On the Council agenda for 1/10 there is a long awaited report with recommendations how to appropriately manage gateway features into our subdivisions.  Good policy on these features is important as the absence of such will lead to either crumbling, unattractive gateway, fences etc. across the Township OR financial “bombs” in the future as the Council of the day deals with fixing gateways.  The report includes clear simple recommendations as to how we are going to deal with gateways and other structures proposed by developers in the future; simply put, developers will need to provide funds for future maintenance.  The report also recommends how to develop a specific plan for all the features already in place; very importantly, it includes a comprehensive, detailed inventory of the latter.

I brought forward to Council the need for this policy very early in last term.  I have been frustrated that it has taken so long; but now that I see the inventory I can appreciate why it has taken time.  Furthermore, it clearly was not the most important project for department which has been short on resources.

When I identified the need, the scope of my concern was very limited:  the gateways.  I did so because of the crumbling gateways at the two entrances to Kingscross Estate (i.e. on Keele and on Jane) and wishes expressed by the residents in the subdivision for repairs.  As reviewed in the report the need for a policy covers more than gateways; there are noise walls, structurally engineered retaining walls.  In addition to addressing the cost of maintenance, there is the need to ensure that Municipality can access the structures.

I am very pleased that the recommended solution is simply not to outlaw the more complex, expensive gateways (i.e. those with bricks and mortar and metals); rather it is one that is flexible in response to the design features proposed by the developer.  I am also satisfied that the recommendation identifies that funds provided for future maintenance will be indeed available as they will be put into a reserve fund.

A disadvantage to the length of time to reach this point is that the inventory is already out of date as rate payors association have already taken action to address some of the crumbling infrastructure.  As Staff develops a plan for dealing with the extant gateways this variation in circumstances will need to be addressed.