Liverpool waterfront re-design back on table

On Nov. 17 councillors were presented with a mandate drawn up by the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC), asking council for the go ahead to start the study.

The area in question covers Henry Hensey Drive from Market St. to the former legion property, and Water St. west of Market St.

The PAC was originally asked to examine parking issues along the waterfront, but members felt the whole area needed to be examined to do it properly. “It’s not just a parking lot,” said Counc. Mervin Hartlen, a member of the PAC. “It’s planning for the future.”

Council approved the mandate, and now the PAC will move forward with possible redesigns.

The mandate identifies 12 points for the PAC to consider, but in council identified two that were most important. The first is to address flooding issues in the parking area. The second was to analyze the costs and benefits of re-designing the waterfront.

Adam Grant, Assistant Director of Engineering and Works, says flooding is caused by backflow from the storm drains. “With the low levels of the parking lot, it’s highly influenced by the tide level,” says Grant.

However, while the problem is simple, the solution is much more complicated. “It’s hard to develop a solution to the problem, but things that could be done would be to construct a water retaining structure that would lessen the influence of tidal surge.” Grant added it would work like a backflow valve.

In council Mayor Leefe also said the solution is “Not nickels and dimes. We’re talking about major money.”

In a separate interview, he said, “Some may say ‘Why not raise the level of the parking lot?’ Well you can’t raise the level of the parking lot without jacking the buildings up.”

When asked why look at the issue now with the Queens Place recreation complex so dominant, he said, “Our interest in Queens Place doesn’t in any way distract us from opportunities and responsibilities in the Region of Queens. However important it is, it is a development, not the only development in Queens.”

Costs for a waterfront redesign can’t be determined until PAC has made their recommendation, he added.

PAC will do the initial study in-house to bring back to council at a later date. Council will then decide what they want to do. The recommendations are not binding, and council can choose not to take action at that time.