Looking north at the subject property of the proposed new Catholic school in Chatham. (Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent).Looking north at the subject property of the proposed new Catholic school in Chatham. (Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent).
Chatham

New Catholic School Proposed In Chatham

A site plan will be presented at Monday night's council meeting for a brand new Catholic school in Chatham.

The St. Clair Catholic District School Board (SCCDSB) has filed an application for site plan control for a proposed new school at 801 McNaughton Ave. W in Chatham. The subject property is approximately 7.91 ac. in size.

The report recommends that the site plan control application be approved to permit the construction of a 40,795 sq ft. two-storey elementary school and a one-storey child care centre.

Site plan for proposed new Catholic school in Chatham. (Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent). Site plan for proposed new Catholic school in Chatham. (Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent).

In June of 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Education announced that it approved the SCCDSB's funding request for $26.7-million to build two new Catholic elementary schools in Chatham. The funding also included child care facilities at both locations.

According to the report that is coming to council, one of the new Catholic schools will be built on the north side to replace St. Vincent, St. Agnes, and Our Lady of Fatima. The other one will go on the south side, to replace St. Joseph, St. Ursula, and Georges P. Vanier.

In August of last year, the SCCDSB's Board of Trustees chose 801 McNaughton Ave. W as the location for the north Chatham school with the intent of it being open for the start of the 2019 school year. The exact location of the new south side school has not been finalized.

Infrastructure and Engineering Services (IES) says the Traffic Impact Study identified that the following improvements and installations will be required for the proposed school development:
  • A new concrete sidewalk along the north side of McNaughton Ave. W from just west of Keil Trail N connecting to the new school site.
  • A new pedestrian crossover just east of the new school site.
  • A new signalized intersection for McNaughton Ave. W and Keil Dr.
McNaughton Ave. W from Bear Line to Fergie Jenkins will be upgraded to an urban cross-section, which will include road widening and curb and gutter. All of these improvements will be funded by the municipality.

The municipality says it is also working with the SCCDSB on a potential cost sharing agreement for some of the sidewalks improvements that are required, which depends on the availability of ministry funding.

Map for proposed new Catholic school in Chatham. (Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent). Map for proposed new Catholic school in Chatham. (Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent).

 

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