Princeton Wastewater Servicing Review Deferred

Wednesday, 14 August 2019 15:34

Today's meeting was supposed to see council give a recommendation to the Township of Blandford-Blenheim on a planning study, which would include a comprehensive review. The Township and council will discuss further at a meeting on September 25th.

OXFORD COUNTY - Talks on reviewing the wastewater servicing in Princeton was put on hold at today's Oxford County council meeting.

Today's meeting was supposed to see council give a recommendation to the Township of Blandford-Blenheim on a planning study, which would include a comprehensive review.

Manager of Water and Wastewater Services Deborah Goudreau explains the details of the report.

"So the report today really summarized the engineering aspects of the proposal, as well as the various funding options that were put forward. The concern being that because it's such a small system, the cost to residents has the potential of being quite high so that is primarily what the report deals with. Additionally, the report from Blandford-Blenheim really is about significant growth within the village of Princeton, it's actually proposing to triple the size of Princeton over a period of about 20 years. So the report talks to the fact that there's really, to this point, not been any planning justification for that amount of growth in Princeton."

She adds a comprehensive review needs to be undertaken before moving forward, to ensure the growth that has been suggested is actually feasible because it would be vital for wastewater servicing to financially viable.

Council's report set out land use planning matters to be considered by the Township and County Councils if the Village of Princeton is to be fully serviced. This would include a comprehensive review, water/wastewater servicing strategy and secondary planning to fully understand the potential impacts of growth on the Township, as well as impacts on existing fully-serviced communities such as Drumbo and Plattsville with respect to future development and expansion.

She says the report indicates there is a one time connection fee for existing residents, estimated at approximately $17,000 to pay for the capital costs, and an ongoing operational cost estimated to be at $290.00 a month.

Goudreau says the Township and staff will discuss more at a meeting next month.

"The report would be re-tabled on the 25th, which it gives the Township of Blandford-Blenheim some additional time to review the information provided and speak to County staff with any questions or requesting any clarifications that they might need."

Depending on the outcome of the Township's decision and undertaking of the planning process, the County’s Princeton Wastewater Servicing Class Environmental Assessment Study will remain idle until at which time the need for growth is established in the planning process.