Long-term care home update given to council

By Ron Giofu

Town council received an update pertaining to the proposed longterm care home that is planned for a portion of the former St. Bernard School property.

The former school building, now the Amherstburg Community Hub, but the playground and parking lot that was next door was sold to Arch Corporation in Nov. 2021. The municipal address is 140 Fryer St.

“The owner is proposing the construction of a three-storey, 160-bed long term care facility on the subject property.

Since March 2022 Administration has been working with the owner to move the development forward. A site plan control application and a minor variance application were submitted in March 2023,” manager of planning services Dr. Chris Aspila said in a report. “On April 5, 2023 the Committee of Adjustment (CoA) approved a minor variance granting relief of 1.41 m in height to allow for the construction of a three storey, 160-bed long-term care facility with a height of 11.41 m subject to additional landscape elements to be introduced along the north property line consisting of a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees in addition to the proposed low shrubs/plantings. No members of the public attended the CoA meeting and no written correspondence was received on the minor variance application.”

Aspila told town council there is an active Site Plan Control application for the property.

“As per Bill 109 requirements, the Site Plan Control Area By-law 2022-073 approved by Council on June 27, 2022, appointed the Chief Administrative Officer or designate as the approval/ signing authority for Site Plan Control applications. Therefore, site plan control applications and proposed site plan/development agreements are not brought before Council for approval,” stated Aspila. “The applicant is working closely with administration to ensure the orderly development of the site. Background information and studies are being prepared and reviewed including but not limited to a detailed site plan and site servicing drawings, stormwater management report, functional servicing report, landscape plan, photometrics, transportation memo and environmental site assessment. Once all required studies have been reviewed and approved a site plan agreement/development agreement will be prepared and executed to ensure the interest of the municipality have been adequately safeguarded.”

Arch Corporation purchased the land next to the hub from the Town of Amherstburg for nearly $900,000.

In February 2022, the Ontario government confirmed the approval of the long-term beds and it was revealed in an online announcement that Chateau Park Long-Term Care Home would be moving from Windsor to Amherstburg. It was projected at that time as a $45 million development.

Monty Logan, president of the museum’s board of directors, thanked the crowd for attending the event.

“The fact we’re here is because we’re necessary,” said Logan.

Logan said it was a way to share a culture and interact in a social environment.

“We are all one people with a common humanity,” said Logan.

Logan thanked the town for its support of the museum and said those who attended made a choice to assist the museum. Board member Cari-Lyn Ristic added they are still looking for students willing to apply for the Mac Simpson Award and the Maturine-Romain Award.

“You could have done something different tonight but you chose to support us,” Logan told the crowd.

Future events for the Amherstburg Freedom Museum include the

Emancipation Celebration Aug. 4 at the Hellenic Cultural Centre in Windsor. Whelan said tickets are $75 and will be available soon. The Walter Perry Emancipation Classic Golf Tournament is Aug. 12 at the Dominion Golf & Country Club in LaSalle. Golf tournament tickets will also be available soon.

The Amherstburg Freedom Museum is a curated archive that preserves and shares Amherstburg’s stories of the Underground Railroad, and the compassion and solidarity it took to make this network possible. The museum is located at 277 King St. and included on its grounds are Nazrey A.M.E. Church - national historic site and stop on the Underground Railroad, and the Taylor Log Cabin - home of George Taylor a formerly enslaved man and his family. For information, call 519-736-5433 or visit www.amherstburgfreedom.org.