A committee of North Bay City Council is recommending completing an environmental assessment (EA) of King’s Landing, leaving options open for future work to the wharf.
City staff has recommended that council approve the "phased-in replacement of the King’s Land Wharf with a naturalized spit and expansion of the pier on the south side of the marina".
It also recommended completing an environmental report which would be tabled for a 30-day review.
See: Council may vote on King’s Landing Wharf proposal tonight
At a special meeting of council John Severino, Director of Infrastructure and Operations along with David Bonsall a consultant from D.M. Wills Associates reviewed numerous options.
The federal and provincial governments provided funding for the environmental assessment already completed.
“We’ve already spent about three-quarters of a million dollars toward the environmental assessment reviewing erosion, water properties, and what needs to be done to allow construction in the area,” explained Councillor Chris Mayne chair of the Engineering and Works Standing Committee.
“What’s needed to complete that environmental study is the final $50,000 to $60,000 of work. Once that is completed, we then have an environmental assessment that is valid for the next 10 years.”
Mayne says council wants to keep costs as low as possible to maintain the wharf while waiting for future funding programs to come along.
“What that means is, let’s spend about $50,000 a year just to maintain the existing wharf, where the Chief Commanda docks. So that is $50,000 a year over the next five years. If at some point a new program comes out from the provincial government and the federal government that allows municipalities to apply for funding to redevelop their waterfronts, then we would apply right away. But right now, there isn’t anything like that on the horizon,” said Mayne.
“Hopefully if something does come forward, in the next five years, we’ll then apply for the more significant cost to build a new marina which would be roughly where the old Chief Commanda restaurant is. The goal is to have it closer to the shore and parking area, so people don’t have to walk as far but that is a decision that is predicated on getting partner funding,” said Mayne.
“The city is not looking at going head with that and I think that is the concern some of the councillors have. We’re just looking to commit $50,000 a year to maintain the wharf which is the minimum cost per year moving forward.”
Councillor Mike Anthony, who sits on Mayne’s committee, voted against the recommendation.
“The recommendation doesn’t say we’re keeping all options on the table. That’s what we’re saying in this room, but what the recommendation says and the expectations that it creates is that you have chosen and are going with option 7.2 which is the $16.6 million option,” said Anthony.
“Keep in mind some of the parts in that are to be spent 10, 15 or 20 years out. That 16.6 is going to turn into 19.6 or 20.6 or 22.6. The recommendation that was before us didn’t say we were keeping all options open. It said we are selecting a preferred option.”
Anthony pointed out that while he is all for growth, it must be affordable growth, saying he is not comfortable with this level of spending with the other financial challenge’s council faces.
“My preferred option would be to repair what we have for $2.4 million not seven times the cost, $16.6 which would go up with inflation over the coming years and see where we’re at in 15 years with growth. Maybe we could afford more at that point. “
North Bay Mayor Al McDonald is in favour of the recommendation.
“I think the option brought forward by John Severino and the experts was very fiscally responsible and council can decide if they want to start in year one or year nine. That is up to them. It might not happen this cycle of council, it may happen in two councils from now. But at least we’re leaving all the options open for anybody that sits at the table,” said McDonald.
“The recommended option that they are putting forward gives us the longest lifespan of 70 years, and it is the cheapest of all the recommended options.”
The mayor says the ideal situation would be if all three levels of government would each contribute one-third of the cost.
“So, if you do a third, a third, a third, you don’t need to replace the dock that is there, you can just leave it the way it is. But you’re actually getting something that will create a commercial node on our waterfront because what I’m hearing from our community is, they want things to do down there. It is going to be close to the same cost of repairing the dock if we get the province and the feds to support it. If we don’t then the project is just going to sit on the shelf. “
Mayne sees economic benefits.
“From an economic investment from tourism promotions, supporting the Chief Commanda, supporting the waterfront development, I think the wharf and the new proposed wharf are integral parts of that future for the North Bay waterfront,” said Mayne.
Mayne expects the environmental assessment to take three to six months to complete.
The matter will be back before council at its regular meeting July 30.
