GPL and Mason Homes Developments Approved

At Monday’s C.O.W. Council meeting, as well as the Coast Guard re-development, two other projects were also approved: the Golden Plough Lodge (GPL) and the 27 Townhomes by Mason Homes at 425 King East (pre-servicing and sub-division agreement).  Mr. Mason was there to suggest that a chain link fence would be better than a wooden one but was otherwise happy and thought that construction would start next Spring.  He said that chain link blends better with trees and lasts longer but neighbours wanted privacy and wood is better for that so wood will be used.  (See links below for the full Planning report and earlier articles).  The GPL project was first initiated in 2016 and residents should move in during the summer of 2022 – more details including schedule dates below.

GPL Project – Key dates

  • Project Initiated – 2016
  • Award of contract for design engineering – April 2018
  • Plans/design approved by Town: 13 August 2020
  • Plans/design approved by Province:  19 August 2020
  • Tenders issued: 2 September 2020
  • Approval of agreement with Church on Hill (by them):  14 September 2020
  • Phase 1 – Construction of new Building – Start in Fall of 2020
  • Residents move to new building – summer 2022
  • Phase 2 – Demolition of old building – 2022-2023
  • Phase 3 – Site Remediation – Summer 2023

When complete, there will be a large area to the north west of the property which will be available for any future County requirements.

The County has a web page which will provide ongoing reports on progress.

In response to a question, the representative from the Design Architects said that the “design will meet or exceed expected recommendations by the Provincial Committee reviewing long term care homes – but changes can still be made if required.  The committee is scheduled to issue their report in April 2021.”

The Town will get $322K in Building permit fees for the GPL project plus $5k in a tree levy but will get no development charges since the County is exempt from those.

Since these approvals were at a Committee of the Whole meeting, they will need to be ratified at next week’s regular Council Meeting – this is expected to be just a formality.

A selection of images from the Planning report

Links

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Cobourg taxpayer
4 years ago

I don’t see the amount of money to be spent on the portion of this building project devoted to museum and archives but last time I did it was in the neighborhood of $6 million. I can not support this expenditure. We have a Museum or two already : Marie Dressler house and the Barracks. How well are they supported/ attended ? We don’t need to spend more tax money on more museums. I think there was a an archive collection at the library? Is that room now vacant? The GPL rebuild should wait until Covid 19 is fully understood this is no time to rebuild at seniors home.

Ken Strauss
Reply to  Cobourg taxpayer
4 years ago

There is a huge rush to start construction of the new GPL. COVID considerations will almost certainly necessitate significant design changes. Why wait? If we can demolish the old and start construction soon there will be an opportunity to re-rebuild the GPL to the new standards next year.