The Coves: With the paint plant gone and a developer poised, will public access increase?

11/29/2006

BY JOE BELANGER
LONDON FREE PRESS CITY HALL REPORTER

A former paint factory that has long haunted neighbours of the Coves soon may be cleared for development.

The dilapidated factory buildings just off Springbank Drive were demolished quietly over the last few weeks.

One of London's ecological and recreational gems, the Coves are a series of landlocked ponds or lakes.

Friends of the Coves, formed in the late 1990s to improve the ecological health of the subwatershed, hope a Brantford-based developer soon will buy, clean up and develop the vacant factory land.

Part of the land would be returned to its natural state. Another key component of the project would be providing the first "legitimate" public access to the Coves.

"I never thought I'd live long enough to see it happen," said Thom McClenaghan, president of the environmental group.

For environmentalists and neighbours, the Duke Street plant -- located near the idyllic, wooded flood plain -- has long been considered a thorn among roses.

Minnesota-based Valspar Industries bought the plant and adjacent orchard in 2000 and closed it a year later.

"There is a deal pending," confirmed Elizabeth Cannon, director of risk and real estate for Valspar.

"We're hoping that, working with that developer, between the two of us, something tremendous can be done with that land. It's been a sore point in the community for some time."

The paint factory and adjacent orchard owned by Valspar occupy more than 28 hectares in the Coves.

Steve Charest, president of Brantford developer King and Benton, said the company has met with community groups, city and provincial officials to reach agreement on the extent of a residential development.

"This is one of the largest brownfields outside the (Greater Toronto Area) and it's one of the most beautiful sites in the province," he said.

Brownfield is a term used to describe former industrial or commercial sites.

Charest said the company hopes to use about eight hectares for a low-rise condominium development, leaving the balance "for community enjoyment" including public access to the Coves, which is now limited.

"We're trying to determine how we can do a great project and still recognize some of the frustrations and challenges for the community," Charest said. "Our approach has always been not to try and force development down a community's throat."

Overcoming constraints imposed by the flood plain will be the major obstacle, Charest said.

Cannon said much of the land has been cleaned up and the balance will be evaluated and cleaned in the coming months.

The sale is set to close next fall and is contingent on city and provincial approvals.

"We're not opposed to development," McClenaghan said. "When you consider there's no government money for cleanup (of contaminated land), how else are you going to get it done?"

Coun. Harold Usher, who represents the old Ward 6 and has worked to protect the Coves, was pleased.

"Whatever they're going to do with the property is still a concern, but what's there now is an even bigger concern."

Usher conceded there may have to be "trade-offs" to ensure the land is cleaned up, developed and public concerns or issues resolved.

A few years ago, Friends of the Coves got funding for a two-year study of the Coves subwatershed -- a 700-hectare, low-lying drainage area south of Springbank Drive and west of Wharncliffe Road.

The city has designated the Coves an environmentally significant area and changing the landscape would require an environmental impact study.