccini threatens ministerial zoning approval for Cobourg long-term care facility

Victoria Hall, By Dan Jones, CFWN, LJI

By: Dan Jones, Northumberland 89.7 FM News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini is threatening to use ministerial powers to advance a proposed long-term care facility in Cobourg. On July 22, council voted against a zoning amendment which would see approval for the construction of a 256-bed facility at 660 Kerr Street West. A no vote was recorded by all councillors, except Mayor Lucas Cleveland, who abstained. Cleveland’s vote was officially recorded as a no. A report by Town of Cobourg staff recommends that council approve the zoning amendment.

Traffic flow was a major concern for several councillors. Victoria Heffernan, Director of Planning and Development for Cobourg told councillors that engineering staff recommended that access in and out of the proposed development be a right turn only. This is to accommodate the future four-lane expansion on Kerr Street West and installation of a median. Traffic would then flow west towards the New Amherst subdivision.

Piccini said according to Statistics Canada, Northumberland County has a disproportionate rate of seniors and that housing options of either aging at home or assisted living facilities would be needed.

“Sadly, Cobourg Council turned their back on a new home on Kerr Street, which I find morally reprehensible. We have to work collectively to identify land,” Piccini said.

As Ontario’s new Infrastructure Minister, Piccini could take further action to approve the build, as he said he has warned Cobourg. “I’ll be seeking a ministerial zoning order, so we can get that home built,” he explained.

A Traffic Impact Study conducted in March suggests that traffic flow would accommodate the current road network.

“Upon full build-out, the proposed long term care home is anticipated to generate 88 vehicle trips in the morning peak hour and 92 vehicle trips in the afternoon peak hour. The Study identifies that the existing Kerr Street corridor is characterized as a local roadway with traffic volumes of under 100 vehicles-per-hour. The Study concludes that traffic generated by the proposed development can be accommodated within the area public road network without the Kerr Street extension,” stated the Town of Cobourg report.

“The Study further concludes that aside from the forecast constraint at the Kerr Street and Westwood Drive intersection, the broader network will continue to accommodate development traffic with acceptable levels-of-service across all forecasts.”

Councillor Miriam Mutton, who is seeking re-election stated at the July council meeting that she felt the project of this scale was premature for this site.

Max LeMarchant, who is seeking election as mayor and is the developer of the New Amherst subdivision, stated to council in July that while is in support of long-term care development, he asked council to decline the project suggesting it is not “the right use for the right location.” He accused this development of being 40 percent larger than the new Golden Plough Lodge. He wants a comprehensive planning study complete on the entire 14-acres of land, not just the four-acres where the long-term care home would be constructed.

Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty, who is now a mayoral candidate, said she also supports long-term care, yet with the residential development in the area and two schools possible, would that area support a large care home?

“For me, it was neighbourhood impact and not understanding the infrastructure plan that would support that dense of a building. It wasn’t the land use or the proponent that I had objections to,” she explained recently.

Current Mayor Lucas Cleveland, who is seeking re-election, abstained in the vote, saying he knew the vote was lost. “The vote was lost. I set the agenda, why would I ever put something on the agenda, that I knew I was going to lose,” he asked.

Without evidence, Cleveland suggested that Northumberland County, which owns the land, could possibly put a Homelessness, Addictions, Recovery, and Treatment (HART Hub) Centre on Kerr Street West.

He implied that County council could be discussing this behind closed doors. Cleveland presented a notice of motion to be debated on August 26 to Cobourg council, examining the possibility of a HART Hub in Cobourg. That debate did not happen as council declined to advance the motion.

“Lets be very clear, do I believe in the project or do I believe in making sure we never get a campus of care or low income housing in West Park,” Cleveland questioned.

“The County only has three pieces of land to put a campus of care. So you're telling me if there’s a long term care home there, they can't put a campus of care there? That's a good plan.”

With Council declining the zoning amendment, the proponent, Omni Quality Living can appeal this decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal, a quazi-judicial board which adjudicates land planning disputes.

“My frustration is that it's unfortunate that it goes there, [Ontario Land Tribunal] because you have a staff report which recommends the facility. You then put your team in an awkward position, where they now have to go against their own report, using taxpayer dollars to fight it at a quazi-judicial body,” Piccini stated. “You have to hire consultants, and lawyers. Guess who is paying for that? The taxpayer. That’s what’s so frustrating here.”

Cleveland conceded that Cobourg would “probably lose” at the Ontario Land Tribunal, if it went there. Cobourg would need to hire outside counsel to be represented at the proceedings.