Council Preview
By John Swartz
Orillia council meets at 1 p.m. April 27 because a special meeting of council on planning matters has been added to the regular proceedings.
The planning meeting is happening because staff have amendments for 12 sections of the zoning by-law for council to adopt. Some changes are necessary because of the new provincial Planning Act and others to further define or correct the by-law which was first approved in 2014.
The change related to the Planning Act is to allow schools on any property in a residential zone in the City. This includes commercial and the downtown where residences are also currently permitted. This change affects 5 sections of the zoning by-law.
Generally, staff want to prohibit living spaces in additional buildings (garages, boathouses) in all zones. They are also increasing parking requirements for hotels, industrial buildings and retirement homes. The changes reduce parking required for industrial properties, and increase for the others. Parking requirements have been inadequately low for retirement homes and the increase is marginal.
Several changes relate to one property, 21 Diana Drive, which council previously made amendments for a proposed LCBO store. The LCBO use is now off the table and the change is to permit a commercial training facilitiy (so watch for application to establish a commercially operated, schools). At the same time, the amendment being discussed will wipe out the amendments made for the LCBO store and return other compatible commercial uses previously allowed in the original zoning by-law.
Regular Meeting Starts Here
When council shifts to its regular meeting a deputation by Michael McMurter, Caleb Acland, and Varsha Shaji of Information Orillia, will be made to update council on Info Orillia’s Income Tax Clinic and provide information relating to a research survey conducted by Lakehead University students.
The survey tracked data on use of service and the tax clinics was the #1 most requested area of help. Housing information, securing phone and email access, and getting help filling out forms were other areas help was sought.
Most people are more than twice as likely to go to Info Orillia, than call. Most people asking for service are seniors and male. A little more than half are people who have used the service before.
Next is the public forum. There are no closed session items, so council will just carry on to the rest of the agenda, which is led by a report on recent flooding, particularly on Cedar Island Road, Davey Drive, and Lakeview Crescent.
The main action is to install temporary waste bins in those areas until May 12 so residents can get rid of damaged materials. This will cost $10K and will come from the tax rate stabilization reserve.
A secondary request to council is to direct staff to make a report to council on the feasibility of short-term measures to mitigate flooding risks in the Cedar Island Road area while the Cedar Island Road Environmental Assessment is in progress.
Some questions come to mind. There was flooding about a dozen years ago in those areas, and notably in the area surrounding Lake St. John, Did Trent Severn Waterway gate keepers not know of the record snowfall in the Orillia area and open up the water way prior to melting season to lower water levels in Lakes Couchiching and Simcoe? It’s interesting to note residents who live near the system thought it significant enough to post dozens of videos of dams opened up almost to water flow capacity on the Monday following weekend flooding.
The last time the Trent officials failed to act preventively, they said they couldn’t risk flooding cottage country, but it was OK to allow flooding in urban areas where the rich don’t vacation.
The City did address past flooding in the area of Queen Street and toward Cedar Island, which used to flood most springs and during tremendous rain storms, and there hasn’t been a significant event in years, so why now? Of course the worst winter for snowfall is obvious, but why did no one foresee the next effect of all that snow?
Just Stop It
Staff have a report recommending council change the restriction on operating construction equipment from 10 p.m. on weekdays to 8 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends. Most other types of noisy activity will be restricted after 10 p.m.
Staff received 5 complaints in 2025 related to construction noise. The changes also drop some examples of noise making because they are covered by provincial law already and do not need a complaint to be investigated.
Orillia Transit
Staff have a report responding to councillor Tim Lauer’s enquiry motion to outline the feasibility of dropping transit fares for people on the Ontario Disability Support Program.
Staff say there are 2,270 OPSP recipients in Orillia and the program does not include transportation cost in its needs assessments. Staff recommend forwarding the request to the 2027 budget committee, while arguing this could open the door for others, “Ontario Works recipients, seniors, individuals or families with low incomes, and others who face financial or social barriers to transportation.” to ask for the same treatment.
On the other hand the argument could also be those who cannot afford to go to work, school, get healthcare and etc. should be allowed to use a public service just like anybody else. We subsidize many things to those with low income and transit should be on that list. The City already has a $30 monthly pass those in need.
Staff estimate the system will lose between $26,800 and $95,600 of monthly pass revenue if free service is implemented this year.
Smooth Rides?
Staff a have a report asking council to increase the road resurfacing budget by $1.25 million from the gas tax reserve fund to fix more roads than already planned. This follows an enquiry motion from Mayor Don McIsaac.
That amount of money would take care of the roads scheduled for resurfacing in 2027, with a little left over. Those roads are:
- Westmount Dr from Mississaga St. W to Coldwater Rd. $697,125
- Nottawasaga St from Andrew to St Cameron St $192,500
- Neywash St from West St to Front St $253,000
- Laclie Street Fittons Rd to Murray Rd $50,000
It’s worth noting the Laclie Street entry is only for patches on what is still the worst minefield (road) in Canada, and not to just starting repaving at Fittons and continuing north as far as the cracked pavement allows. That $50K will probably only cover half the bad pavement between Foodland and the Holiday Motel.
Staff say they will pick from priorities, so it may be some other road jumps the line ahead of the 2027 list, which raises the question, if it’s more important, why isn’t it on the 2027 list? The mayor’s motion specifically asked roads on the 2027 list be advanced.
The City already has 13 resurfacing projects costing $5.8 million for stretches of roads happening this year.
Nice Land You’ve Got there
The most important item on the agenda is the last of all the reports. Staff have a final recommendation to council for lands to acquire from the Townships of Severn and Oro-Medonte for the years-long investigation to expanding City Limits. It will take another three years and $450K (the cost to negotiate with the townships and the County) before anyone can repaint the lines.
That cost does not include anything the City will have to pay to the Townships to take their land. Staff estimate it will cost $75 million to expand municipal services (roads, sewers, etc) to the new land. Development on the west side of Highway 11 has been stalled for years because the City was unwilling to extend services across the highway to lands it will now acquire.
Motions
There area no motions, other than one enquiry from councillor Janet-Lynne Durnford who would like staff, to report by July 20 on the costs, implications, and feasibility of the City adopting a policy to become a living wage employer and be applicable to full-time and permanent part-time employees.
Council meetings are open to the public or can be watched on the City’s Youtube channel.
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia)
