City looking to expand trail into Donovan's

By Patrick Newhook/January 13, 2022

Mount Pearl council is planning to break ground on some trail improvements this year.

In total, the City Mount Pearl has earmarked some $330,000 for work on its more than 60 kms of trails in 2022.  

Councilor Jim Locke said the trails are assets to the city. 

“This important investment includes $50,000 in upgrades to Power’s Pond washrooms for winter use, and a $230,000 investment in boardwalk replacements for both Power’s Pond and Branscombes Pond,” said Locke. 

He said the City sees the trails as its largest natural asset and is planning on making improvements and expansions. 

Councilor Mark Rice said he supported the commitment to spending on the trails. 

“One of the ones I’d like to comment on is the investing in our mixed-use outdoor spaces, our trails and our recreation programs,” said Rice.  

There is a lot of potential in the development of trail connecting to Donovan’s Business Park, he added. 

“Really, really import for the citizens of Mount Pearl. It’s really nice to see $330,000 invested in our city’s 60 plus kms of trail spaces and our largest nature assets including the design and development of trail connections to Donovan’s,” Rice said. “I mean Donovan’s is a huge area and to make a connection where the staff and people can make a connection from Donovan’s industrial park to our spaces in Power’s Pond area is really, really important.”

City continuing to support business makeovers

By Patrick Newhook/January 13, 2022

Mount Pearl is continuing its Façade Improvement Program into 2022, in the hopes of beautifying more storefronts to sustain its small business base.

The city is spending $45,000 on the program. Initially set up in 2019, the program was created as an incentive for businesses in growth areas to make improvements and investments in their storefronts up to the value of $10,000 on a cost-shared basis. 

“It signals our commitment to continue support for the business community,” said councillor Locke.  

According to Locke, businesses have shown interest in the program. 

“The city of Mount Pearl continued our commitment to economic development issuing over $27,000 in façade improvement grants to businesses making improvements to the extension of their public facing spaces,” said Locke during his 2022 budget presentation speech last month. 

Businesses apply, and when approved receive a grant of up to 50 per cent of the project’s costs to a maximum of $10,000.

 The goal is to not only make the local businesses, but also the streets they occupy, more appealing.

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley said this can help with the city’s sustainability. 

“This is, absolutely, not only a great way to support small businesses, but also do it in a balanced way where it is cost-shared,” Kieley said. “We are looking at improvements that now will change, literally, the face of some of our economic areas and drivers for years, so it has a great sustainability area there.”
Councilor Mark Rice applauded the program’s positive effects, both for the city and its applicants.

 “I think initiatives like this are really important for council and really important for the growth of Mount Pearl,” Rice said.

City sees $1.2 million worth of work during slowest weeks of the year

By Craig Westcott/January 13, 2022

It's supposed to be the slow time of year in the construction industry, but the City of Mount Pearl still received five development applications last week, on top of 11 building permit applications with a total construction value of some 1.2 million.

The permit list was presented at Tuesday's public council meeting by councillors Chelsea Lane and Bill Antle who co-chair council's community development committee.

"We have a couple of home offices being built, which is very fitting considering current times," Lane said. 

She was referring to home offices for E&M Production Sources Ltd., at 12 Hubbard Place, and Walsh's Electrical Maintenance at 12 McMaster Place.

The other development permits were for a change of use, internal renovations and site work for NKG Holdings at 39 Sagona Avenue, an 'Open Air Assembly Use' application for something called River Rascals Winter 2022 at Power's Pond and on various city trails, and a rear deck for Emberley Fireplaces & BBQs at 1049-1053 Topsail Road.

The building and occupancy list for the period from December 13 to January 7 included permits for single family homes at 9 and 16 Badger Place valued at $550,000 and $350,000 respectively, accessory buildings at 59 McGrath Crescent, 27 Tweedsmuir Place, 4 Wilkes Avenue, and 5 Roland Drive, and a fence at 7 Winsor Place. On the commercial side, grubbing was approved at 22 Glencoe Drive, while 'tenant fit-ups' were approved at 1144 Topsail Road and 1 Commonwealth Avenue.

One thing that was not approved, though the developer allegedly decided to proceed anyway, was work at 161 Park Avenue. As a consequence, councillor Antle asked council for approval to ratify a Stop Work Order issued January 7 against Mike O'Dea and CEI Incorporated Limited. Antle noted the order was being made because an earlier appeal pertaining to the property has not yet been heard by the Eastern Newfoundland Regional Appeal Board.

Quoting from the Stop Work Order, Antle said no permits had been issued for work on the property, “the dilapidated building and condition of the property was a safety concern," a City inspector conducted a site visit on December 31 and confirmed that a worker or contractor was replacing windows and performing interior renovations without a permit, and a subsequent visit on January 4 confirmed work was still proceeding.

Antle advised the developer he has 14 days to appeal the order, but that if he fails to comply with the order itself in the meantime he will be liable for all of the City's legal costs associated with enforcing the order.

Lane seconded the motion to approve the order.

"I'm going to call the question, folks," said Mayor Dave Aker signifying that no further information was required before holding a vote. “We've been briefed on this and followed it as it took place. It's based on an inspection and it contravenes all previous orders, and is frankly out of line with a process that is already in place with regards to an appeal."

The Stop Work Order was ratified unanimously.

Bars feeling the pinch of new restrictions

By Patrick Newhook/December 30, 2021

With the province bumped back to Alert Level 3 following the spread of the Omicron variant, businesses like bars and lounges have been prohibited from opening in order to try to slow the spread.

This came as a blow to establishments who, after months of lockdowns and heavy restrictions, where eager to welcome folks getting together with their friends on Tibb’s Eve.

The province moved into the new alert level that very morning.

GolfShotz is a golf simulator/bar located in Mount Pearl, and owner Trevor Hefferan says that as the winter months are their busiest, business had been doing well.

“This is our peak season being an indoor golf facility so the last two months it really did pick up and it really was catching on,” said Hefferan. “We run a men’s league here so that kind of took off, bringing us right into Christmas holidays, so yeah it was good.”

GolfShotz opened in December, 2019. By March it had to shut down due to restrictions. According to Hefferan, the winter is the busiest season for the business so seeing the province entering Level 3 at this time is tough.

“I hope it [ Alert Level 3] doesn’t last too long,” said Hefferan. “This is our third shut down in a row. We’ve only been open two years and this will be our third winter which is our peak season. It’s tough to say, hopefully it don’t last too long,”
Since GolfShotz is both a bar and a golf simulator, folks can come in to golf, just not to drink.

“We’re still allowed to allow people to rent the simulator, but not the bar and the lounge,” said Hefferan. “So, we’re more or less operating as a recreational facility at half capacity.”

GolfShotz also usually has an annual New Year’s Eve party. Under Alert Level 3 that won’t be happening now.

“We average thirty to forty people every year with live music and pretty good bar sales and the Golf Simulator going but that’s been cancelled now,” said Hefferan.

Other establishments have had to close their doors entirely under the new restrictions.

Fabian Power, owner of the Mount Pearl Westside Charlies, has had to shut down his business completely following the move into Alert Level 3.

He said that running a bar during the last two years hasn’t been easy.

“Challenging, that’s all I can,” said Power. “With the vax pass it kind of makes it a little bit easier, we kind of know who’s coming in and out…moving forward it’s going to be even more challenging.”

He said they’ve seen a major reduction in revenue as some folks still don’t feel comfortable going out for a night on the town.

“People do not just come out, you’ll have a few die-hards who don’t care but the majority will not come out,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Power is confident that everyone will make it through.

“This is just going to be a challenge and we just have to get through, we’ll all survive, the government money will help pay our portion of our rent and pay a few key employees, keep them around and stuff like that,” said Power. “We’ll get through it. I’ve been in business for 25 years, been lots of ups and downs.”

City reckons on climate change

By Patrick Newhook/December 30, 2021

With climate change becoming as dominant an issue as coronavirus, the City of Mount Pearl is trying to be proactive in dealing with it.

 The City’s latest budget outlines the steps Mount Pearl has taken and will continue to take to fight Climate Change.

 Last year, the city implemented LED lighting at the Glacier. Mount Pearl is spending $60,000 to put such lights in City Hall in 2022.

 “Our focus on climate change remains firm,” said Councilor Jim Locke, who chair’s council’s finance committee, “as evidenced by the over $200,000 investment made this year in LED lighting at the Glacier, which has multiple proven benefits including a reduction in Green House Gas emissions and electricity cost savings.”

 Locke cited other climate initiatives the city took on in 2021 such as a compost pilot project and installing solar lighting in bus shelters.

 The City is spending $150,000 on urban forestry development and $70,000 on protecting Powers Pond by putting in a storm receptor. Mount Pearl will also explore putting charging stations in the city.

 “Climate action will be front and centre in the $150,000 investment in urban forestry planned for next year, implementing a long-term plan for the planting of trees and shrubbery in key locations throughout our community,” said Locke. “In addition, we have allocated $70,000 for important preventative measures to protect Power’s Pond from any future oil contamination with the investment in and installation of a storm receptor.”

Mount Pearl says outdoor rink is ready to go

By Mark Squibb/December 23, 2021

Get ready to lace up your skates, because the City of Mount Pearl has announced that the outdoor rink on the Upper Soccer Field at Team Gushue Sports Complex is open and ready for fun.

The announcement came Tuesday, December 21 — just in time for Christmas — with the City promising that rinks at the Murley Drive tennis court and Montclair Street playground would soon be ready as well.

The City introduced the outdoor rinks last January at a cost of about $7,000 and were enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

The City provides the rinks, but asks volunteers to maintain them. Those interested in volunteering to help maintain a rink can contact the recreation department at City Hall.