29 October 2024
Author of the article:CHLOE KNEER
Published May 02, 2024 • 2 minute read
An overhead view of the lot where a new six-plex, featuring all one-bedroom units, is being planned in Espanola. Council approved a zoning change from R-1 to R-X (special exception) to permit the development's go-ahead.
A representative for XP Developments attended a public hearing at the April 9 council meeting for a zoning application to change lot 80 Second Avenue in Espanola (adjacent to the outdoor rink) from R-1 zoning to Special Exception R3-8 to allow for a six-plex consisting of one-bedroom apartments.
The special exception is to permit reduced lot frontages and front yard setbacks, one-bedroom apartments of approximately 500 square feet (a reduction of about 100 sq. ft. from current requirements), reduced parking and other provisions pertaining to external stairs and landscaped open space.
Council approved the re-zoning and construction is expected to begin this year.
Espanola hires new treasurer
The town announced Julie Bouthillette as Espanola’s new treasurer. Bouthillette has 10 years of public sector service and is a graduate of Laurentian University. She will replace Cathy Tessier, who will retire in early 2025.
Property assessments and taxes go up
Espanola taxpayers will see an increase of nearly six per cent in their property taxes due to reassessments. Monthly town water and sewer service fees are also set to increase by over $10 in both 2024 and 2025.
Espanola CAO Joseph Burke states that the average assessed value for a home in the town now exceeds $160,000 and the tax increase will amount to approximately a $149 per household.
Town looks to re-zone municipal property
At a special meeting on April 18, the town discussed re-zoning a property that it owns to pave the way for a multi-residential development.
There are currently several development projects in the planning stages, and the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board’s construction of a one-level apartment building on Queensway Avenue is well underway.
Public works and recreation dept. reports
There were several departmental reports included with the April 24 regular council meeting agenda, including from the public works (PWD) department, which says that construction at the public works building began on April 1.
The report also advised that the Espanola Horticultural Society has told the PWD that they will no longer be planting and maintaining the flower bed in the traffic island at the intersection of Spanish River Drive and Sheppard Street. No immediate plans to take over the maintenance of the flower bed were outlined in the report.
The recreation departmental report stated that the complex has seen a marked increase in usage year-over-year.
For March of 2023, the number of drop-ins totalled 871, compared with 1,046 for this year. Pool usage was also up, with 3,597 in attendance for this year, compared with 2,145 in 2023.
Budget deliberations are on-going, and the next regular meeting of council will be on May 14 at 7 p.m. at the municipal offices, or on the town’s website at espanola.ca .
