The government of Prince Edward Island has narrowed down a list of five proposals to just two options for the former Confederation Bridge fabrication yard in Borden-Carleton. The Department of Economic Development, Innovation, and Trade announced that ongoing discussions with the two proponents are underway as their projects do not require the entire fabrication yard’s space.
Situated on a 45-hectare parcel of land where the bridge components were built almost three decades ago, the site is owned by Innovation P.E.I., a provincial Crown corporation. All five applicants were notified of the status of their proposals on July 3, with regular updates provided to town officials in Borden-Carleton.
A surveyor recently completed an assessment of the site, and the results must be shared with the town and the leaders of the two projects to ensure compliance with the proponents’ needs and the town’s master plan bylaw requirements. Following this, the department will seek a permit from the town for site development, which will be subject to a public meeting.
Details about the content of the two proposals have not been disclosed by the department. Matt MacFarlane, the Green Party leader in P.E.I. and the MLA for Borden-Kinkora, has been fielding inquiries from constituents about the former fabrication yard. MacFarlane emphasized the importance of transparency in the process and expressed a desire for greater community involvement.
In a public meeting hosted last September, residents appeared to favor a proposed golf course for the site, put forward by competitive golfer Kris Taylor. Taylor’s plan included the development of two 24-unit residential buildings in the project’s second phase. MacFarlane highlighted challenges in the process due to changes in ministerial leadership within the Department of Economic Development, Innovation, and Trade. He emphasized the significance of the decision that the province will make and the importance of community benefit from the development on the former fabrication yard site.
