Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 12

116 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 11 built on, its proximity to Stone Mills would still greatly benefit the community. In the meantime, the Township’s undeveloped land is ideal for sustainable projects such as a solar facility. The Township is also improving its housing development planning. Brooks happily reports there’s been an increase in proposals, a good indicator for future growth. He reflects, “Going into the pandemic, our connection with residents was different. Previously, we were a reactive- based municipality; if you needed it, we’d provide the service. The pandemic changed that. We weren’t regularly seeing residents. We went into heavy planning mode, preparing for the influx coming out of this pandemic, but it occurred while we were still in it.” Sands adds that, even before COVID, the municipality changed its development approach in 2018 by hiring a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) who could help attract and Locally owned and operated for over 50 years Limestone Quarry & Heavy Equipment Rentals Residential • Commercial • Municipal Septic Systems: Designs & Installation, Driveway Installations and Basement Excavation 1768 County Rd 5, Napanee, ON K7R 3K9, Canada 613-378-2554 Accountability • Responsibility • Professionalism www.groundengineer.ca With over 20 years of experience, our team can design practical solutions to a wide variety of Civil Engineering problems. Unit 640, 654 Norris Ct, Kingston, ON K7P 2R9 (613) 634-1789 Serving Southeastern Ontario tier township, we have access to work solution groups offered through St. Lawrence College in Kingston and Loyalist College in Belleville. Both institutions support our municipality because of the opportunities in their areas instead of our township.” Stone Mills is further developing its economic sector so more residents can work within their own community. A business park would really help. In that regard, portions of the old Goodyear plant are not only located within Stone Mills, but are also surrounded by undeveloped property. “Although that land is believed to be reserved for the industrial park, the majority of the uptake has been on the opposite side of the jurisdictional boundary between the Greater Napanee side and Stone Mills,” clarifies Manager of Development Services, Jason Sands. “This is because full municipal services, water and sewer, are available on their side, as opposed to ours.” Regardless of which side the business park is