Council Preview
By John Swartz
Orillia council begins it’s Monday meeting schedule with a planning meeting. Up for consideration is draft plan of subdivision and zoning by-law amendment for 678 Atherley Road. The address could be a point of confusion for some because it is only accessible from Driftwood Road on Orchard Point.
The developer, Royal Park Homes, is calling the project Mariner’s Pier. If approved it will have 42 common element condominium townhouses built in 8 blocks. The developer wants to leave the pier and docks for resident’s use. With 106 parking spaces proposed it is one of the few development proposals to allow for more than is required.
Current zoning would permit 3 8-storey apartment buildings with a total of 106 units. There are 67 trees on the site, which is subject to the new tree by-law.
The intersection of Driftwood and Atherley Roads has been the subject of many attempts by Orchard Pint residents to have traffic light installed, yet the traffic study says, “The TIB concluded that the traffic volumes to be generated by the proposed development will not have any appreciable impacts on the adjacent road system. No improvements to the road network have been recommended to accommodate the proposed development,” and, “The Ministry of Transportation concurs with the conclusions of the Traffic Impact Brief.”
The regular meeting starting at 4 p.m. has two deputations, which for the first time in memory are by the same group, Sustainable Orillia. The first is presented by Audrey Bayens who will talk about a concept called the Circular Economy. Governments because of scale, have the great purchasing power, and therefore influence on markets. Adopting a strategy to buy only sustainable goods and services can shift manufacturing (e.g. using more recyclable products instead of throw aways). The presentation advocates designing municipal procurement practices toward using products made to be reused or recycled.
The second deputation is presented by Stan Mathewson and Bob Willard. Mathewson is the chair of Sustainable Orillia and Willard is an author who will talk about how Orillia can adopt different procurement processes. This goes beyond the municipal structure and they will talk about how the public can participate is various activities.
Community Hub
The plan to build a community hub and housing development on the former ODCVI property is back in front of council to enact the 14th amendment to the city’s official plan. Staff addressed objections raised a public meeting a few weeks ago, and basically calls for no changes to the plans the County of Simcoe presented.
The consent agenda lists a letter signed by 4 people asking for the City to review its spring cleanup policy. They outline two cases of people falling while biking because of slipping on sand they say could have been swept up sooner. Their main issue is with sidewalk cleaning and they would like the city to invest in more sweepers. The motion recommends the letter be forwarded environment services for a report and also to budget
The regular council meeting is a video conference and the chamber is closed to the public. The public can watch it live on Rogers TV.
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia)
