Canning combines interests in old Cornwallis site

By Kirk Starratt

Kings County Register

There is a vision in the Village of Canning for a multi-purpose complex, trails and a green space on the former Cornwallis District High School property in honour of the late Bert Greene, former Kings County councillor and Deputy Warden.

Steering committee chairwoman Kim MacQuarrie, who made a presentation to Kings County councillors at the December committee of the whole, said the project started this past fall.

The main goals of the steering committee include, first and foremost, constructing a multi-purpose complex with trails and a green space on the 14.5-acre former Cornwallis District High School property in honour of Greene. She said this would reduce overall operating costs of the groups involved, provide higher quality services to Canning and district area residents and assist residents in their pursuit of living an active, healthy lifestyle.

MacQuarrie said current organizational facilities in the village are single purpose. The buildings are expensive to operate and maintain. Some organizations, such as the fire department, have outgrown their facilities, have a facility too large for their needs - such as the Lions, and some are not easily accessible. There are no recreational trails in the immediate area.

She said the former school site is a centrally-located site that is well known, visible and easily accessible from major traffic routes. Its size would allow for future expansion and the project would comply with the zoning of the property. Required services are available.

MacQuarrie said many surrounding residents are involved with the project. The multi-purpose complex would have proximity to schools, playing fields and the arena and afford an opportunity for joint service agreements. She said much of the preparation work done by the county on the site would be beneficial, reducing construction costs.

She said they plan to carry out a needs assessment. An inventory assessment of each organization has been completed. They need to finish a conceptual design and hope to start developing the trails in February.

“People are clamoring to get involved,” she said, pointing out she has letters of support from the local MLA and MP, various governmental departments, the village commission, recreation commission, fire department and Lions Club.

The village commission is willing to contribute $20,000 for the conceptual design and needs assessment. Contact with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) has also been made.

She said the steering committee requests a motion of council to maintain the current zoning of the site and to turn over the municipality’s interest in the property so trail development can begin.

Councillor Chris Parker said he is willing to support the project in principle, but he isn’t ready to hand the property over.

“It would be foolish for us to turn it over if there is no firm financial commitment,” he said.

He said the county consistently offered the village the property before the school was demolished - at a cost of over $300,000.

Councillor Barry Peterson said, if the county turned over the land, that could be their financial commitment to the project. Councillor Janet Newton suggested providing MacQuarrie with the figures of what the county spent maintaining the property up to the point of the school demolition.

“I knew in my heart that once we tore the building down, the village would want the land,” Newton said.

Councillor Madonna Spinazola said she shares the concern of how much municipal tax money has gone into the property, and asked what would happen with all the empty buildings in Canning if everyone co-located in the new facility. MacQuarrie said the organizations could sell their current buildings, put the money in long-term investments and rent their new facility.

Councillor Jim Taylor said there were a number of parties interested in the old school that approached council. Even though they could have had the building for $1, it would have cost about $1 million to bring it up to code.

COTW voted in favour of referring the matter to staff, to come back to council with a report and recommendation.