Gananoque council briefs

Short-term stay proposed above Gananoque storefront

GANANOQUE — A health and wellness shop in downtown Gananoque will soon be welcoming overnight guests above its storefront, after town council gave it the green light Tuesday.

Council  unanimously approved a development permit for 116-118 King Street East, where the owners hope to convert one of two second-floor apartments into a one-bedroom short-term rental. The other upstairs unit, at the rear of the building, will remain the owners’ residence.

The proposal has already earned the support of the town’s planning advisory committee, which reviewed it last month and recommended approval with conditions. These include clearance letters from the fire and building departments, an agreement with the town within a year, and that all associated costs be borne by the owners.

The mixed-use building, located between Stone and Charles streets, offers two parking spaces at the rear off Coopers Alley – one for the existing apartment and one for the proposed rental.

The unit is to operate alongside the owner-run business on the ground floor, adding to Gananoque’s stock of downtown visitor accommodations.

Gananoque fire boat gets new motor

At Tuesday’s Gananoque council meeting, Fire Chief Andrew Dickson outlined the $28,787 emergency purchase of a new 150-horsepower Mercury motor for Marine Unit 6, replacing a troublesome 2013 Johnson engine that has racked up about $4,000 in repairs over the past two years.

Parts for the Johnson, which is no longer in production, were increasingly difficult to source, and repairs could have kept the boat sidelined for an unknown period, Dickson noted in his report. The new motor, installed by Peck’s Marina, came with a one-week turnaround and includes new throttle and steering assemblies.

The replacement was not in the 2025 budget, but Dickson said advancing the purchase will extend the boat’s life by several years and allow the motor to be transferred to its eventual successor. The old motor will be listed on GovDeals to offset some of the cost.

Gananoque eyes $28K study to get population forecast

Gananoque council on Tuesday opted to spend up to $28,800 on new population projections needed to meet updated provincial planning rules.

The move comes as Gananoque works to finalize its long-delayed official plan alongside stormwater and sanitary master plans. The provincial government's 2024 provincial policy statement requires municipalities to base growth forecasts on Ontario’s population projections, which group Gananoque with the rest of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.

Town officials argue that Gananoque’s proximity to Kingston and access to full municipal services set it apart from neighbouring communities, and they want more localized numbers to guide long-term planning.

Watson and Associates Economists Ltd., which previously prepared the town’s development charges study, will prepare the new forecasts to 2056. Staff recommended approving only the first phase of the work, which would also support the town’s other infrastructure studies.

The unbudgeted expense can be covered through capital reserves or surplus funds from related projects, with draft projections expected by year’s end.

Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.