The municipal election campaign will not slow down progress on the proposed outdoor sports complex in Saugeen Shores.
Council approved $150,000 in funding to ensure planning continues on the Lamont Pit property in Saugeen Township, which was purchased by the municipality earlier this year as a solution for a shortage of outdoor recreation space, specifically baseball diamonds.
Chief Administrative Officer David Smith says the project has been identified as a top priority for the community and they want to make sure they can advance the proposal during the lame duck period, which restricts council spending during an election campaign and could come into effect this Friday as the nomination period closes.
He says the funding will help make sure necessary studies are completed as quickly as possible.
"Things like a traffic study, a servicing plan, making sure the appropriate zoning is in place and the archaeological studies," says Smith. "Those typical things that a developer would do, the municipality holds itself to the same standard and will be conducting those analyses."
Former property owner Harold Sutherland Construction is currently rehabilitating the gravel pit as required under the Aggregate Resources Act, and Smith says activity on the site should pick up later this year, with eyes on having the first pitch thrown in 2020.
"The timing will be a result of the zoning process, in particular, and the community consultation," says Smith. "I expect that people will start to see activity on the site this fall, going forward, it'll be construction, I expect, in 2019 and should be open for business in 2020."
Smith says they will not need to use the entire 160-acre parcel of land for recreation space, so the municipality will continue to explore possibilities for the remainder of the land.