City of Cambridge, region oppose land sever application in Hespeler

It’s a little bit of land that’s a big part of a plan for future GO train service between Cambridge and Union Station.

The City of Cambridge and the Region of Waterloo are asking for the rejection of an application for a piece of land to be severed in Hespeler.

The land, located on the southeast side of Sheffield Street between Clemens Avenue and Guelph Avenue, makes up part of the Fergus Spur Line. That line has been seen as a preferred route for a proposed GO Transit line from Cambridge to Guelph, which runs parallel to Highway 24.

The owner of the land, Canadian National Railway, wants the land to be conveyed to the adjacent land at 25 Milling Road. The report notes there are no plans for development in the area.

Staff for both the city and the region have called for the rail corridor to be protected for future use. The region notes they are working on a feasibility study for a GO train line that is expected to be presented to regional council in the fall.

“Planning staff are concerned that severance of the subject lands from the railway corridor at this time could impost significant barriers to the construction of a passenger railway station in Hespeler Village,” the report reads.

If the committee approves the application, staff has asked for it to be deferred until a deal is made between the city and the applicant on parkland designation.

A committee of adjustment meeting begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.