Lanark County Council Highlights - June 12, 2024

Press Release – Lanark County

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held June 12, 2024.

Update on Cell Gap Project Received: Lanark County Council received an update from Lisa Severson, Communications Director for the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) regarding progress on the cell gap project.

It aims to achieve 99 per cent cell coverage along major roadways and homes in eastern Ontario for cell service, 95 per cent along major roadways and homes to support standard support for e-mail, web browsing and social media services, and 85% coverage along major roadways and homes to support video conferencing, streaming and other data-intensive applications.

At the economic development committee meeting last month, Severson explained there is a $300 million investment in the work, with $71 million each from the provincial and federal governments, $10 million from Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus municipalities (including Lanark County) and at least $150 million from Rogers.

The process to construct a new tower takes 12 to 24 months, she explained, from finding an appropriate property through assessments (including archaeological), municipal land use procedures, consultations (including Indigenous communities) and actual construction and testing of the tower. In Lanark County alone, 17 new towers are planned with eight already in service. Uplifts to fifthgeneration (5G) cell service have been completed on the 10 existing Rogers towers, and five co-located towers are planned, with three completed.

“This project will greatly improve cell and Internet coverage in Lanark County,” said County CAO Kurt Greaves. “Improved cell and Internet coverage remains a top priority for County Council and it is fantastic seeing this initiative come to fruition.”

The project is expected to be completed in 2026. For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Localizing Communal Service Project Receives Support: Lanark County Council has passed a motion to issue a letter of support for the Eastern Ontario Regional Network communal servicing report, to be copied to local municipalities.

This follows a presentation by Jason St-Pierre, CEO of the Eastern Ontario Rural Network (EORN), at the economic development committee meeting last month. St-Pierre explained the systems are also known as “shared drinking water and sewage systems,” “decentralized systems” or “cluster systems,” and they provide water and wastewater treatment to clusters of residences and businesses.

“These systems operate on principles similar to conventional municipal services, but without the reliance on a single central facility where municipal water and sewer services are either non-existent or beyond the fiscal capacity of local government,” he said.

He explained the system unlocks rural land and development that is hindered by a lack of traditional infrastructure, reducing related costs and wait times. It allows for increased density and land efficiency and more opportunities for mixed-use development. “It is proven technology and already in use.”

St-Pierre is asking for letters of support if municipalities would consider adopting communal servicing. The letters will be used to support an EORN application for the next stage of funding. The second stage of funding is a $3 million opportunity to scale the proposed solution.

For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Growth Management Study Received: Lanark County Council has received a Growth Management Study update related to growth allocations, presented to the economic development committee last month by Watson and Associates Manager Adam Fischer.

The goal of the study is to establish growth management principles and identify opportunities and options to consider for accommodating growth over the long term. It looks at current population and economic demands and anticipated projections regarding land needs through the comprehensive study process. The final study would inform amendments to the county’s Sustainable Communities Official Plan (SCOP).

So far, the background study review, county-wide growth forecast and growth allocations have been completed. Land needs, growth options and policy recommendations are to come.

Fischer explained the growth forecast aims to help municipalities ensure there is enough serviced urban land to accommodate long-term growth.

“Nothing is stopping a municipality from exceeding these targets,” he added, saying it is a best estimate to help with preparation through infrastructure planning, capital plans and urban land requirements.

Lanark County and surrounding counties have seen a large growth rate between 2016 and 2022, according to the census. A Ministry of Finance forecast from Spring 2023 projects Lanark County’s population to increase to 107,400 by 2046. Watson and Associates is forecasting a medium growth scenario of 1.5 per cent or 106,000 population, by 2051.

In terms of demographics, Fischer noted in 2021, 34 per cent of Lanark County’s population was 65 and older. That number is expected to grow to 43 per cent in 2051, with a quarter being 75 and older. This, Fischer said, has implications related to housing types and infrastructure and puts pressure on urban areas that have needed amenities.

The study also explores housing structure categories (low, medium and high density). Fischer notes there has been a slight shift to higher density building in the last decade, which includes stacked townhomes, apartments and secondary units. Low density includes singles and semi-detached units and medium consists of townhouses and apartments in duplexes. Over the 30-year forecast period, Fischer says they are predicting higher growth than historically, with about 550 new dwellings annually, as well as a shift in mix toward more medium- and high-density dwellings. He added overall the fundamental structure of the county would still consist of about 73 per cent low density.

Fischer also outlined employment scenarios, forecasting a medium growth scenario of 1.4 per cent or 34,600 jobs by 2051. The employment activity rate goes down as the population ages, he added. Commercial jobs would take up about 25 per cent of the jobs, but there is a range of sectors represented.

Fischer said nearly every municipality is expected to exceed historical growth numbers in the housing forecast, with Carleton Place and Mississippi Mills looking to be the strongest growing municipalities in the county, followed by Perth.

“Part of the driving force is the ability of these urban areas to accommodate a wider range of housing types, in part driving the overall demand for population growth within these municipalities.”

The forecast also shows increases in secondary units, which he says is important as people face affordability concerns. The projections suggest rural, non-serviced municipalities will also continue to grow. The growth forecast shows Carleton Place, Mississippi Mills and Perth above the average growth rate of 1.5%, and the employment forecast shows urban areas with highest concentration of employment.

Fischer indicated more projections and reviews will be undertaken leading up to policy recommendations this summer and a draft report in September, with the final report to follow in October/November.

For more information, contact Mike Dwyer, Planning Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1520.

Upcoming Meetings: County Council, Wednesday, June 26, 5 p.m.; Public Works, June 26 (following County Council); Economic Development, June 26 (following Public Works). No regular meetings scheduled in July. County Council, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 5 p.m.; Community Services, Aug. 14 (following County Council); Corporate Services, Aug. 14 (following Community Services). Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications.

For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like "LanarkCounty1" on Facebook and follow "@LanarkCounty1" on X!