Both Moose Jaw school divisions can proceed with the next phase of the joint-use school project, as long as they address expected traffic issues near the site, city council has decided.
The boards of education for Holy Trinity Catholic School Division and Prairie South School Division and the Ministry of Education provided city hall with a traffic impact assessment (TIA) analyzing what effect the new school is expected to have on phases 5 and 6 of the Westheath neighbourhood.
As part of a memorandum of understanding, the municipality has full discretion to determine whether the results are favourable for development at this location.
During the Nov. 23 regular meeting, council voted 6-1 to let the educational organizations proceed with an amendment to the concept plan for phases 5 and 6 to include the new joint-use school, while recommending that the parties incorporate strategies to mitigate the extra traffic expected at the new school.
Coun. Kim Robinson was opposed.
The TIA — which was first reported by the Moose Jaw Express — proposed two layouts on which to situate the 10-acre school site in phases 5 and 6 in Westheath. The report also concluded that Wellington Drive as a collector roadway and the area transportation system could accommodate the extra traffic the school will generate.
Peak disruptions in the neighbourhood are expected from 7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
The assessment also proposed that mitigation strategies be used to minimize traffic disruptions to the surrounding residential areas. Those strategies included:
- encouraging traffic to circulate in a counter-clockwise direction along Wellington Drive to minimize left turns entering and exiting the school site;
- separating the pick-up and drop-off areas for buses and private vehicles;
- separating the traffic paths for pedestrians, bicycles, private vehicles and buses to minimize conflict;
- providing signage and markings to alert drivers of school crossings;
- encouraging more walking, bicycling and carpooling; and
- staggering operating hours to minimize traffic volumes during peak hours.
Since council has determined that the TIA results are favourable for this location, the next step is to amend the Westheath concept plan, a report explained. This includes additional background work for servicing the area and engaging the residents about their preferred design for the school site.
Once this work is complete, the school divisions and ministry must submit the amendment to city council for approval to replace the existing plan.
Besides the TIA report, the initial 2018 concept plan for phases 5 and 6 for Westheath was also included in the council package.
The concept plan noted that based on the sale of 138 single-family lots and four townhouse units, the municipality had expected to net $2.11 million. The municipality figured the estimated revenue per family lot to be $14,168 and the estimated revenue per townhouse lot to be $39,657.
However, that overall financial figure could change since the traffic assessment report presented two configurations that reduce the number of residential units. The first option suggested there could be 109 family lots and 16 townhouses, while the second site option suggested there could be 105 family lots and 16 townhouses.
This means, based on the revenue per family lot and townhouse lot, the city could receive between $2.12 million and $2.17 million if all those lots sold.
The Moose Jaw Express will have a separate story about the discussion council had on this assessment report and some pushback from one resident during the meeting.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Dec. 7.
