screen shot of council, from left, Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf, Councillors Cathy Redden and Ken Tully.
Council unanimously approved the change
Over 200 Responses in Community Consultations
HRA Comments on the Future of the Tannery lands and Arena Property
Article by Sue Dickens
Hastings – There’s some good news for the residents of Hastings who fought to have the Ball Park property’s designation as surplus changed to Open Space.
Council approved the decision to begin the process to rezone the lands to Open Space and retain the parking lot on Trent Street as parking for the users of the park.
It is something many residents wanted so they have the green space in their community.
It was also decided that staff should bring forward further reports on the future use of the Hastings Tannery lands and Hastings Arena lands, that take the Community Consultation Survey results into consideration.
Hastings ball park property. Image Dennis Forbes
Jim Peters, director of planning and development provided some background for council noting: “Council is aware, there have been several discussions regarding the disposition of municipal properties in Hastings. The subject properties are identified as the Hastings Ball Park lands, the Hastings Arena lands, and the Hastings Tannery lands.
Between March 16, 2022 and April 14, 2022, the Municipality undertook a community consultation through a public survey regarding the future use of these three (3) properties.”
A summary of the results of the community consultation survey was included in the council’s agenda for their recent regular meeting.
There are also letters from the Hastings Revitalization Association (HRA) concerning the properties.
There were over two hundred (200) responses. Besides the specific responses to the questions about each property, there were also a number of comments received.
As stated in the summary it was noted that what can be seen from the results is a strong support for the Hastings Ball Park lands to be left as a park/greenspace.
There are also specific requests from the Hastings Revitalization Association (HRA) and in the citizen comments, that ask for these lands to be removed from the surplus land status, as well as being rezoned to Open Space…thus the move by council to do just that.
There are comments regarding a parking area associated with the Hastings Ball Park lands along Trent Street.
The comments relate to the potential for these lands to be used as affordable housing sites, with parking being relocated to the Arena lands.
Peters noted, as stated in the summary, the use of any lands to be used as affordable housing and/or parking, needs to be looked at carefully.
In the community consultation some of the potential uses that have been suggested for these lands are:
- Redevelopment as residential and/or commercial uses
- Affordable housing
- Continued or redeveloped park land
Vacant lands: Ball Park, Arena Lands, former Tannery Lands
The HRA noted in its letter to council that with respect to the arena property, it is the position of the HRA and the consensus of community members in attendance that development in this location should proceed as it is necessary to revitalize the Hastings downtown area.
“However, it should proceed in a manner that considers the historic character of our urban centre and is consistent with our unique small-town identity.”
Doug Manning is chair of the HRA.
In the HRA letter to council regarding the Tannery property, it is the position of the HRA and the consensus of community members in attendance that this space has been left derelict and in disrepair for far too long.
They stated, “A high priority should be placed on remediating and developing this key piece of our downtown core. Development of this property provides the biggest opportunity for our future and is key to our revitalization.”
With this in mind, we (HRA) request that you (council) consider:
1) Immediate actions that may be taken to protect the safety of those that irresponsibly choose to venture onto the site and those that may need to respond to an emergency situation (such as a fire) on the site; and,
2) Developing and communicating to the public a high-level plan for moving forward with remediation and/or development of this property.
Commenting during the procedure at council Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf said, “It’s good to see that we’re going in this direction. I think it was very obvious from discussions with the public and stakeholders that this is this is the right thing to do.”
Councillor Cathy Redden agreed with the deputy mayor and added, “I feel the need perhaps to reassure the residents of Hastings that despite not having Hastings included in the area in my ward. I think, and I will say this for most, if not all of us, that we’re still very interested in what takes place in the other wards… just because we don’t necessarily have day-to-day contact with those residents, they are within Trent hills and what they feel and think and their day-to-day activities are important to us.”
She also noted that a good relationship with community organizations is important.
She added, “It goes a long way to develop a sense of well being in the residents…I found a lot of evidence that there is a strong sense of belonging in this community (Hastings) of individuals willing to step forward and take responsibility and find ways to to make their community become very vital and active.”
She concluded by saying, “I think we’ve had a long look at everything and I certainly support what’s being recommended today around this table.”
Councillor Rick English then spoke on the issue.
“I think cover Kathy covered it very well and you know, the feeling for all the responses from Hastings, I think that they were dead on, a lot of them.”
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