City assembling college land

The City of Yorkton took a step Monday toward turning a stretch of Highway 9 right-of-way into land for the new Parkland College expansion.

"The City has committed a 20 acre parcel of land to Parkland College for the new Trades and Technology Centre northeast of the intersection of Dracup Avenue and Darlington Street East," explained Michael Eger, City Planner, at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.

"At the same time the City is continuing storm water management upgrades along Dracup Avenue and is in need of a 35 metre wide drainage ditch easement throughout the subject lands. This drainage ditch will encroach some of the land committed to the College. To compensate, a 6.7 m wide strip of land is proposed to be subdivided from unused Highway 9 right-of-way, providing 20 acres of useable land.

"In order to obtain this land for use by the College, it must be firstly closed by Council bylaw."

Eger said the closure must follow an established procedure.

"In accordance with the Cities Act and the Planning and Development Act, 2007, the proposed bylaw is subject to public notice requirements. As such, the proposed Bylaw will be posted at City Hall and on the City webpage, advertised in the local newspaper and mailed out to all residents within 75m of the lands," he said.

Council was unanimous in supporting the recommendation that "the Bylaw which provides for the permanent closure of part of Highway 9 right-of-way for use by Parkland College, be given first reading and that Administration be authorized to proceed with the Public Notice Process."