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Beach volleyball courts are headed to Canatara Park while a nine-hole disc golf course will be added to Centennial Park.

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The respective recreational builds were both unanimously approved by Sarnia city council this week. Both would be free to use for the 2022 season as pilot projects.

The beach volleyball courts are planned for the area near the park’s band shell and beach pavilion.

“We are looking inward a little bit, but adjacent to that beach, in that vicinity,” community services general manager Stacey Forfar said.

One-third of the 33 survey respondents selected the site over others short-listed for public input. The easily accessible location is near washrooms, boasts sufficient parking and has enough space for at least two courts, staff said.

A master plan for the park is also planned to look at parking lot improvements, among other things, Forfar said in response to a question from Coun. George Vandenberg.

Installing cement pads with posts for disc golf in Centennial Park will complement city waterfront master plan objectives to naturalize the area referred to as the Centennial Commons, economic development director Kelly Provost said.

Digging in the pads for the course won’t impact work done in the park years ago to cap asbestos, lead and hydrocarbons underground, Forfar said, in response to a question from Terry Burrell, who was serving as acting mayor in Mike Bradley’s absence.

There’s $150,000 budgeted for the beach volleyball courts and $25,000 for the disc golf course.

Apartment buildings approved

Rezoning and official plan amendments were approved unanimously to allow two four-storey apartment buildings on a former church property.

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Applicant SuvNet Developments plans 64 units on the former Holy Trinity Orthodox church property at 1244 Exmouth St., council heard.

The narrow 0.8-hectare property would be accessible to emergency vehicles, Forfar and fire Chief Bryan Van Gaver said in response to a question from Coun. Brian White.

Setback discussions with the Ministry of Transportation are ongoing, said Patrick Matkowski, who represented project agent Monteith Brown Planning Consultants.

City staff, in a report, called the intensification project appropriate redevelopment for the lands.

More time granted for Groves build

Developers behind a new subdivision planned in Bright’s Grove have another year to work out technical details.

Proponents with Bright’s Grove Golf Course Inc. need another year to finalize draft plan details for the Groves Active Lifestyle Community, approved in March 2019, council heard.

There was a three-year deadline from council’s previous decision, officials said.

Council unanimously agreed on the year-long extension, but Coun. Mike Stark said he doesn’t want any more leniency beyond that.

“I want to send a message loud and clear: ‘Get your act together,’” he said. “’You’ve go a year to do it. If you don’t do it within this year, you’re done.’”

No paid parking in Canatara, council says

Parking in Canatara Park needs to stay free, council said, turning down a request from Revelree Music Festival organizers to close off and charge for parking at Canatara Beach and Children’s Animal Farm lots from July 22 to July 23.

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Charging for parking goes against the principle of the land donation by Maud Hanna to Sarnia to create the park in the first place, Stark said.

“The purpose of Canatara Park is to be enjoyed by all the citizens of this City of Sarnia, with particular emphasis on people who cannot afford to pay for entertainment venues,” he said.

The decision leaves other options open for future consideration, council heard.

Coun. Margaret Bird spoke against any parking at the animal farm lot, noting concerns about noise and safety, and was the lone vote against in the 5-1 decision.

“There’s plenty of other places we can park,” she said.

White noted space could be given for volunteers and staff to use for staging, “but not to charge a fee to any of the users.”

Diversity training details pending

In a report from council’s closed-door session, clerk Amy Burkhart said council received legal advice about disclosing details about a botched diversity training session last November.

Council directed staff to work with external legal counsel “to report out to the legal extent possible materials associated with two closed meetings,” Burkhart said.

Further closed-door discussions, to help prepare a response for community calls for action, could happen next meeting, CAO Chris Carter, and councillors Terry Burrell and Nathan Colquhoun said.

Diesel buses approved

A purchase price of $1.3 million was approved for two new replacement 12-metre diesel buses for the city’s fleet.

A council decision on converting the fleet to electric is expected at 2023 budget deliberations, city officials reported.

All but $350,000 of the cost is covered by Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program grant money.

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