Trustee Questions Reasons Behind Traffic Impact Assessment
By Robert Thomas
The issue of traffic around the proposed new joint use elementary school or rather who paid for a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) and what fund it came out of has brought questions from at least one trustee with the Prairie South School Divison (PSSD).
At their September 1st meeting Trustee Jan Radwanski asked about the traffic issue.
“I am just wondering with regards the South Hill school a report if there is any information about what the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) is all about and who pays for that?” Trustee Radwanski asked.
PSSD Superintendent Tony Baldwin said the funds for the TIA came for the Ministry of Education and had to be accounted for.
“The school pays for that. South Hill School pays for that. I referenced earlier we received $1.95 million dollars from the Ministry we had to show on our books. Holy Trinity (Catholic School Division) would have received some money as well I am not quite just sure not quite as much, so we fund all of the activities connected with the work connected to the South Hill School that money is provided by the Ministry” Baldwin said in responding to Trustee Radwanski’s question.
Trustee Radwanski asked an additional question about who requested the TIA.
“So that money that has to be spent on the traffic impact assessment was asked by the Cityof Moose Jaw is (that) who asked for that?” he asked.
Superintendent Baldwin said he could not say exactly who asked for the TIA.
“I really don’t know who asked for it. I’m sure you will be very interested to see the results. What that does that impact study does is the reconfiguring of Westheath in the subdivision with the school on board in different ways. I don’t have the results of the traffic impact assessment yet but we are thinking we will have it this month and then let the City have it,” Baldwin responded.
According to a September 1st City of Moose Jaw report the TIA came after the City and a consultant hired by the Ministry of Education identified traffic problems the proposed school would bring to the area. (See Below)
Trustee Radwanski asked if money spent for the TIA was money that could have been spent on building classrooms but was told this was not the case because there were two pools of funds - pre-construction and construction.
“Can you just confirm then this is an example of monies that were announced by the province for construction of a new joint use school because we are not building on an existing school site we are having to use monies that are for classrooms for traffic studies and other things because we are building in a spot that was not a previous school site?” Trustee Radwanski asked.
“No that is incorrect. We would have to do a traffic impact assessment regardless of the school site proposed. I think you made reference in the past as this being a fairly large building and we want to make sure it is safe for the residents in the adjoining neighbourhoods. So that is process which would be followed through by process management regardless of site,” Baldwin replied. “That 1.95 million covers expenses prior to getting shovels in the ground if we save some of that money it does not mean it is additional money for the school itself.”
Board chair Robert Bachmann then entered the debate portraying the TIA as favourable to the project.
“I would say on this South School traffic assessment all parties are eager to see that completed and eager to have that presented to the City of Moose Jaw when we receive that,” Trustee Bachmann said. “Certainly as our board has directed our director to work in conjunction with Holy Trinity (HTCSD) and with the Ministry with securing the land for this school to be built on so we will be able to bring forward a more comprehensve outline of where things are at next month’s meeting…that has been ongoing but we are hopeful we will have further clarification to that prior to that meeting.”
City Of Moose Jaw To Receive Report
In a report set to be presented to this Tuesday evening’s regular meeting of Moose Jaw City Council, Administration will tell Council that the selection of Westheath 5 and 6 as the location of the new joint use school has identified traffic concerns and the site goes against three sections of the Official Community Plan.
“City Administration has identified several potential issues with locating the school within the final two phases of the neighbourhood, specifically in relation to the traffic impact on the area and policies contained in the Official Community Plan. ”
The same report also points to the fact a consultant hired by the Ministry of Education also identified problems with the site selected for the proposed school.
“Upon initial review by the consultant, the Ministry was advised of potential traffic issues and it was suggested that a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) be completed prior to moving forward with any concept plan proposals,” the report to City Council reads.
Representatives of the two school divisions and the Ministry are set to address Council on Tuesday evening to ask the City to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the purchase of ten (10) acres of land in the Westheath 5 and Westheath 6 subdivisions for the proposed new school.
According to the report the City will not receive the TIA nor a proposed neighbourhood concept plan until the MOU is signed by the City. Administration has advised signing of the MOU.
In order for the City to ultimately green light the proposed site a public consultation must take place the City report stated.
SEE RELATED - Trustee Requests Further Consultations For Joint Use School