Sarnia council has endorsed the final feasibility study for the development of a multi-use recreation facility in the city, but a site has yet to be locked down.
Steve Langlois with Monteith Brown Planning Consultants told council Monday the former Holmes Foundry location, in the area south of Highway 402 between Front and Christina Streets, and Lottie Neely Park, south of the highway at Modeland Road, generated the most discussion.
"There's more technical work that does need to be undertaken," said Langlois. "We heard from the public about the need for active transportation and I would agree with that. I think any site needs to help support that. It helps to support your climate goals as well, but the reality for these facilities is most people will be driving to them. So, we need to have enough space to be able to accommodate the parking."
Councillors expressed some concern about possible soil contamination and intersection upgrades needed if the facility were built at Lottie Neely Park.
Concerns about the soil at the former Holmes Foundry property have also been raised before, in addition to the fact that if that property were selected, the city would have to purchase the land or develop a plan to swap land with the village.
"Western Research Park is another option that ranked highly that would be, essentially, a greenfield type of site. So, it would have fewer of those limitations, but has other considerations.
Langlois said while Germain Park has the land, the footprint could impact other amenities located there.
Preliminary site design concepts and the technical due diligence will focus on the top three preferred sites; Lottie Neely Park and Veteran's Fields, the city-owned lands south of Wellington, and Germain Park.
Staff have been directed to prepare a scope and associated budget for consideration in the 2023 capital budgeting process.
A motion to table the project for two years, proposed by councillor Margaret Bird and supported by Dave Boushy, was defeated.
