The future use of the Talisman lands remains a hot topic in the Municipality of Grey Highlands.
Two competing viewpoints about the future of the former hotel and ski resort/golf course were on display at the Grey Highlands council meeting held on Nov. 15.
On one hand, the owners of the two out of three of the Talisman properties – Beaver Valley Development Group – continue to work towards submitting a formal planning application for their two properties. A third Talisman-related property is owned by a different group.
On the other hand, a local environmental group is planning their own visioning exercise for the property - even though they have no ownership stake in the lands.
David Scoon of the Escarpment Corridor Alliance, was a scheduled delegation at the meeting. His presentation was focused on his group’s efforts, in cooperation with the Protecting Talisman Lands Association, to undertake a planning and visioning exercise for the Talisman properties.
However, before he spoke, Paul Mondell, of the Beaver Valley Development Group, spoke to council virtually during the open forum portion of the meeting.
Mondell refuted some aspects of the presentation planned by Scoon. Mondell said the owners of the land had undertaken a process to conduct public consultation late in 2022 and in 2023. A committee was formed, there were multiple meetings and the group hosted open houses on their preliminary plans for Talisman.
“It was a sincere effort on our part,” said Mondell, who said that unfortunately the last public engagement session turned “uncivilized” and “degraded to name calling.”
Mondell said the property owners continue to work through the planning process in anticipation of submitting a planning application for their two Talisman properties in the near future.
In his subsequent presentation moments later, Scoon said the alliance and the association would like to bring clarity to the Talisman lands situation, which he described as “uncertain.”
“While the Talisman lands are widely recognized as a key part of the escarpment corridor and the Grey Highlands community, they have been vacant for a number of years,” he said. “Their future is uncertain with two developers working independently with competing interests, which will likely lead to a disjointed, suboptimal development.”
Scoon called on local groups to work together with full community consultation to develop a vision for the Talisman lands. The Alliance and the Association have engaged Public City Architects and Landscape Architects as consultants on the project. Scoon asked that Grey Highlands senior staff and planners meet with the consultants and attend the public consultations and that council agree to receive a presentation on their final report when it is complete.
Members of council were cautious in their response to Scoon’s presentation.
Coun. Tom Allwood noted that the two groups were planning a visioning exercise for property they did not own.
“It’s private property,” said Allwood, who said at this point the municipality is looking forward to the property owners coming forward with a formal application that would unveil their plans for the properties. Allwood also said the municipality, which sold the two properties to Beaver Valley Development Group in 2022, has consistently taken the position that it sees the Talisman properties as a future economic driver for the community.
“We wanted something to happen with that piece of property,” he said. “At one time, there were 300 jobs at the resort. It meant a lot to our community.”
Council did not make any decisions at the meeting and voted to receive the presentation for information.
