City sells prime waterfront land on Welland Recreational Canal to developer
May 18, 2022
City sells prime waterfront land on Welland Recreational Canal to developer
Released last year on the Made in Welland Twitter account, a rendering shows what could become of lands known as the Northern Reach, which stretches north from Woodlawn Road to just south of Merritt Road in Thorold along Welland Recreational Canal. The land was sold by the city Tuesday night. CITY OF WELLAND
Nearly 62 hectares of prime waterfront land along Welland’s Recreational Canal will be developed after city council approved selling the property Tuesday.
The lands, known as the Northern Reach, consist of 52.53 hectares in Welland and 8.95 hectares in Thorold and run along the canal from Woodlawn Road north to almost Merritt Road.
Welland purchased the 8.95 hectares from Thorold about a decade ago.
It will be developed by LIV Communities which has plans to build 3,800 to 4,500 residential units and will contain a mixed-use residential and a commercial block that features outdoor patio areas with a canal and park views.
“This development will showcase our city’s natural beauty along the canal,” said chief administrative officer Steve Zorbas in a release Wednesday.
“With splash pads, playgrounds, washrooms and more in the central and neighbourhood parks, our community is afforded some wonderful amenities to enjoy and get active; we’re excited to see LIV’s vision come to life.”
The company will develop a gateway feature where a proposed pedestrian-inspired Market Street will connect with a designed shared street.
Also included will be dock launch stations for nonmotorized watercraft.
LIV Communities will create road and pedestrian connections to existing city infrastructure and Seaway Mall. A major connection in the development includes a pedestrian bridge from Merritt Island to the mall area.
The developer will also work with the city to explore feasibility of a beach area or alternate public swimming feature adjacent to the canal trail.
As a community partner, LIV Communities will contribute $50,000 per year for 10 years for the naming rights to a city-owned facility, the city said.
The decision to sell the land didn’t sit well with four city councillors Tuesday night.
“I’m leery of some of the particulars,” said Ward 5’s Graham Speck.
“As a councillor, I am not satisfied with the process or outcome. I’ll be opposed to this,” he said.
Ward 4 Coun. Tony DiMarco said he didn’t like the process and how councillors were being rushed through it.
“This has been all rush rush, hush hush.”
He said there’s been no consideration given to area residents and wondered where all of the traffic from the new development would go.
“The way things have been going with this council it seems like whenever staff wants something pushed through, they know it’s going to be pushed through,” said DiMarco.
Mayor Frank Campion said the councillor’s comment was not appropriate.
“I don’t care, Mr. Mayor. It’s true,” DiMarco shot back.
Campion told DiMarco he couldn’t insult city staff, to which the councillor replied he wasn’t insulting anyone and that he wouldn’t support the sale.
Ward 3 Coun. John Chiocchio was also opposed to the sale and said the city could have done a better job throughout the real estate transaction.
Also opposed was Ward 6 Coun. Bonnie Fokkens. In favour was Campion, Ward 1 Couns. Mary Ann Grimaldi and Adam Moote, Ward 2 Couns. David McLeod and Leo Van Vliet, Ward 3 Coun. John Mastroianni, Ward 4 Coun. Bryan Green, Ward 5 Coun. Claudette Richard and Ward 6 Coun. Jim Larouche.