Cornwall mayor confident growth will continue

CORNWALL - Mayor Patrick MacFadyen is optimistic the town will see a continuation this year of the recent record growth in Cornwall.
He said town staff met with developers on Christmas Eve as additional residential subdivisions are being considered for the Island's fourth-largest community.
"There is no doubt the excellent schools in the town, bolstered with the significant addition to Westwood to facilitate kindergarten, combined with the first-rate recreational facilities in the town makes Cornwall an attractive place for development," MacFadyen said.
"Our inclusion in the transit system and extension of sidewalks only serves to enhance our reputation."
The mayor says he is pleased to see developers responding to the needs of all demographics in the town as several 'senior-friendly' housing units have been constructed with interest being shown for additional construction.
The town was able to add to its infrastructure last year with sidewalks being installed on the Trans-Canada Highway, Meadow Bank Road and Heatherway Drive.
The town also extended sewer services on Meadow Bank Road and is in the process of upgrading capacity of sewer pumping stations to facilitate development on Ferry Road.
Most noticeable of the town's initiatives is the second phase of the sports complex adjacent to Eliot River School. When completed this summer, the facility will have two turf fields, a baseball field, softball field, two tennis courts, a basketball court, clubhouse, parking lot, walking trails and toboggan hill.
The town, the mayor says, is pleased with its long-standing arrangements with the Eastern School District where many fall sport events are being held at the facility at no cost to the participating schools.
"We also acknowledge the support of the school in gaining access to these facilities via the Trans-Canada Highway," MacFadyen said.
As council enters the final year of its mandate, additional projects are on the horizon.
Armed with $2 million in Build Canada funding, the town is working toward upgrading the Civic Centre. In addition, council is preparing the town's capital project list for the next several years in anticipation of $1.8 million in gas tax funding from 2010-14.
MacFadyen believes two items beyond council's control may play the biggest role in the town's evolution - the long-awaited Cornwall bypass may be included in the Atlantic Gateway initiative and the Thompson report on Land Use and Local Governance released to the public last week.
"These are huge initiatives which will have a lasting effect on this town," he said.
"We are anxious to see what is proposed and what direction the province will embark upon."