Parkbridge went back to the drawing board and Collingwood council approved an Official Plan amendment to permit a commercial development on the land at 70 Huron Street.
On Monday night, council unanimously approved the amendment, which would see Parkbridge, a property development and management company, build their new national headquarters on the site.
The land was formerly zoned residential. Back in June, many community members attended a public meeting to voice their concerns.
“I heard what everyone said,” said Coun. Kathy Jeffery at the council meeting Monday night. “I think, in the end, people will be surprised. It’s a busy street, it doesn’t lend itself to residential development.”
Coun. Deb Doherty agreed.
“Part of the (land in the) application is facing a busy roadway. I think this really is the best use for the property,” she said.
Coun. Bob Madigan pointed out the concessions being made by Parkbridge to try to keep everyone happy.
“The committee meetings were well-attended. There was more clarity for both sides,” he said. “Parkbridge acquiesced on many things to push this through.”
Council hosted a public meeting June 25 to receive comments on allowing an office building on the site and to give Parkbridge an exception to allow a 17-metre building height instead of a 15-metre building height.
Due to concerns brought forward by members of the community at that meeting, Parkbridge later amended their plan on Sept. 5 to reduce the build from 17 metres (or four storeys) to 12 metres (three storeys), however it is also noted in the staff report that a revision to the concept plan has not been received by the town yet.
Parkbridge intends to put up the building at 70 Huron Street with traffic access on Huron Street and emergency access via Simcoe Street.
Parkbridge develops and operates land-lease communities across Canada as well as some RV parks and cottage resort properties. Today, the Parkbridge empire includes 115 properties and 1,100 employees.
Parkbridge operates nine communities in the region including Park Place, Wasaga Meadows, Wasaga Pines, and Wasaga Dunes. There are also projects in the works on Grey Road 19 in Craigleith and on Christie Beach Road in Meaford.
The site at 70 Huron Street was formerly used as a landfill, and Parkbridge has already obtained the permits needed to take down trees and begin cleaning up the site by taking the landfill waste to a proper facility.
- with files from Erika Engel
