After receiving several deputations from concerned community members, the Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM) council is reminding the public that its attainable housing project is only in its initial, exploratory stages and no final decisions have been made on project outcomes.
“This is the beginning of the process, not the end of the process,” said Rob Sampson, TBM councillor during a council meeting held earlier this week.
Earlier this spring, the TBM attainable housing corporation released three initial concepts for the site and a community survey in an effort to solicit attention and feedback for the project.
The initial concepts showcased three options – a three-story, four-story and five-story concept – sketched out on the former Foodland site, located at 171 King Street East in Thornbury.
As previously reported, if the town were to move forward with a five-story concept, it would be looking to amend the town’s official plan. An issue that has raised some contention in the community.
“I would suggest that the request for an amendment to the official plan is a serious matter, not only for this project, not only for the existing residents in the immediate vicinity but also has long term implications for the future character and nature of development that may take place in the TBM,” said Stephen Diamond, TBM resident.
Diamond said there has been a growing level of concern and confusion in his neighbourhood in regards to the project and he would like to see TBM establish better signage at the site as well as better communication through the town website.
Town council also received an additional deputation from TBM resident, Terri Kimball who said she feels amending the town’s official plan would set a “dangerous precedent”.
“My concern lies in the process being undertaken to deliver the project. Town residents need full disclosure of the plan being considered and its implications,” Kimball stated.
“In early May 2020, I was informed of a survey being circulated to give input into the design concept being contemplated. To the best of my knowledge, the survey was not widely circulated to all area residents. More recently, I was informed that, based on the survey results, the five-storey, denser (more unit) option was preferred,” she continued.
However, TBM council members say no decisions on the height or parameters of the building have been made at this point and the project will be undergoing several more stages of community consultation before anything moves forward.
“We have made no decision,” said Rob Potter, deputy mayor for TBM. “We are starting the exploratory phase. What has happened up until now is what anyone considering a project like this would do - it is marketing research. The corporation has looked at what is wanted – what is needed – and they are trying to get their ducks in a row before presenting it to the public.”
At the council meeting held earlier this week, council members passed a motion that directed TBM staff to initiate site specific planning amendments to the official plan to facilitate mixed-use development on the site, up to a maximum of five stories.
The motion also states that this action should not be recognized as the town’s support of the amendments themselves, but a necessary step to allow further exploration of all the site’s proposed concepts.
“This [motion] is starting the process so that we can engage the public in considering a number of options of what to do with that particular site,” Sampson said. “In order to properly invest the taxpayer's money for a solution for this project, we indeed should be looking at all of the options.”
Sampson said this action furthers the project’s planning process and will allow the attainable housing corporation to acquire more accurate estimates of building costs for all scenarios.
“Orillia just looked at and didn’t proceed with a four-story building of about 140 units and their estimate of cost was $80 million,” Sampson continued. “Our estimate based on published building costs is much lower than that. We need to facilitate the process that allows for all of those details to be looked at.”
The project Sampson is referring to is a County of Simcoe proposal for an affordable-housing hub, mixed with commercial space on the site of the former Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute. Simcoe County council voted to refer the project back to staff for more details.
