In the Pelham 2026 Capital Budget on page 128 is a project to upgrade a sanitary system to enable development and allow for intensification.  This particular upgrade is targeted towards College Street and Emmett Street.   This is to support a greater number of dwellings, and residents, on these two streets.

More dwellings similar to what the “FOLD” represents.  This being three dwellings, by provincial law, where there may be only one now.    More residents will require more feces to be carried away and this requires a sanitary sewer of greater capacity.

The sanitary system under these two streets has aged and should be replaced when the streets are already dug up for the storm water system.    They do state that it also  supports "intensification".

Town Official Plan

In the 2025 Town media release of the Official Plan it states

“The updated growth management strategy accommodates future population and employment needs while

reinforcing protections for existing neighbourhoods.”

Remember that line.

Links

Media release

Official Plan

College St / Emmett St 

It is difficult to see how the Town is “reinforcing protecting the existing neighbourhood” on College & Emmett when it is clearly pushing in the other direction.

The Town has issued building permits, lot coverages, and structures that are out of character for the neighbourhood.  These structures in a most recent case were designed for intensification.   The three dwellings could not have been prevented, due to provincial law,  but the physical structure and lot coverages certainly could have been.  This is negatively impacting the uniqueness of these neighbourhoods.   

This is a recent example of how our current council has failed to protect an existing neighbourhood.

The simple fact is that the Town is intensifying infrastructure to support higher density and approving designs (building permits)  that are contrary to protecting existing neighbourhoods - which is the Town stated goal.

September 22 2026

Link to Town Reconstruction Webpage scroll down for Sept 22 meeting notice.  At he MCC 6PM.

The College/Emmet Street reconstruction design has hopefully not been locked in as yet.  There is a public meeting on September 22 when the Town will present its, likely final, designs.   The clear majority of residents who discussed and had presented feedback on the April proposed designs back in June have overwhelming stated they do not want dedicated parking lanes nor a secondary sidewalk.   There is no clearly demonstrated current requirement for them.  

Dedicated parking lanes are to support higher densities & intensification.  They will not protect our neighborhoods - they will hurt the uniqueness that is there now.

Of course at this time I do not know what the Town will propose.   I am supportive of "boulevard" parking (as the residents do on occasion need extra parking), and not a dedicated lane.  The Town may present other parking options that we are not aware of.   The Town may not finalize its decision on September 22.  That decision may drag over to the new council post October 26.

If the Town moves forward with dedicated parking lanes on College and Emmett it is because they believe it will be required to support the Official Plan and “intensification”.  

I do not agree with that.  

The FOLD has already demonstrated that builders can place parking within their property boundaries.   It's not attractive within the uniqueness of the neighbourhood - but the builders can do it.   I wish the Town will be more protective of design though - the Town failed with the FOLD build.    Three dwellings require only four parking spots.   This will be one less than the four dwelling FOLD build.

Dedicated parking lanes and another sidewalk will devastate the uniqueness of these neighbourhoods.

My position is I will oppose dedicated parking lanes if I become a member of council.   This project will need to come up for council approval in the next term.

One of the incumbent councilors in Ward 2 has stated he will engage a consultant to deal with parking issues and concerns with area residents and businesses.   

Really!  A consultant!  Do we really need a consultant to advise us on where to park cars!  Consultants should be retained for technical expertise – not for avoiding political or controversial decisions.  You now consider it important enough, to have someone else look at it, and that is what you put it on your election platform.     You are on the council – provide advice.  This is not leadership,  its ducking the issue and an attempt to appear conciliatory.   Why did you not support the parking working team which was proposed to council on June 10 - you had knowledge of it before it got to council.   Your support and representation of the overwhelming resident’s position was clearly lacking.

Don't know where that other guy lives but I doubt he is feeling the "intensification" of the neighbourhood.