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Green light given to development in Chelmsford

BY JASON THOMPSON A set of traffic lights needed in front of the Tim Hortons location on M.R. 35 will finally be erected, ending a development freeze that’s been restricting commercial growth in the area.
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The Splash North water park in Chelmsford went from a vision of hope to a real eye sore after bureaucratic red tape prevented the park from opening.

BY JASON THOMPSON

A set of traffic lights needed in front of the Tim Hortons location on M.R. 35 will finally be erected, ending a development freeze that’s been restricting commercial growth in the area.


The decision to put the lights up was made Wednesday during a city council meeting.

“Unless those lights go up, it will never be developed,” said Ward 2 Councillor Ron Bradley. “We’ve been working it at it for at least six years. There was no lights there before and when the MTO (Ministry of Transportation) re-did Hwy. 144, they did insist that a set of traffic lights be installed there.

“Now it clears the way to get the lights installed and it opens it up for future development,” he said.

Bradley said tenders for the construction contract will go out immediately with the work to be done this fall.

“Now that we know that the lights will be installed, they can issue some building permits with the condition that those lights will be on so planning can go ahead,” he said.

The councillor said the area is open for business and thinks a motel would be a good fit for the community.

The installation of traffic lights also means the Splash North water park, a development that’s been stagnating on the side of the highway for several years might finally see some action.

The property is owned by Claude Lachance, and has been collecting dust because of the freeze on development.

“I hope right now that the corner with the water slide, which is an eye-sore . . . that something is done with it. Repair it, or dismantle it, whatever. It’s an eye-sore,” said Bradley.

The councillor said Lachance has no intentions of opening the park and may be looking to sell the property.

“If somebody wants to purchase it, or finish it, or repair it or put it to work  ...now this opens the door to do it,” he said. “If not, it opens the door for any other development.”

Northern Life was unable to contact Lachance as of the press deadline.


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