What We Heard - Community Growth Information Session

Why we engaged

Westbrook is growing and the City of Kingston and the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) are exploring opportunities to plan together for a future school and park space to accommodate that growth. Kingston’s population is expected to grow by 60,000 or approximately 43 per cent over the next 25 years and much of this growth is expected to build out in the west of the City.

Possibilities are being explored between the City and LDSB, including a land swap to secure locations for a new school and future parks expansion in Westbrook.

A prospective new school and an updated approach to parks and amenities is one way we can work with partners to plan for current and future needs in and around the Westbrook neighbourhood.

The Official Plan requires the City to conduct a public meeting on the disposition of parkland. Feedback from this future engagement would be reported back to Council for their consideration. The terms of the disposition of the parkland would also be subject to Council approval. The Nov. 20 information session is a first step at sharing this information with the community, however it is not part of the legislated public meeting process.

How we engaged

Get Involved Kingston opened a Q&A on Nov. 6, followed by an in-person information session at W.J. Holsgrove School on Nov. 20. The information session and online engagement opportunities were communicated by roadside signage in Westbrook, along with a news release, emails and social media to all Get Involved email subscribers. The W.J. Holsgrove School community was notified of the information session by email.

Who we heard from

• 549 aware participants visited the project page
• 86 participants attended the in-person information session
• 90 questions have been asked in-person and online about the project

Next steps

The next step in this process is a public meeting specifically focused on the parkland disposition, that meeting is expected to happen in February 2025. Between now and then LDSB and City Staff will be taking time to address and explore the questions and recommendations received during the first meeting so responses can be shared at the next one.

The Westbrook Park Expansion Project is currently on hold based on the outcome of the potential land swap and new school development.

Construction on Creekside Valley Park will begin Spring 2025.

What we heard

Staff adapted the format of the information session from table discussions to a town hall style Q&A session facilitated by City staff. Attendees asked questions of both City and LDSB staff, with City staff compiling questions. The following themes were identified.

Protection of trees and natural spaces

Many attendees shared concerns related to the natural spaces in Westbrook, including undeveloped parkland and large trees. Attendees shared they were worried that large trees would be removed during any potential construction activities.

School capacity and amenities

Attendees who identified themselves as members of school community shared that the current school capacity was not meeting the needs of their children, including the availability of before and after or day care spaces. The need for safe walking and other school transportation modes was also noted by some attendees.

Communication

Some attendees expressed concern with the reporting back of public engagement input and updates on park construction. Some attendees stated they were not aware of the session through any City communications channels.

Proposed land swap and park land disposal process

Many attendees expressed frustration with a proposed land swap, noting they felt the size of land parcels was not equitable. Attendees who would be affected by the proposed land swap expressed opposition to having a school close to their property.

Developer and builder obligations

Attendees who would be affected by the proposed land swap expressed frustration and concern, noting they felt the neighbourhood land developer would not meet their obligation to preserve parkland adjacent to neighbourhood homes. City staff had an opportunity to investigate the matter, requesting a copy of conditions from the standard Agreement of Purchase and Sale used by the main developer of the subdivision surrounding Westbrook Park as well as consulting the Subdivision Agreement established at the time the housing permissions were approved for the neighbourhood. There is language within the standard Agreements of Purchase as Sale advising purchasers of lots that back onto the existing Westbrook ParkStaff also investigated the restricted covenant that exists on the title of the several of the properties that back onto Westbrook Park. That covenant was put into place to ensure the mature trees located on those properties are not removed by the property owner. Those trees for the most part exist on private property and would be maintained accordingly.