Paradise buys land for new roundabout

By Mark Squibb

The Town of Paradise has bought a parcel of land near the intersection of Mallow Drive and Clearview Heights to make room for a future roundabout.

“Seventy-four Clearview Heights is a vacant lot that is currently capable of being developed for residential use with municipal services, but the plans for the future roundabout severely impact how the lot can be developed and serviced, and greatly reduced it’s value as a residential lot,” Deputy Mayor Kimberly Street explained during council’s July 16 public meeting.

Street noted the roundabout had previously been discussed by council during private meetings on February 6 and March 19, and that staff were instructed to pursue the purchase of the land for the amount identified in a Town-commissioned land appraisal report, and to bring the matter back to council for a final, public vote, once a sale agreement had been reached by both parties.

Council, in private, agreed to pay $97,000 for the lot, and the owner accepted the offer.

Street said the purchase was not budgeted, but that funds are available in the general governance budget.

“This is good management and a good decision by council to get ahead of something that we know we’re going to need later in the future,” said councillor Patrick Martin. “We know we’re going to need this land for a roundabout, so it’s probably the better option, the cleaner option, the cheaper option in the long run.”

The motion passed unanimously.

The bottom of Clearview Heights feeds into the McNamara Road, Clearview Heights, Topsail Road roundabout, meaning that following completion of the planned roundabout, residents of Clearview Heights will have a roundabout at both ends of their street.