FAQs - City of Kingston's role in the land swap and school development process
Community access for 20+20 years to the outdoor campus, outside of school hours and generally defined as weekdays after 5 pm, weekends and summer.
Campus access would include all amenities, paths, basketball, parking, field, track and area including the school playground area.
Community access to the gymnasium/cafeteria outside of school hours but within standard operating hours.
Formal bookings completed through the schools’ booking system
What is the planning process for requiring school blocks in new developments?
There are a number of ways the requirement for a new school can be identified and planned for. School blocks can be negotiated directly with landowners when a school board identifies a need for a new school. They can also be pre-planned in consultation with school boards when developing or redeveloping large pieces of land (e.g. new subdivisions).
All Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment applications are circulated to the school boards, where they can provide comments to the file planner. Comments are considered and a recommendation is brought forward by Staff to Council for a decision on the land use matters.
This level of pre-planning is helpful when large redevelopments occur through a Plan of Subdivision to ensure that a large enough block is set aside. However, school are generally allowed in the zoning by-law across both residential and park lands.
Once a school site has been established on a lot that is sized appropriately and where it is permitted by the zoning, each school must proceed through a site plan control application with the City.
What role does the City play when working with the school boards on new schools?
The City works with the school boards during the development application review process, and through broader growth planning processes (for example an Official Plan or a secondary plan) to identify where school blocks may be needed.
The City encourages school boards to collaborate, particularly in exploring joint sites, as was recently done for the West Village subdivision. It is ultimately the responsibility of the school boards to secure the necessary land to accommodate their projected enrollment.
What is the projected population growth for the Westbrook area?
Kingston West, including Westbrook, is anticipated to grow by approximately 36,500 new residents by 2051. We anticipate that approximately 43% of this population growth will be in the Midland Avenue, Creekford Road and Woodhaven areas. This includes the growth associated with existing subdivision applications that have not yet been built. The growth associated with the existing subdivision applications in the area is likely to occur over a 10-year time frame.
Is there a school block included in the new subdivision on Creekford Road?
For the proposed urban boundary expansion Official Plan amendment application at 3279 and 3403 Creekford Road, a school block has been included on the conceptual plan.
Any new applications within the urban boundary expansion areas will be examined for appropriate places to accommodate new schools. This may not happen until after the passing of the new Official Plan, when the lands become ready for development based on available services and zoning is in place.
What zoning is needed for a new school?
Schools are permitted in several zones including both Urban and Rural Residential zones. Proposed schools have to meet the setbacks, lot coverage, landscaped open space, and other applicable regulations of the zone that applies to the property.
What City considerations are made around schools for sidewalks, bus lanes, childcare and outdoor spaces?
New or expanding schools must go through a site plan control application which reviews the location of the building, utilities, parking, drive aisles, playgrounds and sports fields, and bus loops. They have to demonstrate the functionality of pedestrian and vehicle movements through the site, including the bus lanes.
Daycares are permitted as an accessory use. The City is currently developing a 5-Year Service Plan for licensed child care and year years programs. Learn more at https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/child-care-early-years-service-system-plan
The City has partnered with school boards on projects in other areas of Kingston to assist in the development of shared school/park amenities with the goal of supporting the schools but in also securing expanded community use opportunities on fields and play spaces.
Will improvements to Westbrook Park be made?
The Westbrook Park improvements are on hold for the time being as we continue a conversation with the Limestone District School Board regarding the potential land swap. If the land swap moves forward, the community would be engaged on the design and conceptual planning for the park to be installed on the current W.J. Holsgrove Public School site. The City Parks Development team would bring forward the ideas and considerations previously shared on the consultation on Westbrook Park as a strong starting point for the potential new park.
You can learn more about the Westbrook Park engagement and what was included in the final conceptual design on the Get Involved Kingston project page: https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/creekside-valley/news_feed/westbrook-park-engagement-summary-final-conceptual-design
Has the City made deals on new schools before?
The City has worked with school partners on many projects over the years. Most recently the City partnered with École Secondaire Publique Milles-Îles and École Secondaire Catholique Sainte-Marie-Rivier. This partnership assisted the school boards to complete a unified public access campus around the schools as a functional extension of the adjacent City park, with the benefit of community access to a recreation field, paved walking track, basketball court, parking, field and track elements, interior theatre and gymnasium spaces.
In 2013 the City partnered with the LDSB on the development of the Rideau Heights Community Centre (RHCC) and Library. This project combined the redevelopment of the former Wally Elmer Arena site with the development of Shannon Park and an expansion of amenities to Rideau Height Public School. The RHCC and Library opened in 2018.
If the land swap moves forward, the City would be looking to secure the following as part of the partnership agreement:
How would the City consider using the Holsgrove parcel for a park?
If the land swap moves forward, the City would be looking to demolish the existing buildings on the W.J. Holsgrove Public School site and would intend to develop the site into a new park. The community would be engaged on the design and conceptual planning for the park and the City Parks Development team would bring forward the ideas and considerations previously shared on the consultation on Westbrook Park.