Kitchener wants public feedback on new snow disposal site

Whileforecasters are calling for snow as early as this weekend,city officials are looking todiscuss where to put it as early as next week.

Officials saidthey're looking for public feedback on whether to dump snow removed from city streetsat the city's existing operations yard at 1585 Battler Rd., on Kitchener'ssouthern rim.

The estimated cost to landscape, install noise walls and environmental controls to treat and manage melt water, is pegged at$2.4 million, according to city staff.

The Battler Rd site is the top pick of city officials who say they scouted out six alternatives, but did not include their locationsin a news release published Thursday.

Now city officials are planning a public open housein order to hear from nearby homeowners, businesses and people concerned about potential traffic, environmental and noise issues.

The meeting is planned at Kitchener's Lions Arena at 20 Rittenhouse Rd.,from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Melting real estate

Kitchener is facing a real estate crunch when it comes to snow storage.

Right now, city crews dump snow removed from streets at three sites: former city yards atBrammStreet,Gerber Place and a third site at Ardelt Street, a piece of privately ownedpropertywhere officials saidthe lease is set to expire next year.

Without the space at Ardelt Street, city officials saidthere isn't enough roomthe yards at Bramm Street and Gerber Place to store the snow troweled away fromcity streets during a "normal" winter.

Kitchener and much of the province has experienced record breaking cold for two winters in a row and as a result, the snow has been melting at a far more glacial pace.