The next council will address many issues and among the most important is growth. We are at a pivot point.
The Peterborough County and Selwyn Township Official Plans both state that Lakefield will grow through infilling, that is, building over 300 homes in the village by 2051. This determination begs questions regarding available property in the Village, the development off Bishop Street, and the future of Ridpath School.
The Official Plans also establish growth areas; one of which lies between the water tower and the 7 th line, called Lakefield South.
If implemented under its current iteration, one preliminary development plan for Lakefield South would see the building of 966 units – houses, townhouses, and apartments. It would represent a doubling of Lakefield’s population.
We are fortunate that we have a fine Township staff who have been handling the development process for several years now and that the preliminary plan is by Triple T; a strong, local company, run by good people.
The next council must navigate this pivot point at which we find ourselves by establishing a clear vision for growth that includes:
- an acknowledgment of the climate crisis and physical and mental health
imperatives and opportunities, - how the people of the new neighbourhood, those on the 7th line, and those
within the current village will interact as one community, - how the safety, lifestyle, and character of Lakefield will be positively
enhanced and not negatively impacted by more people, more traffic and
parking problems, and more pressure on already taxed infrastructure,
police, fire, education, recreation, and healthcare services.
We cannot surrender our agency or forfeit our responsibility by saying it will be years before the developments are completed. We must instead acknowledge that we are at a pivot point and that decisions made by the next council will shape our community for generations. It is for that reason that Lakefield needs a strong voice on Selwyn Council. I hope to become that voice.
John Boyko 