Public Meeting – High Rises

A public meeting of the planning committee heard lots of opposing views about high rise development in downtown Kingston.

The planning committee discussed a proposal from Homestead to build two 21 storey buildings on Queen Street.

The camps are divided between those who think buildings higher than about 10 storeys will detract from Kingston’s historic downtown and others who say they will complement the downtown and add much needed living space for people to live in the downtown area.

No decision has been made on the high rise proposals from Homestead.

The issue of high rises is likely going to top the agenda for talks next week.

City council will discuss revisions that may be required to the City’s Official Plan as part of its ongoing five-year update.  A public meeting on the official plan is being held at 6pm on Tuesday at City Hall.

Man Arrested – Mental Health Issues

A 26 year old man who started following a female tenant in an apartment building in August of 2015 has been charged with attempted to stab a man who answered her apartment door.

Kingston Police say they believe the man is suffering from mental health problems.

He was arrested at the Bayswater Place apartment building Wednesday morning and faces charges of Assault with a Weapon, Weapons Dangerous, Uttering Threats to Cause Death and Criminal Harassment.

Arrest – Threats

A scary incident for a man and his children when they arrived at their home on King Street West Wednesday afternoon has resulted in charges against a 50 year old man.

Police say the man was standing in the driveway of the home when the father and his children arrived.  He was asked to leave but got agitated and started yelling – the father got back in his vehicle and drove a short distance away and called police.  When they arrived the man started screaming threats.

He’s charged with Uttering Threats to Cause Death, Criminal Harassment and Causing a Disturbance.

Gas Prices

You won’t like the explanation…Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen says the federal government can’t do anything about high gasoline prices in Kingston.

Gerretsen has been getting complaints about the price in Kingston being 10 to 20 cents a litre higher than the price in the Ottawa region.

Gerretsen posted a note on social media yesterday saying the price at the pumps is affected by a variety of things including transportation costs and demand for gasoline.

Leeds Conservative MP Gord Brown has sent a letter along with a 13 hundred name petition demanding the Competition Bureau investigate and the same situation in Brockville.

Weather – Flooding

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority isn’t expecting any wide spread flooding due to rain and temperatures around +4 on Saturday and Sunday.

It has issued an advisory after ice dams formed along parts of Millhaven Creek.

It says there is some localized flooding but says the current snow pack will likely soak up much of the rain tonight and tomorrow.

Frontenac Arena

The Frontenac Community Arena is hoping to make the cut and become one of the top 10 finalists in the Kraft Hockeyville competition.

The finalists will be announced March 5th.

The arena got over 25,000 tweets during the nomination process.

The chair of the arena board, Brent Cameron, says people can still vote on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag…#khv_letsgoflyers.

The winner of Kraft Hockeyville gets an NHL exhibition game and $100,000 for arena upgrades.