Belleville City Council voted to speak with the developers behind the Hanley Park North project regarding options to preserve the Bell Creek area.
In June, councillors Kelly Henderson and Barbara Enright-Miller had requested a report from city staff regarding options on the Bell Creek land, including a land swap, land trust, or other potential funding models, that would be presented to Hanley Development.
This came after significant public input, with residents expressing concerns about the developer’s plans for the environmental protection of the Bell Creek natural heritage system.
Hanley Park North would feature 103 residential units consisting of 74 single-family dwellings and 29 townhouses along with parks and walkways.
In a report to council, Manager of Realty and Property Services Diane McFarlane outlined the viability of looking into either a land trust or land exchange.
McFarlane concluded that any land exchange of this type would require a comprehensive evaluation to demonstrate a net benefit to the municipality and would not conflict with current legislative
requirements, long-term asset management objectives, and introduce unjustifiable financial and legal risks.
Councillor Enright‑Miller introduced a follow-up motion, calling for staff to speak to the Hanley Park owners to gauge their willingness to discuss the options presented in the report.
Councillor Paul Carr expressed concern about the motion, saying that he didn’t feel staff had enough information to be able to take part in the conversation.
“I know usually when you go in negotiations, you’re going in with some type of parameters in your mind. We’re just throwing Hail Marys here, but it’s Hail Marys that are going to cost the taxpayer potentially,” Councillor Carr explained.
“So that would be my concern of not having enough information on that side to then make an informed decision to put staff in a very difficult position to say that the municipality is interested in a land exchange, land trust, and municipal acquisition, but we don’t know the costs, we don’t know the budget, and everything else. Talk about putting staff in a bad position, and I’m not prepared to do that today.”
Councilor Sean Kelly spoke in favour, saying it is a way to open up dialogue with the developers.
“I don’t know if it’s a bad thing to have conversations with people,” Kelly explained.
“We’re not at any level right now. I’m not voting or signing off on millions of dollars of loss. We’re trying to get the conversation going. We just heard this has been going on for years, and I think there might be some closure.”
The motion was carried in a narrow 5-3 recorded vote.
Mayor Neil Ellis did not vote on the matter due to a conflict of interest, as the mayor noted he owned land along Bell Creek.
Those voting in favour included councillors Barbara Enright-Miller, Kelly Henderson, Margaret Seu, Lisa-Anne Chatten and Sean Kelly.
Voting against were councillors Paul Carr, Kathryn Brown, and Garnet Thompson.
