Council Meeting - Regular Agenda Preview — July 13, 2026

Summary

One-sentence summary: The July 13, 2026 Council Meeting - Regular agenda includes Development Charge Exemption Request.

On July 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM, Council will consider several proposals including a zoning application for one-two-zero-one Fifteenth Avenue East containing twelve-eight rental units; while archaeologists previously cleared the site, discussions await Saugeen Ojibway Nation's further study of heritage concerns before finalizing conditions regarding pedestrian access and helipad safety. Concurrently, Kristopher Stevens from Glassworks presents a report challenging current employment land designations at nineteen-one-nine Twenty-Sixth Street East, noting that converting flexible zones to housing does not jeopardize regional job targets given existing vacant spaces capable of supporting thousands of roles. The meeting also examines requests for development charge exemptions due to provincial affordability barriers while acknowledging necessary infrastructure funding gaps under the Development Charge Reduction Program updates for Telfer Creek and fire hall expansions without cutting capital rates. Finally, Council reviews lease renewals facilitating a low-barrier emergency shelter near Second Avenue East, ensuring eight required parking spaces on existing easements support crisis housing needs.

Top Newsworthy Developments

Key Topics & Sections

Full Transcript

2 nd Avenue East • Tokyo Smoke Cannabis & Vapes, acannabis and vape retailer located at 797 9th Avenue East, Suite 1

nd Avenue East
•
Tokyo Smoke Cannabis & Vapes, a cannabis and vape retailer
located at 797 9th Avenue East, Suite 1
•
Platinum Taxi, a taxi company located at 945 3rd Avenue
East, Unit 25
•
Papa John's Pizza, a take-out restaurant located at 1023 2nd
Avenue East
•
Tree House Children's Clothing, a children's clothing store has
relocated to 834 2nd Avenue East
•
Owen Sound Flowers, a flower store has relocated to 1350

3 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

4 CONFIRMATION OF THE COUNCIL MINUTES

CONFIRMATION OF THE COUNCIL MINUTES

By-law No. 2026-065
"A By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Special Meeting of the Council
of The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound held on the 15th day of
June, 2026"
"THAT By-law Number 2026-065 be passed and enacted."

11.

ADJOURNMENT
The business contained on the agenda having been completed, Mayor Boddy
adjourned the meeting at 4:31 p.m.

_________________________
Mayor Ian C. Boddy

_________________________
Briana M. Bloomfield, City Clerk

Minutes
Owen Sound City Council
June 15, 2026
5:30 p.m.
City Hall - 808 2nd Avenue East - Council Chambers
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ian Boddy
Deputy Mayor Scott Greig
Councillor Jon Farmer
Councillor Brock Hamley
Councillor Marion Koepke
Councillor Suneet Kukreja
Councillor Carol Merton
Councillor Melanie Middlebro'
MEMBERS
ABSENT/REGRETS:

Councillor Travis Dodd

STAFF PRESENT:

Tim Simmonds, City Manager
Kate Allan, Director of Corporate Services
Pam Coulter, Director of Community Services
Mason Bellamy, Manager of Public Works and Engineering
Sabine Robart, Manager of Planning and Heritage
Margaret Potter, Senior Planner
Briana Bloomfield, City Clerk
Staci Landry, Deputy Clerk
_____________________________________________________________________

1.

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Boddy called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Mayor Boddy delivered a statement regarding Sharif Rahman, expressing appreciation
to the police officers involved in the investigation, the members of the public, and the
justice system following the court’s decision. Mayor Boddy also acknowledged and
thanked the community for the support shown to Sharif's family.

2.

3.

CALL FOR ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
2.a

Councillor Koepke Re: Past Events

2.b

Deputy Mayor Greig Re: New Scoreboard in Memory of Bailey Durocher at Tom
Williams Park

2.c

Councillor Farmer Re: Grey Bruce Pride Parade and Block Party

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
3.a

Deputy Mayor Greig - Item 8.e.1. contained within Item 12.a (Community
Services Committee Minutes)
Deputy Mayor Greig declared a conflict of interest with Item 8.e.1 contained
within Item 12.a of the agenda as the Deputy Mayor’s business has previously
provided financial support to the youth club referenced in the report.

Minutes of the Regular Council meeting held on May 25, 2026
"THAT the minutes of the following meetings be adopted as printed:
1. Closed Session of the Regular Council meeting held on April 27,
2026; and
2. Regular Council meeting held on May 25, 2026."

5.

MOTION TO MOVE COUNCIL INTO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
"THAT City Council now move into Committee of the Whole to consider public
meetings, deputations and presentations, public forum, matters arising from
correspondence, reports of City staff, consent agenda, committee minutes,
matters postponed, motions for which notice was previously given and additional
business."
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

6.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
6.a

Zoning By-law Amendment No. 58 - 1201 15th Avenue East (East Court
Residences Apartment)
Mayor Boddy declared the Public Meeting open at 5:35 p.m. and read the
following announcement:


Thank you for attending tonight’s public meeting. The purpose of this
meeting is to receive input from the public respecting the proposed
amendments to the Zoning By-law as per Section 34 of the Planning Act.



In a few moments, the Manager of Planning and Heritage will present
background information regarding the requested amendment. Following
the presentation, we will hear from the applicant and then we will open the
floor for comments, questions, and feedback from the public.



Every person who attends a statutory public meeting required under the
Planning Act will be given an opportunity to make representations
respecting the proposed by-law.



All submission materials for this application are available on the City’s
website and at the Planning Division counter at City Hall during regular
business hours.



Appeal rights on a Zoning By-law Amendment application are limited to
the applicant, public bodies, and specified persons who made oral or
written submissions to Owen Sound City Council prior to a decision being
made. Specified persons generally include energy, railway, and
telecommunication providers.



This meeting is an essential part of the decision-making process.
Feedback received will be considered in the decision of Owen Sound City
Council. An explanation of how the public and agency comments factored
into the decision will be included in the Notice of Passing of the By-law.



Where a change is made in a proposed by-law after the holding of the
public meeting, Council will determine whether any further notice is to be
given respecting the proposed by-law and the determination of Council as
to the giving of further notice is final and not subject to review in any court
no matter the extent of the change made in the proposed by-law.

The City Clerk explained that notice of the public meeting was posted on the
subject property, circulated to the prescribed persons and bodies, and placed on
the City's website on May 22, 2026. All comments received prior to the agenda
being published were attached to the agenda. One comment was received after
the publication of the agenda and before the public meeting, which was
circulated to City Council and will be attached to the republished agenda. The
City Clerk encouraged those present for the public meeting to sign the sign-in
sheet located on the table outside of Council Chambers.
The City Clerk advised that personal information is collected under the authority
of the Planning Act, and that the information collected will be used to complete
the Zoning By-law Amendment process and will form part of the public record.
Questions about this collection should be addressed to the City Clerk.
The City Clerk advised that any person wishing to receive notice of the decision
of The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound on the proposed Zoning By-law
Amendment application must make a written request to the City of Owen Sound.
The Manager of Planning and Heritage provided a PowerPoint presentation on
Zoning By-law Amendment No. 58 put forward by Baker Planning Group on
behalf of Andpet Realty Limited for an 8-storey residential apartment building
containing 128 dwelling units and to permit community lifestyle facilities as an
additional use. The Manager of Planning and Heritage highlighted the location of
the subject lands, noting that the lands are designated High Density Residential
in the City’s Official Plan. The lands are zoned as General Residential (R5) in the
City’s Zoning By-law and Medium Density Residential (R2) in By-law No. 2026030 which is not yet in force and effect.
The Manager of Planning and Heritage highlighted the ZBA process to date and
advised that a recommendation report and amending by-law are tentatively
scheduled to be presented to Council on July 13, 2026.
Caroline Baker of Baker Planning Group provided a PowerPoint presentation and
advised that the ZBA aligns with the Planning Act, is consistent with the
Provincial Planning Statement, and conforms to the Grey County Official Plan
and Owen Sound Official Plan. Caroline Baker noted that the proposal supports
intensification, efficient land use, housing diversity, and age-friendly community
objectives, and contributes to the provision of affordable housing.
In response to a question from Council regarding walkability to a nearby transit
stop, Caroline Baker advised that an internal sidewalk would need to cross
private property and noted that this possibility will be explored further with the
design team, engineers, and the owners.
Mayor Boddy invited members of the public to ask questions or provide
comments on the ZBA.

Cayley Cayley, Owen Sound resident, inquired about the cost of public access to
the pickleball court and woodworking workshop. The Director of Community
Services advised that access to the on-site amenities is not within the scope of
the current ZBA but noted that this information can be included in the
recommendation report.
Andrii Zvorygin, Owen Sound resident, advised that they had submitted research
to Council outlining concerns that the proposal may create a concentrated
humanitarian burden, including increasing food insecurity, mental health strain,
and demand on emergency services. Andrii Zvorygin suggested that Council
consider alternative approaches, such as implementing a vacant home tax and
permitting the development of hamlets.
There being no other comments, Mayor Boddy declared the Public Meeting
closed at 6:05 p.m.
Councillor Farmer left the Council Chambers.
The Manager of Planning and Heritage and the Senior Planner left the meeting.
7.

DEPUTATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
7.a

Deputation from Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College Re:
Georgian College Update
Kevin Weaver (the ‘Deputant’) noted that Steve Lowe, Past Chair of the Board of
Governors, and Dave Shorey, Executive Director of the Owen Sound Campus,
are in attendance and provided a PowerPoint presentation respecting an update
on Georgian College, including current enrolment, program offerings, graduate
employment rates, and Georgian College’s economic impact across the regions it
serves.
Councillor Farmer returned to their chair.
The Deputant spoke to Georgian College’s vision, mission, values, and
commitments, as well as its five-year strategic plan, launched in Spring 2025.
The Deputant advised that Georgian College has announced the closure of two
campuses and the suspension of activities at a third. The Deputant further
advised that Georgian College has reduced its full-time workforce by
approximately 20% and that additional reductions may be required.
The Deputant noted that Georgian College continues to support the growth of the
local healthcare workforce within the region. The Deputant advised that the first
cohort of students enrolled in the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing
program will graduate next week and noted that the establishment of the program
in Owen Sound was the result of significant community and industry advocacy.
The Deputant further noted that Georgian College continues to expand its
partnership with Bruce Power.
In response to a question from Council, the Deputant advised that Georgian
College has been actively working with local landlords to connect available rental
units with students, as on-campus residence capacity is typically full. The
Deputant noted that, due to recent changes in immigration policy, Georgian
College is generally seeing fewer students arriving from outside the region. The
Deputant further advised that the nursing program is part of the Province’s Learn
and Stay Grant Program, whereby students enrolled at the Owen Sound Campus
have their tuition, books, and supplies covered, conditional upon a commitment
to work in the region for six months for each year of funded education. The
Deputant noted that this program attracts students from outside the region and
that efforts are being made to ensure they are connected with appropriate
housing options.

In response to a question from Council, the Deputant advised that maintaining a
campus presence in rural communities is critical to supporting access to
education and local employment. The Deputant noted that Georgian College has
been advocating for an increase to the Small, Rural and Northern Grant to better
support these objectives.
"THAT in consideration of a deputation from Georgian College on June 15,
2026 respecting a Georgian College Update, City Council directs staff to
provide a report to Council on future opportunities for the City to support
the Georgian College Owen Sound Campus."
7.b

Presentation from the City Manager Re: City Manager's Update
The City Manager provided a PowerPoint presentation and noted:

8.



Highlights of upcoming and recent events and activities throughout the
City, including the Tyson Downs Association’s unveiling and dedication of
an outdoor AED unit at Harrison Park.



Reports that will be presented at the July meetings of the Corporate
Services Committee, Community Services Committee, and Operations
Committee.



A listing of media advisories issued since the last update.

PUBLIC FORUM
The City Clerk provided an overview of the public forum guidelines.
8.a

Tamara Sargent, Owen Sound resident
The Speaker expressed concerns with respect to the City’s shopping cart
recovery operations and referenced an incident they observed in the River
District involving shopping carts that appeared to contain the personal belongings
of unhoused individuals, and the subsequent removal of those carts by members
of the Owen Sound Police Service and City By-law Enforcement Officers.

8.b

Jennifer Jones, Owen Sound resident
The Speaker advised that they are a Registered Dietitian with the Owen Sound
Family Health Team and a member of OPSEU Local 276. The Speaker outlined
the rationale for the current strike action and requested Council’s support in
communicating to Grey County and the Ministry of Health that the wage impacts
of Bill 124 be addressed as part of any provincial primary care strategy for Grey
Bruce. The Speaker emphasized that such advocacy would assist in amplifying
the call for fair compensation for allied health workers.

8.c

Michelle Lanteigne, Owen Sound resident
The Speaker advised that they are a Nurse Practitioner with the Owen Sound
Family Health Team and expressed their support for their colleagues currently
engaged in strike action. The Speaker encouraged Council to provide its support
to this team as a community and government relations partner.

8.d

Richard Eppel, Owen Sound resident
The Speaker advised that they are a clinical pharmacist for the Owen Sound
Family Health Team and a member of OPSEU Local 276. The Speaker
expressed concerns with the Family Health Team’s diabetes program and the
loss of staff due to wage disparities. The Speaker requested that Council support

a motion recognizing that a fully staffed Family Health Team is essential to
achieving the goals of Vision 2050.
8.e

Marcelina Salazar, Township of Chatsworth resident
The Speaker advised that they are a mental health counsellor at the Owen
Sound Family Health Team and a member of OPSEU Local 276. The Speaker
requested that Council acknowledge that a strong, fully staffed Family Health
Team is essential for achieving Vision 2050's goals around prosperity, safety, and
community connection.

8.f

Anne Finlay-Stewart, Owen Sound resident
The Speaker provided comments on behalf of Hilary, Arthur, Jasper, and Tully,
requesting that Council formally endorse the motion from the Town of South
Bruce Peninsula contained within the information package respecting funding for
outdoor education programs.

9.

CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED FOR WHICH DIRECTION OF COUNCIL IS
REQUIRED
There were no correspondence items presented for consideration.

10.

REPORTS OF CITY STAFF
10.a

Report CS-26-046 from the Senior Planner Re: Technical Report - ZBA No. 58 for
1201 15th Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)
The Director of Community Services provided a brief overview of the report.
"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CS-26-046 respecting the proposed
eight storey apartment building with community lifestyle facilities at 1201
15th Avenue East, City Council directs staff to continue to process Zoning
By-law Amendment No. 58 in accordance with the process outlined in the
report."

10.b

Report CM-26-021 from the City Manager Re: Fostering a Vibrant River District Report III
The City Manager provided an overview of the report and responded to questions
of Council.
"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CM-26-021 respecting Fostering a
Vibrant River District - Report III, City Council receives the report for
information purposes."

10.c

Report CR-26-063 from the Director of Corporate Services Re: Support for
Affordable Housing - Transfer of Lands to the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit
Housing Corporation
The City Clerk advised that, before the staff report can be considered, Council
must first waive the notice of motion requirement set out in the Procedural By-law
and then pass a motion to reconsider its previous decision.

“THAT City Council waives the notice of motion requirement in the City’s
Procedural By-law in order to discuss a matter relating to the transfer of
lands to the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation rather
than the Owen Sound Housing Company.”
“THAT City Council reconsider the decision contained in Item No. 2 of
Company, save and except the condition that Peter Lemon be recognized in
the naming of the building or complex.”
The Director of Corporate Services provided an overview of the report.
Mayor Boddy emphasized the importance of proceeding with the development
and noted that the Owen Sound Housing Company, as reflected in its May 21,
2026 special meeting minutes, intends to recognize Peter Lemon.
"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CR-06-063 respecting the transfer of
lands to the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation to
support for affordable housing, City Council directs staff to bring forward a
by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute all documents
necessary to complete the transfer of the subject lands to the Owen Sound
Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation (OSMNPHC)."
10.d

Report CR-26-065 from the Director of Corporate Services Re: Development
Charges Reduction Program 2026-2035
The Director of Corporate Services provided an overview of the report and
responded to questions of Council.
"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CR-26-065 respecting the
Development Charges Reduction Program 2026 – 2035, City Council:
1. Directs staff to submit applications to the Canada-Ontario
Development Charge Reduction Program for the:
a. East Side Growth Corridor Infrastructure Program; and
b. Proposed Fire Hall Development Project;
2. Endorses, in principle, the City's participation in the Canada-Ontario
Development Charge Reduction Program, including the potential
elimination of the city-wide development charges for a period of up
to three years, subject to the requirements of the program;
3. Authorizes the Treasurer to execute any documents required to
submit the applications and provide the required agreement-inprinciple on behalf of the City; and

4. Directs staff to report back to Council with the results of the
applications and any proposed Transfer Payment Agreement prior to
implementing any development charge reductions or entering into
any binding funding agreement."
10.e

Verbal Report from the Deputy Mayor Re: Grey County Council
Deputy Mayor Greig reported that Grey County Council:


Endorsed the continuation of Grey Transit Route 2 and Guelph Owen
Sound Transit (GOST), as well as reintroducing Grey Transit Route 5 from
Owen Sound to Wiarton.



Approved the Community Services Committee minutes from the meeting
held on May 12, 2026, which included a presentation from Safe 'N Sound
on the Neighbourhood Response Pilot and proposed new shelter, an
annual update report on the Homelessness Prevention Program, a yearly
review of Ontario Works service delivery, and an update to early learning
and child care service delivery.



Approved the 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan which aims to
reduce chronic homelessness and strive for functional zero, add 300
deeply affordable homes, add 50 supportive/transitional homes, reduce
people returning to homelessness by 50%, and achieve quality, culturally
safe services.



Received a report regarding the Urban Road and Roads Exchange Task
Force meeting, which provided a summary of responses to municipal
feedback. The Task Force's recommendation to increase the proposed
total funding commitment to approximately $42 million over a 10-year
period to lower-tier municipalities will be considered at the June 25, 2026
County Council meeting.



Endorsed updating the Coyote/Wolf and Nuisance Beaver By-laws to be
similar to Bruce County for compensation.



Received an update on the County's proposed hybrid planning services
model.

"THAT in consideration of the Verbal Report provided June 15, 2026 from
Deputy Mayor Greig respecting Grey County Council, City Council receives
the Verbal Report for information purposes."
11.

CONSENT AGENDA
11.a

Report CS-26-054 from the Director of Community Services Re: Lease
Agreement with Transport Canada for Use of Lands for Derby Camping

11.b

Report CR-26-062 from the Manager of Legislative Services Re: Encroachment
Agreements - Delegation of Authority

11.c

Report CR-26-058 from the Human Resources Specialist - Safety, Equity and
Wellness Re: Policy Updates - Respectful Workplace and Inclusion & Belonging

11.d

Minutes of Boards and Committees for Receipt Re: Grey Sauble Conservation
Authority Board meeting held on April 22, 2026

11.e

Minutes of Boards and Committees for Receipt Re: Owen Sound Housing
Company meeting held on May 11, 2026

11.f

Minutes of Boards and Committees for Receipt Re: Owen Sound Housing
Company special meeting held on May 21, 2026

11.g

Minutes of Boards and Committees for Receipt Re: Owen Sound Police Service
Board meeting held on April 22, 2026

11.h

Final approvals issued for the following Business Licences:

11.i

11.j



Hawker and Peddler Licence issued to Cirque Entertainment II Cirque
Italia for the Cirque Acrobatic Show at the Heritage Place Mall from June
19 to 22, 2026



Hawker and Peddler Licence issued to Britt Dawson for the
Friendsapalooza Festival at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park on July 5, 2026



Annual Hawker and Peddler Licence issued to The Owen Sound & District
Vendors Association for Owen Sound Farmers' Market fundraising events
at 88 8th Street East



Annual Hawker and Peddler Licence issued to Michael Kruger to operate
Tee 2 Green Limited, a golf apparel retailer at the Bayshore Community
Centre

Final approvals issued to the owner(s) of the following Short-Term Rental
locations:


1199 1st Avenue East



870 3rd Avenue West



821 4th Avenue East

Final approvals issued for the following Flag Flying Requests:


11.k

Grey Bruce Brain Injury Support Group for Brain Injury Awareness Month

Correspondence received which is presented for the information of Council
"THAT in consideration of the items listed on the June 15, 2026 Consent
Agenda, City Council:
1. Receives Items 11.a to 11.k; and
2. Approves the recommendations contained in Items 11.a to 11.c."
Councillor Hamley declared a conflict of interest at this time with discussions
arising out of item 14 on the correspondence package (Item 11.k) due to the
Councillor’s employment with the Government of Ontario and left the Council
Chambers.
"THAT in consideration of correspondence received on the June 15, 2026
Consent Agenda respecting Outdoor Education as an Essential Part of
Public Education in Ontario, City Council:
and

Minister of Education, Paul Vickers, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen
Sound, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Rural
Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), the Board of Trustees of the
Bluewater District School Board, the Council of Outdoor Educators
of Ontario, and the Town of South Bruce Peninsula."
Councillor Hamley returned to their chair.
"THAT in consideration of correspondence received on the June 15, 2026
Consent Agenda respecting the OPSEU Local 276 Worth Fighting For
Campaign, City Council forwards the correspondence to City staff
responsible for physician recruitment and intergovernmental relations for
consideration."
12.

COMMITTEE MINUTES WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROVAL
12.a

Minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on May 20, 2026
"THAT the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on
May 20, 2026 be received and the recommendations contained therein be
Having declared a conflict of interest with Item 8.e.1 contained within Item 12.a,
Deputy Mayor Greig left the Council Chambers.
2026 Community Services Committee minutes respecting Staff Report CS26-039, Usage of the Bayshore Upper Concourse, City Council receives the
report for information purposes."
Mayor Boddy relinquished the position of Chair so that they could provide an
overview of the minutes of the Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc
Committee meeting held on June 10, 2026. Councillor Koepke assumed the
position of Chair.

12.b

Minutes of the Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee meeting held
on June 10, 2026
Deputy Mayor Greig returned to their chair.
"THAT the minutes of the Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc
Committee meeting held on June 10, 2026 be received and the
recommendations contained therein be approved."

Mayor Boddy resumed the position of Chair.
12.c

Minutes of the Corporate Services Committee meeting held on June 11, 2026
"THAT the minutes of the Corporate Services Committee meeting held on
June 11, 2026 be received and the recommendations contained therein be
2026 Corporate Services Committee minutes respecting Staff Report CR26-061, Procurement Policy, City Council directs staff to:
1. Bring forward by-laws to:
a. Adopt Procurement Policy No. AF009 and repeal Purchasing Bylaw No. 2020-002; and
b. Amend Delegation of Powers and Duties By-law No. 2014-109 as
outlined in the report; and
2. Give notice of the Procurement Policy in accordance with Notice Bylaw No. 2018-022."

13.

MATTERS POSTPONED
13.a

Council Meeting Re: Crash Analysis Working Group
The Director of Corporate Services left the meeting.
"WHEREAS the City of Owen Sound receives annual collision statistics
identifying the intersections with the highest numbers of collisions;
AND WHEREAS it is widely accepted by organizations ranging from the
Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, to Strong Towns, and the Owen
Sound Police Service that street design is a contributing factor to rates of
collision and injury;
AND WHEREAS the City of Owen Sound currently has no mechanism by
which to examine the common design or operational factors that contribute
to higher numbers of collisions at certain intersections or to identify
possible safety interventions;
AND WHEREAS Strong Towns has developed a tool called the Crash
Analysis Studio to assist municipalities and individuals in identifying and
addressing patterns and contributing factors to crashes;
AND WHEREAS the City of Owen Sound has updated the board and
committee structure for the next term of Council to simplify the striking of
working groups to assess and bring recommendations to address specific
problems on set timelines;

NOW THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED THAT:
1. Following the 2026 municipal election, City Council strikes a crash
analysis working group for 2027;
2. The working group consist of 3-5 members;
3. The working group analyze contributing factors and identify
potential safety interventions for the three intersections with the
highest numbers of reported collisions in 2025:
a. 10th Street/9th Avenue East (15 collisions);
b. 16th Street/9th Avenue East (14 collisions);
c. 10th Street/4th Avenue East (14 collisions); and
4. The working group deliver their final report to the September 2027
Sustainable Community Advisory Committee meeting."
Mayor Boddy relinquished the position of Chair to present the Mayor’s Motion for
Which Notice was Previously Given. Deputy Mayor Greig assumed the position
of Chair.
14.

MOTIONS FOR WHICH NOTICE WAS PREVIOUSLY GIVEN
14.a

Motion for Which Notice was Previously Given by Mayor Boddy at the May 11,
2026 Regular Council Meeting Re: Naming of City Hall East and West Atriums
"WHEREAS Councils of the City of Owen Sound have a long history of
recognizing people who have dedicated their lives to civic duty and made
meaningful and lasting contributions to the community;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT City Council recognize Arlene
Wright and Ovid Jackson by naming one of the atrium meeting rooms in
City Hall after each of them."
Mayor Boddy resumed the position of Chair.

15.

DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
15.a

Past Events
Councillor Koepke advised that they attended the following events:

15.b



Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards on June 4, 2026 at
the Best Western Inn on the Bay and extended congratulations to all the
award winners.



Honouring Our Local Veterans Plaque Return Ceremony on June 14,
2026 at the Billy Bishop Museum.



Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics on June 10, 2026.

New Scoreboard in Memory of Bailey Durocher at Tom Williams Park
Deputy Mayor Greig advised that they attended the unveiling and dedication of
the new scoreboard at Tom Williams Park in honour of Bailey Durocher.

15.c

Grey Bruce Pride Parade and Block Party
Councillor Farmer advised that they attended the Grey Bruce Pride Parade and
Block Party, and extended thanks to the event organizers and local businesses.

16.

MOTION THAT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RISE AND REPORT
"THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report."
FORMAL SESSION

17.

MOTION TO ADOPT PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
"THAT the action taken in Committee of the Whole in considering public
meetings, deputations and presentations, public forum, matters arising from
correspondence, reports of City staff, consent agenda, committee minutes,
matters postponed, motions for which notice was previously given and additional
business be confirmed by this Council."

18.

NOTICES OF MOTION
There were no notices of motion.

19.

MOTION TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session.

20.

REPORTING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session.

21.

BY-LAWS
21.a

By-law No. 2026-066
"A By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Regular Meeting of the Council of
The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound held on the 15th day of June, 2026"

21.b

By-law No. 2026-067
"A By-law to Establish Fees and Charges for The Corporation of the City of Owen
Sound and to repeal By-law No. 2024-078"

21.c

By-law No. 2026-068
"A By-law to adopt Tax Billing and Collection Policy AF020 and repeal By-law No.
2013-094, respecting Property Tax Pre-authorized Debit Plans"

21.d

By-law No. 2026-069
"A By-law to amend By-law No. 2026-041, being A By-law to Adopt a Policy
Respecting Taxes for the City of Owen Sound, to reference Tax Collection and
Billing Policy AF020"

21.e

By-law No. 2026-070
"A By-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute an Encroachment
Agreement with SMB Inc. respecting property located at 790 2nd Avenue East
(ENC2026-001)"

21.f

By-law No. 2026-071
"A By-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute all documents necessary
to complete the sale of Part 1 on 16R12330, being part of a lane adjacent to
1182 3rd Avenue West, to Robert and Jennifer Patrick"

21.g

By-law No. 2026-072
"A By-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute all documents necessary
to complete the sale of Part 2 on 16R12330, being part of a lane adjacent to
1186 3rd Avenue West, to Judy Juniper"

21.h

By-law No. 2026-073
"A By-law to adopt a constitution to govern the affairs of the River District
members and board of management and to repeal By-law No. 2022-061"

21.i

By-law No. 2026-074
"A By-law to amend Council Seating and Appointments Policy GOV001, to
include the appointment of an alternate member to County Council, and to repeal
Policy No. CrS-C41"

21.j

By-law No. 2026-075
"A By-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute a Financial Incentive
Program Agreement with Scott Vining, respecting property located at 1199 1st
Avenue East"

21.k

By-law No. 2026-076
"A By-law to dedicate and establish lands known as Part 5, Plan 16R-12255 as a
public highway for road widening purposes along 32nd Street East"
"THAT By-law Numbers 2026-066, 2026-067, 2026-068, 2026-069, 2026-070,
2026-071, 2026-072, 2026-073, 2026-074, 2026-075, and 2026-076 be passed
and enacted."

22.

ADJOURNMENT
The business contained on the agenda having been completed, Mayor Boddy
adjourned the meeting at 8:53 p.m.

_________________________
Mayor Ian C. Boddy

_________________________
Briana M. Bloomfield, City Clerk

Minutes
Owen Sound City Council
June 23, 2026
9:00 a.m.
City Hall - 808 2nd Avenue East - Council Chambers
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ian Boddy
Deputy Mayor Scott Greig
Councillor Travis Dodd
Councillor Jon Farmer
Councillor Brock Hamley
Councillor Marion Koepke
Councillor Suneet Kukreja
Councillor Carol Merton
Councillor Melanie Middlebro'
STAFF PRESENT:

Tim Simmonds, City Manager
Kate Allan, Director of Corporate Services
Pam Coulter, Director of Community Services
Phil Eagleson, Fire Chief
Michelle Palmer, Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives and
Operational Effectiveness
Mason Bellamy, Manager of Public Works and Engineering
Jason Hoffman, Manager of Corporate Services
Sheyenne Hooghiem, Capital Asset and Risk Management
Coordinator
Briana Bloomfield, City Clerk
Staci Landry, Deputy Clerk
_____________________________________________________________________

1.

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Boddy called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.

3.

MOTION TO MOVE COUNCIL INTO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
"THAT City Council now move into Committee of the Whole to consider
deputations and presentations, reports of City staff, consent agenda, and
matters postponed."

Councillor Farmer presented a motion respecting the removal of the
Centennial Tower Refurbishment project from the list of funded projects in
the Multi-Year Capital Plan. Councillor Farmer subsequently withdrew the
motion following information provided by the Manager of Corporate
Services, who advised that staff will include a verified construction cost
estimate for the decommissioning of the Centennial Tower in a future
report to Council prior to proceeding with the tender process in 2027.
"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CR-26-049 respecting the
Centennial Tower Refurbishment Project, City Council receives the
report for information purposes."
25, 2026 regular Council meeting (Item 7.a) respecting next steps for the
4th Avenue West reconstruction from 15th Street to 20th Street at this time.
"THAT in consideration of Staff Report OP-26-031 respecting the next
steps for the 4th Avenue West Reconstruction (15th Street to 20th
Street), City Council directs staff to proceed with the detailed design
of Option 1A - Status Quo with Modernization, to support preparation
of construction tender documents for issuance in advance of the
2027 construction season."
In response to a question from Council, Director Allan advised that the
Multi-Year Capital Plan approval report to be presented at the Council
meeting on July 27, 2026, will include a detailed breakdown of the funding
sources for each year of the 2027–2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan, including
the exact amounts to be funded from grants, water reserves, reserve
funds, donations, and other sources.
Council recessed from 10:11 a.m. to 10:22 a.m.
In response to a question from Council regarding the Harrison Park
Community Centre, Director Coulter advised that staff will confirm the
facility's annual revenue and provide the information to Council.
In response to a question from Council regarding the Greenwood
Cemetery office accessibility entrance and parking space project, Director
Allan advised that staff will apply for the Enhancing Access to Spaces for
Everyone (EASE) Grant in 2027 to support the project, once applications
become available.
"THAT in consideration of the presentation provided on June 23,
2026 from the Director of Corporate Services, Manager of Corporate
Services, and Capital Asset and Risk Management Coordinator
respecting the 2027-2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan, City Council directs
staff to:
1. Proceed with Project CAP-27-0027 being the Greenwood
Cemetery Office Accessibility Entrance and Parking Space on

the condition that the City receives the Enhancing Access to
Spaces for Everyone (EASE) Grant; and
2. Return to Council with Project CAP-27-0027 for consideration
should the City not receive the EASE Grant."
In response to a question from Council, the City Manager advised that
staff will consult with the new Attack ownership group regarding the seat
replacement project, including the potential for a seat-naming sponsorship
program.
Director Allan advised that staff are planning to incorporate greater
flexibility within the Multi-Year Capital Plan process and will address this
through an updated Capital Budget Policy, which will be brought forward
for Council's consideration during the next term of Council.
Council recessed for lunch from 12:07 p.m. to 12:47 p.m.
Director Allan advised that staff recommend consolidating the Trails
Reserve with the Parks Capital Reserve Fund; establishing a separate
Campground Reserve Fund outside of the Equipment Reserve Fund;
eliminating the Airport Facility Reserve (currently within Facility Reserves)
and transferring its balance to the Capital Reserve Fund; and, subject to
Council’s support, incorporating these changes into the updated Reserves
and Reserve Funds Policy to be brought forward for approval in July at the
Corporate Services Committee meeting.
"THAT in consideration of the presentation provided on June 23,
2026 from the Director of Corporate Services, Manager of Corporate
Services, and Capital Asset and Risk Management Coordinator
respecting the 2027-2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan, City Council directs
staff to reduce the WSIB Reserve Fund based on the actuary as part
of the Reserves and Reserve Funds Policy Update."
Councillor Hamley left the Council Chambers.
Director Allan advised that a report will be brought forward to Council at its
meeting on July 27, 2026, seeking approval of the 2027–2031 Multi-Year
Capital Plan, as amended during the meeting.
Council discussed Staff Report CS-26-044 (Item 6.c) respecting the
fortress area in the 900 Block of 1st Avenue West of the Downtown River
Precinct at this time.
In response to a question from Council, Director Coulter advised that no
funding has been allocated for improvements to the fortress area in the
900 block of 1st Avenue West, and as a result, staff have not advanced
design options or prepared cost estimates for Council's consideration.
"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CS-26-044 respecting the
fortress area of the Downtown River Precinct – 900 Block of 1st
Avenue West, City Council directs staff to bring forward a report on
July 27, 2026 respecting a cost estimate for the development of

design alternatives to advance the fortress area of the Downtown
River Precinct - 900 Block of 1st Avenue West in 2027."
Councillor Dodd left the Council Chambers.
"THAT in consideration of the presentation provided on June 23,
2026 from the Director of Corporate Services, Manager of Corporate
Services, and Capital Asset and Risk Management Coordinator
respecting the 2027-2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan, City Council directs
staff to remove Project CAP-27-0037 being the Julie McArthur
Regional Recreation Centre Flagpole from the 2027-2031 Multi-Year
Capital Plan."
Councillor Dodd returned to their chair.
"THAT in consideration of the presentation provided on June 23,
2026 from the Director of Corporate Services, Manager of Corporate
Services, and Capital Asset and Risk Management Coordinator
respecting the 2027-2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan, City Council directs
staff to remove Project CAP-27-0025 being the Bottle Fill Stations
from the 2027-2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan."
"THAT in consideration of the presentation provided on June 23,
2026 from the Director of Corporate Services, Manager of Corporate
Services, and Capital Asset and Risk Management Coordinator
respecting the 2027-2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan, City Council directs
staff to bring forward a report on July 27, 2026 respecting an update
refilling station program to outdoor public water bottle refilling and
water fountain stations."
In response to a question from Council, Director Allan advised that the
telephone system replacement project will be brought forward to the
Corporate Services Committee for consideration once the project scope
has been finalized to ensure the new system continues to meet the needs
of residents.
In response to a question from Council, Director Allan advised that staff
will share the Blackline IT needs assessment report with Council to
provide background and context for the Human Resource Information
System (HRIS) software transformation project.
In response to a question from Council, Director Allan clarified that the
2027–2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan is fully funded and that no surplus
funding is required to proceed with any of the identified projects. Director
Allan further advised that any potential surplus funds proposed for
purposes not included in the Multi-Year Capital Plan would be brought

forward to Council for approval. Director Allan added that the City's
organizational work plan provides Council with information regarding
capital projects anticipated to proceed in the upcoming year.
"THAT in consideration of the presentation provided on June 23,
2026 from the Director of Corporate Services, Manager of Corporate
Services, and Capital Asset and Risk Management Coordinator
respecting the 2027-2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan, City Council
requires that any projects outside of the current year of the MultiYear Capital Plan be presented to the Resilient Community Advisory
Committee for consideration."
Mayor Boddy left the meeting. Deputy Mayor Greig assumed the position
of Chair.
In response to a question from Council, Director Coulter advised that the
$500,000 allocated to the design of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery,
Tourism, and Owen Sound Library shared customer service area and
entrance project is intended to also include design work related to a
potential expansion of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery. Director Coulter
noted that the capital project detail sheet will be updated to reflect this
information.
Councillor Hamley returned to their chair.
In response to a question from Council, the City Manager advised that
staff will confirm the actual cost of hydrant painting and report back to
Council at its meeting on July 27, 2026.
In response to a question from Council, Director Coulter advised that staff
can bring forward a report for Council's consideration regarding the
transfer of the bioswale sidewalk installation project at the Julie McArthur
Regional Recreation Centre from the unfunded capital project list to the
funded capital project list.
In response to a question from Council, Director Coulter advised that staff
will add a review of accessible parking spaces at the Julie McArthur
Regional Recreation Centre to the 2027 work plan.
"THAT in consideration of the presentation provided on June 23,
2026 from the Director of Corporate Services, Manager of Corporate
Services, and Capital Asset and Risk Management Coordinator
respecting the 2027-2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan, City Council directs
staff to bring forward a report respecting options for the
refurbishment of the Chain of Office."
5.

REPORTS OF CITY STAFF
5.a

Report CS-26-032 from the Director of Community Services Re: Harrison
Park West Entry - Failed Roadway Section
Council dealt with Item 5.a during Item 4.a.

5.b

Report CS-26-038 from the Director of Community Services Re: Nine
Bends Trail and Roadway (1st Street West) - Condition Update
Council dealt with Item 5.b during Item 4.a.

5.c

Report CR-26-049 from the Manager of Corporate Services Re:
Centennial Tower Refurbishment Project
Council dealt with Item 5.c during Item 4.a.

6.

CONSENT AGENDA
6.a

Report CS-26-043 from the Director of Corporate Services Re: Playground
Replacement Strategy

6.b

Report CS-26-056 from the Manager of Arena Operations Re: Bayshore
Ice Cover and Bowl Seating Capital Replacements

6.c

Report CS-26-044 from the Director of Community Services Re:
Downtown River Precinct - 900 Block of 1st Avenue West - Fortress Area
Council dealt with Item 6.c during Item 4.a.

6.d

Report CS-26-049 from the Director of Community Services Re: Harrison
Park Tennis/Pickleball Court – Proposed Resurfacing
"THAT in consideration of the items listed on the June 23, 2026
Consent Agenda, City Council approves the recommendations
contained in Items 6.a, 6.b, and 6.d."

7.

MATTERS POSTPONED
7.a

Regular Council Meeting Re: 4th Avenue West Reconstruction (15th
Street to 20th Street) Next Steps
Council dealt with Item 7.a. during Item 4.a.

8.

MOTION THAT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RISE AND REPORT
"THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report."
FORMAL SESSION

9.

MOTION TO ADOPT PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
"THAT the action taken in Committee of the Whole in considering
deputations and presentations, reports of City staff, consent agenda, and
matters postponed be confirmed by this Council."

6 PUBLIC MEETINGS There are no public meetings.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
There are no public meetings.

7 DEPUTATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS 7.a

DEPUTATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
7.a

•       The suggestion from Owen Sound planning staff in their January 7, 2026 comments on
          the proposed development that Glassworks first address the policy context of the
          proposed development before submitting the required planning applications to permit
          the proposed development.
  •       In this regard, the President of Glassworks Kristopher Stevens, on March 23, 2026
          advised Owen Sound Council that Glassworks would complete an Employment Land
          Needs Assessment and Planning Justification Report for the purpose of obtaining
          approval in principle from Council to the proposed development. After receiving
          approval in principle from Council, Glassworks would complete all of the technical
          studies required to be submitted to support the conversion of the employment area
          lands to residential uses and development.

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                         1

This report provides a high level review of the provincial and local planning framework
relevant to the conversion of lands in designated employment areas to residential uses. The
land use planning findings and conclusions in this report are informed by the Employment
Land Needs Assessment completed by urbanMetrics for Glassworks.

3.0 THE SITE AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
Glassworks owns the property known municipally as 1919 26th Street East (the “Subject
Site”). The area of the Subject Site is approximately 18.6 hectares. There is an existing house
at 1915 26th Street East which is not owned by Glassworks.

As Figure 1 shows, the Subject Site extends south from 26th Street East to 23rd Street East.

Figure 1

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                          2

The development proposed for the Subject Site by Glassworks includes:

• Development of the northern portion of the lands fronting onto 26th Street East for
    approximately 476 to 522 dwelling units.
  • Retaining the southern portion of the Subject Site for employment generating uses.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the two alternative development concepts for 476 and 522 units
respectively proposed for the Subject Site.

Figure 2                                          Figure 3

The City of Owen Sound Council on April 13, 2026
adopted Official Plan Amendment No. 14 which is a
City-wide update of the Owen Sound Official Plan.

As shown in Figure 4, the Official Plan as amended by
Amendment No. 14, designates the Subject Site as
Flexible Employment Area and Hazard Lands on
Schedule A – Land Use. Glasswork’s proposed
development will require the approval of an amendment
to the Owen Sound Official Plan to remove the Subject
Site from the employment area and convert the
currently designated employment lands to permit the
proposed residential uses and development.

Figure 4

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                       3

4.0 PLANNING ANALYSIS

The proposed Glassworks development was assessed in the context of the planning
framework applicable in Ontario to this type of change in the use of lands designated as an
employment area in a municipal Official Plan to residential uses.

The main parts of this planning framework include (a) the Planning Act, (b) the Provincial
Planning Statement 2024, and (c) the City of Owen Sound Official Plan.

4.1    THE PLANNING ACT
Section 2(k) of the Planning Act directs municipalities when carrying out their
responsibilities under the Planning Act to have regard to matters of provincial interest. The
provincial interest, as set out in the Planning Act, includes the adequate provision of
employment opportunities. This intent is achieved in part by municipalities planning for an
appropriate amount of land in designated employment areas to achieve their job targets.

Section 1(1) of the Planning Act defines “area of employment” as an area of land designated
in an official plan for clusters of business and economic uses. Those business and economic
uses include manufacturing, uses related to research and development in connection with
manufacturing anything, warehousing including uses related to the movement of goods,
retail uses and office uses that are associated with the foregoing uses.

The Planning Act does not consider institutional uses, commercial uses including retail and
office uses not associated with business and economic uses to be employment area uses.
This is a change from the previous area of employment definition.

Residential uses are non-employment uses and not permitted in an area of employment
designated in an official plan. The Planning Act provides for the submission of applications
to municipalities to amend their official plans for the purpose of changing the land use
designation of a property.

4.2 PROVINCIAL PLANNING STATEMENT 2024

The Owen Sound Official Plan, as amended by Official Plan Amendment No. 14, designates
the Subject Site as Flexible Employment Area and Hazard Lands. Glassworks’ proposed
development requires the approval of an Official Plan amendment to remove the Subject
Site from an employment area in order to convert the lands currently designated Flexible
Employment Area to Residential.

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                        4

The Provincial Planning Statement 2024 (the “PPS”) is Ontario’s province-wide land use
planning policy framework. It provides overall policy direction on matters of provincial
interest related to land use planning and development in Ontario. Land use planning
decisions made by municipalities must be consistent with the Provincial Planning
Statement.

Similar to the Planning Act definition, the PPS defines an employment area as:

“those areas designated in an official plan for clusters of business and
    economic activities including manufacturing, research and development in
    connection with manufacturing, warehousing, goods movement, associated
    retail and office, and ancillary facilities.

An employment area also includes areas of land described by subsection 1(1.1)
    of the Planning Act.

Uses that are excluded from employment areas are institutional and
    commercial, including retail and office not associated with the primary
    employment use listed above.”

Section 2.8.2 Employment Areas of the PPS directs planning authorities to plan for and
protect employment areas. This includes planning an appropriate transition to adjacent
nonemployment areas to ensure land use compatibility and economic viability as well as
achieving land use compatibility between sensitive land uses and employment areas in
order to maintain the long-term operational and economic viability of the planned uses and
function of employment areas.

Policy 2.8.2.3 b) of the PPS prohibits residential uses in employment areas.

4.2.1 CONVERSION OF LANDS DESIGNATED EMPLOYMENT AREA TO
       NON-EMPLOYMENT USES

The PPS recognizes that municipalities through their local planning process may remove
lands from employment areas to permit the lands to be developed for non-employment uses
such as residential uses.

Section 2.8.2.5 of the PPS sets out how municipalities may remove lands from employment
areas in order to permit non-employment uses. Municipalities may remove lands from
employment areas only where it has been demonstrated that:

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                   5

a) there is an identified need for the removal and the land is not required for employment
     area uses over the long term;
  b) the proposed uses would not negatively impact the overall viability of the employment
     area by:
     1. avoiding, or where avoidance is not possible, minimizing and mitigating potential
        impacts to existing or planned employment area uses in accordance with policy 3.5;
     2. maintaining access to major goods movement facilities and corridors;
  c) existing or planned infrastructure and public service facilities are available to
     accommodate the proposed uses; and
  d) the municipality has sufficient employment lands to accommodate projected
     employment growth to the horizon of the approved official plan.

These PPS criteria for removal of the Subject Site from an employment area are addressed
in the following sections 4.2.2 to 4.2.4.

4.2.2 THE LAND IS NOT REQUIRED FOR EMPLOYMENT AREA USES OVER
      THE LONG TERM (PPS 2.8.2.5(a))

urbanMetrics completed an Employment Land Needs Assessment (“ELNA”) structured to
address the policy tests identified in the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 (Policy 2.8.2.5)
and the City’s Official Plan 2022 (Policy 3.9.2.6) for the conversion of lands in employment
area to non-employment uses like residential uses. A similar Policy 3.9.4.3 is found in the
2026 Owen Sound Official Plan as updated by Official Plan Amendment No. 14.

The ELNA demonstrated the conversion of the Subject Site to residential uses will not
compromise the City of Owen Sound’s ability to meet its employment lands and jobs growth
targets. The ELNA found:

•   The City of Owen Sound has a surplus of employment area lands relative to the City’s
        2051 employment land planning target of 1,940 jobs as set by Grey County’s 2026
        Growth Management Plan Update and a residual target of 1,550 after adjustments
        for employment-supportive space built in the interim.
    •   Employment-supportive properties with municipal services available at their
        property line or immediately adjacent properties can accommodate approximately
        1,681 employment land jobs, some 131 more than required to meet the residual
        long-term target of 1,550 jobs.
    •   The Subject Site is not required to meet Owen Sound’s long-term employment land
        needs.

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                       6

•   The City of Owen Sound will continue to have sufficient vacant, greenfield and
        otherwise underutilized lands designated for employment uses by the Owen Sound
        Official Plan even if the Subject Site is converted to residential uses.

urbanMetrics identified 208 hectares of vacant and undeveloped land in Owen Sound’s
employment areas. This is significantly more than the 86 hectares of employment area lands
identified by Grey County in its 2026 Growth Management Plan Update.

A key finding of the Employment Land Needs Assessment is that even if the Subject Site is
converted from employment area uses to residential uses, the remaining developable lands
in Owen Sound’s employment areas can support 4,304 jobs: 2,238 jobs on vacant lands and
2,066 jobs on greenfield lands.

In other words, the City of Owen Sound will still have a surplus of lands designated for
employment uses in its employment areas. This surplus is sufficient to allow Owen Sound
to exceed the 1,940 jobs 2051 target set by Grey County in its Growth Management Plan
Update.

The City of Owen Sound has taken a more conservative target for job growth than the County.

The City of Owen Sound’s 2025 Strategic Plan includes a target to “increase square footage
of ICI (Industrial, Commercial, Institutional) by 25,000 square feet annually.” Assuming this
target were met through industrial development, it implies an additional 625,000 square feet
of new industrial space in Owen Sound over the next 25 years. This is equivalent to 528
industrial jobs based on the employment density assumptions of the City’s Development
Charges Background Study.

It should be noted that the southern third of the Subject Site, approximately 6 hectares, is
proposed to remain employment area and be developed with employment generating uses.

Although the urbanMetrics land assessment is based on the total 18.6 hectare area of the
Subject Site, the net area of land that would be used for residential uses by Glassworks is
less because a portion of the Subject Site is natural hazard lands. These lands are subject a
Hazard Land Protection Zone designation in the Official Plan and cannot be developed for
any use. In addition, the lower 6 hectares of the Subject Site on 23rd Street are proposed for
employment uses. Taken together, the net area of truly employment lands involved in the
conversion is less than 18.6 hectares.

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                       7

In summary, with respect to the applicable policy tests of the PPS for the conversion of
employment lands to non-employment uses, the analysis completed by urbanMetrics found
that:
    • The Subject Site is not required for employment area uses over the long term (PPS
      Policy 2.8.2.5(a));
    • Owen Sound has a sufficient supply of employment lands to accommodate
      projected employment growth to the horizon of the City’s Official Plan, should the
      Subject Site be removed from lands designated as employment area and through
      approval of an Official Plan amendment, be converted to residential uses. (PPS Policy
      2.8.2.5(d)).

4.2.3 THE NEED FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE LANDS FROM AN
   EMPLOYMENT AREA (PPS 2.8.2.5(a))

As described above, the ELNA completed by urbanMetrics demonstrated the Subject Site is
not required for future employment area uses in order for Owen Sound to achieve its 2051
jobs growth target. Accordingly, the Subject Site can be removed from the City’s inventory of
employment area lands and developed for residential uses to meet the need for new housing
in Owen Sound.

With regard to housing, Policy 2.1.6 of the PPS directs municipalities to support the
achievement of complete communities by accommodating an appropriate range of housing
options and types including housing that is affordable to low and moderate income
households.

The Province of Ontario has the goal of developing 1.5 million new homes by 2031 to meet
the need for housing in Ontario.

Policy 4.1 of the Grey County Official Plan states the County will aim to provide a variety of
housing types to satisfy the present and future requirements of residents. Grey County will
prioritize housing accessibility and affordability and also promote new development at
densities which efficiently use available servicing.

Similarly, Policy 3.1.4.1 of the Owen Sound Official Plan states the objective to provide for a
full range of housing types and densities required to meet projected requirements of current
and future residents of the market area. Policy 3.1.5.1 states Owen Sound’s goal that 30
percent of all new housing units are affordable housing.

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                        8

The Grey County Growth Management Plan forecast Owen Sound’s population will grow by
5,980 persons by 2051 requiring 2,750 new housing units.

The proposed development of the Subject Site for residential uses helps Grey County and
the City of Owen Sound meet the need for new and affordable housing consistent with the
planning objectives in their Official Plans.

The lack of affordable housing for the workforce in Owen Sound and Grey County is a major
barrier to economic development and prosperity in the region.

The 2024 Housing Affordability Report by the Institute of Southern Georgian Bay estimated a
current County-wide deficit of approximately 2,400 units for households with incomes
below $41,000. This is expected to grow to 3,600 units by 2046.

The proposed Glassworks development targets households with annual incomes between
$35,000 to $85,000. This housing serves minimum wage earners and up and is designed to
support tradespeople, healthcare workers, service workers and young families who are
priced out of homeownership.

In summary, the proposed Glassworks residential development helps meets the forecast
need for more housing units with a particular focus on affordable home ownership for
households. Economic development and jobs in municipalities are dependent on the ability
of employers to attract and retain workers who have suitable and affordable housing of the
type Glassworks proposes to develop on the Subject Site.

4.2.4 THE PROPOSED USES WOULD NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE
      OVERALL VIABILITY OF THE EMPLOYMENT AREA (PPS 2.8.2.5(b)(1))

The Subject Site is at the north end of the current employment area. The adjacent lands north
of 26th Street East are designated open space and are the location of a solar farm.

The south boundary of the Subject Site is 23rd Street. Properties on the south side of 23rd
Street are developed for employment uses that operate within enclosed buildings. They are
unlikely to generate external light, acoustic or odour impacts on other uses in the vicinity.
The residential uses proposed on the Glassworks site are buffered from these employment
uses on the south side of 23rd Street by the proposed intervening employment generating
uses which extend approximately 75 metres north of 23rd Street.

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                      9

As shown earlier in Figure 4, lands immediately east and west of the Subject Site are
designated Flexible Employment Area. The Flexible Employment designation differs from the
Employment Area designation because it permits a broader range of non-industrial uses
than the traditional employment uses permitted in Employment Area designated lands.

Figure 4 shows that a large portion of the Flexible Employment lands to the west of the
Subject Site contain hazard lands which as described earlier affects the actual amount of
land that can be developed for employment uses on those lands. Furthermore, those lands
are immediately east of existing residential uses creating an existing context of appropriate
transition to residential use for any future employment use on those lands adjacent to the
Subject Site.

The Flexible Employment lands east of the Subject Site are constrained in shape and size.
Their long and narrow tapering shape makes their future development for the type of
employment uses that could impact residential uses unlikely relative to the development
opportunities presented by other properties in Owen Sound’s employment areas that are
less constrained by their characteristics.

In summary, the context of the Subject Site provides for a compatible transition to nearby
employment lands, thereby maintaining the overall viability of nearby lands designated
Flexible Employment Area.

4.2.5 MAINTAINING ACCESS TO MAJOR GOODS FACILITIES AND
      CORRIDORS (PPS 2.8.2.5(b)(2))

The Subject Site has no direct access to a major goods movement facility or corridor such
as Highway 26. The conversion of the Subject Site to residential uses will have no impact on
access for any existing or planned employment area to a major goods movement corridor.

4.2.6 EXISTING OR PLANNED INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICE
      FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROPOSED USES
      (PPS 2.8.2.5(c))

The Subject Site is accessible from two public streets, 26th Street East and 23rd Street East.

Full municipal water and sanitary sewer services are available on 23rd Street East. Details of
future servicing and stormwater management for development of the Subject Site will be

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                       10

provided in the studies submitted in support of a future Official Plan amendment application
to permit residential uses.

The East Bayshore bus route provides transit service within a five minute walk from the
Subject Site on the on 9th Avenue.

The community facilities and services serving future residents of the Subject Site are located
within distances similar to or less than the distances from other residential areas in Owen
Sound to these same facilities and services.

In summary, the removal of the Subject Site from an employment area and their conversion
to residential uses is consistent with Policies 2.8.2.5.(a) to 2.8.2.5.(d).

4.3 OWEN SOUND OFFICIAL PLAN

The Owen Sound Official Plan was recently updated through Council’s adoption of Official
Plan Amendment No. 14 on April 13, 2026.

Policy 3.9.4.3 of the updated Official Plan sets out several requirements for an application to
amend the Official Plan to remove lands such as the Subject Site from the Flexible
Employment Area. Such applications are required to assess:

a) The need and rationale for the removal of land from the Flexible Employment Area;
   b) The condition of soil in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act;
   c) The impact on existing industrial uses and land use compatibility associated with the
      proposed new use;
   d) The existing infrastructure and any recommended infrastructure improvements
      required to accommodate the proposed use;
   e) Traffic, transportation (active and vehicle), servicing, ecological and land use impacts
      of the proposed use.

Criteria 3.9.4.3 a), b), c) and d) of the Official Plan mirror criteria for the removal of lands from
an employment area in Policy 2.8.2.5 of the PPS and Policy 3.2.3 of the Grey County Official
Plan. These criteria were addressed in the PPS discussion in Section 4.2 of this report.

Section 3.9.4.3e) requires assessment of the traffic, transportation, servicing, and
ecological and land use impacts of the proposed residential use. These will be assessed in

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                             11

the studies submitted in support of a future Official Plan amendment application to permit
residential uses.

5.0 CONCLUSION

The Provincial Planning Statement 2024 and the Owen Sound Official Plan contain policies
setting out the matters to be taken into consideration when proposals are made to convert
lands designated employment area to non-employment uses such as residential uses.

The Employment Land Needs Assessment completed by urbanMetrics for the proposed
development found the Glassworks site is not required to meet the City of Owen Sound’s
long-term employment land needs and job targets. Excluding the Glassworks site, the
Assessment found Owen Sound retains more than sufficient other employment lands
needed to meet its 2051 job targets. This finding supports the conversion of the Glasswork’s
site from employment area to permit residential uses from the perspective of land use
planning and consistent with the applicable planning framework.

This report assessed the proposed development in the context of the land use planning
framework applicable to the conversion of employment area lands and concluded that:
    • The conversion of the employment lands to residential uses as proposed by
       Glassworks, is consistent with the policies of the Provincial Planning Statement 2024
       and the policies of the updated 2026 Owen Sound Official Plan for the removal of
       lands from employment areas.
    • Glasswork’s proposed residential development will address a current gap in the local
       housing market for affordable ownership housing and also support economic
       development by providing housing for the workers local businesses need today and
       in the future.

The analysis completed demonstrates the threshold planning issue for the removal of the
Glassworks lands from an employment area is satisfied, i.e., the Glassworks site is not
required to meet Owen Sound’s long-term employment land needs and job targets.

Accordingly, the conversion of the Glassworks site from employment area to residential uses
can be supported in principle with additional development details to be assessed in the
future by the City of Owen Sound through the necessary planning applications.

Planning Justification Report, Glassworks, Owen Sound                                    12

---

Attachment: Glassworks Village Employment Land Needs Assessment.pdf
Source: https://pub-owensound.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=53146

Glassworks Village
Employment Land Needs Assessment
Owen Sound, Ontario

Prepared for Glassworks Development Cooperative & Home Opportunities Inc.

July 2, 2026

This document is available in alternative formats upon request by contacting:
                            info@urbanMetrics.ca
                       416-351-8585 (1-800-505-8755)

Glassworks Village
                                                                        urbanMetrics inc.
                                                                        15 Toronto St, Suite 602
                                                                        Toronto ON M5C 2E3
                                                                        Tel: 416-351-8585
                                                                        urbanMetrics.ca

July 2, 2026

Kristopher Stevens
President of the Board of Directors
Glassworks Development Cooperative

C/O Mike Labbe
Home Opportunities
478 Queen St. East Suite 201
Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1T7

RE: Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment (Owen Sound,
Ontario)
urbanMetrics inc. (urbanMetrics) is pleased to submit this Employment Land Needs
Assessment (LNA) in support of the proposed conversion of approximately 12.5 hectares
of employment land to permit residential uses, leading to the development of Glassworks
Village on lands north of 23rd Street East in Owen Sound, Ontario (“the Glassworks Site”,
“the subject site”).

Glassworks Development Cooperative and Home Opportunities have worked to assemble
an opportunity to develop up to 522 affordable residential condominium units on the
northern portion of the site, with a complementary economic development hub on the
southern portion to support social enterprises and job training.

As part of the municipal approval process, the City of Owen Sound requires an LNA to
demonstrate that the conversion is appropriate and will not hinder the City’s ability to
meet growth targets. This report demonstrates that the Subject Site is not required to
meet the city’s long-term employment land needs. Based on prevailing and anticipated
market conditions, Owen Sound has sufficient vacant, greenfield, and otherwise
underutilized employment land to accommodate projected employment growth to 2051.

Any questions about the contents of this report can be directed to the undersigned.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tywen Thomas MSc. PLE                         Peter Thoma MCIP RPP PLE
Associate Partner                             Partner & President
tthomas@urbanMetrics.ca                       pthoma@urbanMetrics.ca

Glassworks Village

Contents
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 1
1         Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 2
    1.1          Study Purpose ..................................................................................................................... 2
    1.2          Terminology and Definitions .......................................................................................... 2
    1.3          Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 3
    1.4          The Subject Site .................................................................................................................. 6
2         Demand Analysis .............................................................................................................. 11
    2.1          Demand Context ................................................................................................................11
    2.2          Demand Calculations ...................................................................................................... 16
3         Supply Analysis ................................................................................................................ 21
    3.1          Supply Context ..................................................................................................................21
    3.2          Inventory ............................................................................................................................. 22
    3.3          Other Employment Opportunities .............................................................................25
4         Surplus/Deficit Analysis ................................................................................................ 28
    4.1          Residual Demand .............................................................................................................28
    4.2          Subject Site Conversion: Resulting Surplus or Deficit ........................................28
    4.3          Sensitivity Test ................................................................................................................. 29
5         Subject Site Conversion ................................................................................................. 31
    5.1          Qualitative Analysis ..........................................................................................................31
    5.2          LNA Evaluation Matrix................................................................................................... 34
6         Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 36
A1           References .................................................................................................................... 39
A2           Policy Reference........................................................................................................... 41
A3           Policy Employment Land Definitions ..................................................................... 42
A4           City’s Land Use Plan 2026 ........................................................................................ 44
A5           Employment Supportive Land Supply ................................................................... 45

Glassworks Village

Figures
Figure 1: Five-Step Process ............................................................................................................. 4
Figure 2: Glassworks Village Subject Site .................................................................................. 6
Figure 3: Subject Site Distance to Highway 26 ........................................................................ 7
Figure 4: Concept Plan ................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 5: Owen Sound Job Count by Type ..............................................................................13
Figure 6: Job Growth by Sector 2016-2021 ............................................................................. 14
Figure 7: Industrial Construction by the Decade....................................................................15
Figure 8: Part A - New ELE Created Since 2021 ..................................................................... 17
Figure 9: CurrentH2 Hydrogen Peaker Plan Proposed Site Location ............................ 18
Figure 10: Part B - Employment Land for Sale or Lease ..................................................... 19
Figure 11: Employment Land Demand - 2051 Job Target .................................................. 20
Figure 12: Industrial Spaces & Properties Available for Lease or Sale ........................... 22
Figure 13: Parcel Hosting the City’s Compost - Leaf & Yard Waste Site ..................... 24
Figure 14: Land Supply & Job Creation Potential ..................................................................25
Figure 15: 1800 17th Street East – Intensification Potential................................................ 26
Figure 16: 2875 E Bayshore Rd. Intensification Potential ................................................... 27
Figure 17: Employment Land Capacity to Meet 2051 Job Target................................... 29
Figure 18: Land Supply - High Level Servicing Sensitivity ................................................ 30
Figure 19: Subject Site in Relation to Transit & Waste Collection Services .................32
Figure 20: Subject Site in Relation to Trails, Parkland & Recreation..............................33

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   1

Executive Summary
Glassworks Village is a proposed development that would convert approximately
12.5 hectares of Flexible Employment Area designated land in Owen Sound into a
522-unit affordable residential condominium community, while contributing
towards the City’s employment targets by retaining approximately 6.1 hectares of
employment-generating uses on the southern portion of the property.
This report concludes that Owen Sound has more than sufficient land supply to
meet its 2051 employment targets, and that the Glassworks Village site is not
required to meet the City's long-term employment needs.

•   The City of Owen Sound’s 2051 employment land planning target of 1,940 jobs
    was determined through Grey County’s Growth Management Plan Update and
    serves as the baseline for this analysis.

•   The number of employment land jobs requiring new land supply is adjusted
    downward in this analysis to 1,550 by subtracting employment-supportive space
    delivered since the baseline year of 2021, and the share of future jobs that could
    be accommodated within existing for lease and/or for sale industrial properties.

•   The Subject Site is designated Flexible Employment Area, an Official Plan
    designation that permits a broader range of uses than traditional employment
    land and is not consistent with the PPS 2024 definition of Employment Area.

•   A spatial analysis of vacant and underutilized land based on Official Plan
    designation identified approximately 189 hectares of vacant and undeveloped
    employment land, substantially more than the 86 hectares identified as required
    to meet the 2051 job target.

•   If the Subject Site is approved for residential uses, as proposed, the City will still
    retain sufficient vacant employment land to meet and exceed the total 1,940
    employment land job target established by Grey County.

•   The proposed development retains employment-generating uses on the
    southern portion of the property, directly contributing to the City’s job targets
    while also providing affordable housing for local workers.

•   The Subject Site’s location on the periphery of the industrial area, accessed only
    by local roads, and surrounded by open space and established residential,
    makes it poorly suited for heavy industrial use and well-suited for the proposed
    mixed residential and light industrial development.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   2

1 Introduction
urbanMetrics inc. (“urbanMetrics”, “uMi”) was retained by Glassworks Development
Co-operative (“the applicant”) to conduct an Employment Land Needs Assessment
(“LNA”) to determine the impact of the proposed conversion of a portion of the
Glassworks Village lands (“Subject Site”), located along 23rd Street, from
employment lands to permit residential uses. The City requires the LNA to be
conducted as part of an OPA/ZBA development application submission.

1.1 Study Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the removal of the Subject Site
from the employment land inventory would affect the City’s ability to meet long-
term employment land demand or the planned function of the surrounding area,
and whether the conversion is consistent with provincial and municipal planning
policy.
This study conservatively tests this proposal against policy tests established by the
Province of Ontario and the City of Owen Sound (“the City”), which were initially
developed prior to the introduction of the Provincial Policy Statement 2024 (PPS
2024). The PPS 2024 redefined employment areas to a more limited set of land
uses. The Flexible Employment Area designation on the Subject Site does not
conform to this new definition, and as such, the site is not subject to the
employment area removal criteria in the PPS. However, as these policies remain in
the City’s Official Plan, the proposed removal is evaluated based on criteria
outlined in the City’s Official Plan (2022) 3.9.2.6.
The impact of changing land use from employment to residential is evaluated in
the context of long-range (2026-2051) targets for employment land employment
(“ELE”, “job”) target in Hemson’s 2026 Growth Management Plan Update defined
as 1,940 jobs requiring ±86 hectares of employment land in Owen Sound.

1.2 Terminology and Definitions
Throughout this report, acronyms will be used, as well as words that have multiple
meanings depending on context. Below we have outlined the usage of these
terms.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   3

Employment – when used as an adjective for land, refers to lands designated
      for employment uses in the Official Plan, generally corresponding to
      industrial-type activities. Employment and “industrial” will be used
      interchangeably.
      ELE – Employment Lands Employment
      Job – used in reference to employment lands employment only.
      LNA - Employment Land Needs Assessment
      DCBS – Development Charge Background Study (Hemson, 2023)
      GMP Update – Update to the Grey County Growth Management Plan
      (Hemson, 2026)
      FAR – Floor Area Ratio
      FSW – Floor Space per Worker
      uMi – urbanMetrics Inc.

1.3 Methodology
This report considers both the quantitative sufficiency of the City’s employment
land supply and the qualitative viability of the Subject Site’s conversion within its
current Employment Area setting. The analysis is structured to address policy tests
identified in the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 (2.8.2.5) and the City’s Official
Plan 2022 (3.9.2.6). The policy test requirements are outlined in Appendix A2.
To determine the quantitative sufficiency of land and ability to meet the 2051 job
target, a five-step process was undertaken (Figure 1). It includes a three-part land
needs assessment framework with five steps, followed by a qualitative site
assessment to determine the conversion’s impact on surrounding lands and the
suitability of the proposed new programming. Finally, the findings are evaluated
against the policy tests to ensure compliance and determine the appropriateness
of the conversion.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment        |   4

Figure 1: Five-Step Process

Source: urbanMetrics Inc.

Step 1
First, employment demand is established using the City’s 2051 job target, then
adjusted to account for jobs created since 2021 and underutilized existing space,
comprising occupied employment land not functioning as employment land and
existing employment land for sale or lease.

Step 2
Second, employment land supply is assessed using the City’s inventory of vacant
and greenfield employment lands 1, which is then translated into job potential using
density assumptions (further described in Section 2.2).
As part of the land supply analysis, the latest Official Plan “Employment Land”
designations are considered. This was done to distinguish between the various

The City’s Interactive GIS Map Parcel Layer data served as the basis for the employment lands
inventory, with property status (Vacant, Greenfield or Developed) largely informed by the “property
use” attribute data. Parcel status was then checked against inventory data collected infield July
2025 and desktop research. Inventoried parcels were then attributed their official plan designation,
using the latest City of Owen Sound Schedule ‘A’ – Land Use (a “Final Draft” version, dated March
2026).

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment                 |     5

categories of Employment Areas as proposed in the latest Official Plan draft
(March 23, 2026). This categorization differs from the Official Plan 2022 blanket
designation of "Employment Area”, further refining the designation into two
categories: “Employment Area”, Flexible Employment Area. In both versions,
“Transitional Employment Area”/“Industrial Transition Area” is used, but it affects
only one parcel. 2 These various categories have slightly different permission uses,
with “Employment Area” most consistent with the PPS’ definition of employment
lands (refer to Appendix A3 for both the City of Owen Sound’s Official Plan and
PPS 2024’s Employment Area definitions).
That distinction is important because Flexible Employment Area lands may
accommodate a broader range of non-industrial uses than “Employment Area”
lands, which materially affects how much of the designated supply is available to
support PPS-aligned employment in the long term. A map of the latest Official Plan
land-use schedule, showing the refined employment designations, is provided in
Appendix A4.

Step 3
Once supply and demand are established, a surplus/deficit analysis is conducted.
The findings indicate whether Owen Sound has sufficient employment supply to
meet the 2051 job demand. As previously mentioned, it also distinguishes between
“Employment Area” and Flexible Employment Area lands to test whether
“Employment Area”-only lands have the capacity to generate enough jobs to meet
the 2051 ELE target.

Step 4
Next, a qualitative site analysis is conducted to satisfy the PPS 2.8.2.5(b)and (c)
tests. The site’s proposed programming and its impact on the surrounding lands is
reviewed to determine whether the conversion will compromise the planned
broader area’s employment function or negatively impact other surrounding land
uses.

Step 5
Finally, the collective findings of the quantitative and qualitative analysis are then
summarized in an LNA matrix, provided in Section 5.2.

2 The “Transitional Employment Area”/“Industrial Transition Area” is defined as having historically been

“planned for industrial uses and are now contemplated to permit a wider mix of land uses and may be subject
to planning studies to determine the new land use designation.” (City of Owen Sound Official Plan Final Draft,
2026, p.45). There is only one parcel with this designation at 2875 Bayshore Rd. E whose intensification
potential is discussed briefly in Section 3.2.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment                 |   6

1.4 The Subject Site
As part of Owen Sound’s Employment Area, the Subject Site is situated within a
defined physical and planning context. This section is descriptive, providing an
overview of the site’s location, surrounding land uses, access, and planned concept to
inform the analysis that follows. A detailed evaluation of the site’s function and
compatibility within the broader Employment Area is provided in Section 5.

Physical Description & Access
The Subject Site, known municipally as Range 9 EGR Part Lot 8 is an 18.6-hectare
parcel designated as Flexible Employment Area, and sits to the north of the bulk of
Owen Sound’s employment lands between 23rd and 26th Streets (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Glassworks Village Subject Site

Note: For illustrative purposes only. Any green space left unmarked around the site is “Hazard Lands”
(protected green space); existing residential and institutional uses on the west side of 9th Avenue East not
demarcated.
Source: urbanMetrics inc., base map City of Owen Sound Interactive GIS Map’s Parcel Layer

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment                |      7

Of the approximately 18.6 hectares shown in Figure 2, approximately 9.7 hectares
were identified as feasible for development during a recent site assessment as part
of an appraisal.
The site is at the periphery of the employment lands, along the northwest border; it
is far removed from Highway 26 and is accessed by local roads (Figure 3). The
northern portion of the Site includes an existing home that is part of the
contiguous land area but has been legally severed.

Figure 3: Subject Site Distance to Highway 26

Note: NTS, for illustrative purposes only. Underlay map predates construction of 23rd Street (not shown); path
of travel based on measurement taken from Google Earth.
Source: urbanMetrics inc., base map City of Owen Sound’s Transportation Master Plan (September 2010)

Surrounding Land Use
In general, the surrounding area is designated as either a Flexible Employment
Area or an Employment Area to the south, Residential to the west/northwest, and
predominantly Open Space and Hazard Lands (protected green space) to the
north. The Flexible Employment Area designation permits a wide variety of uses

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   8

ranging from traditional industrial uses, ancillary commercial and office uses, to
recreational (fitness) services, and physical therapy uses.
More specifically, adjacent and surrounding lands can be described as follows:
West: immediately west of the site along 23rd Street is a narrow parcel of Flexible
Employment Area, with a small Enbridge operations/maintenance facility
neighbouring that site (Figure 2); beyond that, there is open space and established
low-density residential subdivisions. West on 26th Street East at the intersection of
9th Ave. E, is a site designated for future Arterial Commercial.
East: Immediately east of the site, lies another narrow parcel of vacant Flexible
Employment Area, bordered by the CP Rail Line Trail East. Beyond that lies a large
vacant parcel, predominantly an Employment Area, with a small portion
designated a Flexible Employment Area closest to the Subject Site (abutting the
CP Rail Trail).
North: Immediately north of the site, across 26th Street, lies a mixture of open
space, hazard lands (greenspace), with a small amount of residential designation.
Further north, past the CP Rail Line Trail, is Kiwanis Soccer Complex.
South: Immediately south fronting 23rd Street, lands designated Flexible
Employment Area contain a mix of vacant and developed parcels. East and South
of the site are Flexible Employment Area lands, where, notably, Food for Less—a
large discount grocery store—is located. 3 The southwest corner of the Subject Site
fronts the intersection of 23rd Street E. and a small north-south local road 18th Ave.
E. This north-south road is flanked by small Flexible Employment Area parcels—
many of which are auto-oriented—and terminates with the City’s Animal Shelter.

Concept Plan
The total site area is approximately 18.6 hectares. In addition to some 12.5 hectares
of proposed residential uses which also incorporate much of the site’s non-
developable area, the southern portion of the site, comprising approximately 6.1
hectares (33%), is intended to be programmed for employment-generating uses
consistent with the Site’s Flexible Employment designation. As noted previously,
approximately 9.7 hectares of the site has been identified as supportive of a
contiguous development project, meaning that the proposed 6.1 hectare
employment-generating use on the southern portion represents approximately

Food4Less is located ~550m away from the Subject Site.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment        |   9

two-thirds of a reasonably achievable industrial development scenario on the
entirety of the property.
Of this 6.1 hectares, approximately 4.1 hectares will be dedicated to the economic
development hub, with approximately 2 hectares of predominantly natural heritage
or hazard lands retained for use as a buffer between the employment and
residential uses while also ensuring that the property makes direct contributions to
job targets and additional, indirect contributions to affordable housing. 4
As part of the residential construction process, modular housing components will
be produced on the site, as well as sold in the employment -generating space
located on the southern portion of the site (Figure 4). The residential buildings are
intended to be constructed of these materials and will dually serve as the facility’s
living “proof of concept”. The proposal can be understood as offering employee
housing as the condominium units will provide an affordable housing option for
future workers on the property and elsewhere in Owen Sound.

The site’s economic hub is projected to generate approximately 40-60 jobs, with 12 related to the
modular panelization facility and 18-38 working in the accompanying social enterprises.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   10

Figure 4: Concept Plan

Source: architecture unfolded

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   11

2 Demand Analysis
The demand analysis establishes the employment land job target that Owen Sound
must plan for through 2051 and then adjusts that target to reflect jobs and space
capacity already in place. The result is a residual demand figure — the number of
new employment land jobs the City still needs to plan for — against which the
supply analysis is measured.
The starting point for this analysis is the 1,940 ELE job allocation assigned to Owen
Sound in Grey County's 2026 GMP Update, completed by Hemson Consulting. This
figure represents a top-down allocation of County-wide employment growth to
Owen Sound, not a localized projection based on Owen Sound's own economic
circumstances. Before assessing the City's land supply against this target, we have
reviewed several market factors that provide important context for the realism and
achievability of this allocation, and for what the City will need to do to achieve it.

2.1 Demand Context
Policy Climate & Positioning
Owen Sound plays a central role in the County's operations. The City functions as
the urban core and regional service hub of Grey County. 5 While the service
industry dominates, industrial activities in Clean Energy and manufacturing are
targeted as key drivers of future economic growth. The City’s own business and
development materials identify these sectors as strengths, and there has been
recent large-scale federal investment in Clean Energy. 6 The City’s Strategic Plan
includes a target to “Increase square footage of ICI (Industrial, Commercial,
Institutional) by 25,000 square feet annually”. 7
Even if this entire target were met through industrial development, it would imply
an additional 625,000 square feet of new industrial space over the next 25 years,
equivalent to 528 industrial jobs. 8 The City’s Strategic Plan makes a much more

Hemson, 2026, p.32 & 38

Government of Canada, 2023

City of Owen Sound, 2025, p.6

City’s 2023 Development Charge Background Study (“DCBS”) job density assumption of
110m2/employee.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment           |   12

conservative job growth assumption than the 1,940 industrial jobs allocated to the
City through 2051 under the County’s GMP Update.
Achieving the full employment land employment allocation would represent a
notable acceleration beyond historical economic development trends and would
require a period of unprecedented industrial investment and activity.
Notwithstanding this divergence, both County and municipal strategies emphasize
the importance of advancing employment lands to support long-term economic
development. This underscores the need not only to ensure a sufficient supply of
employment land, but also to ensure the conditions necessary to attract and
sustain industrial investment.

Job Composition
While the County and City’s economic development strategies broadly champion
the advancement of the industrial sector, recent trends indicate mixed results in
the sector. 9
At the time of the 2021 Census, ELE jobs comprise approximately one-third of
employment in Owen Sound (Figure 5), and overall ELE employment has declined
(Figure 6). Notably, manufacturing, as a sector, experienced a significant reduction
in employment, largely attributable to the closure of Tenneco in 2020 at 1800 17th
Street East, which had previously employed ~500 workers. 10
Although Hydrogen Optimized has since occupied part of the facility, a substantial
portion of the building remains available for lease. While the 2026 census will
eventually provide an updated evaluation of employment in the City, data indicate
that, despite policy emphasis on industrial growth, recent employment trends have
not reflected sustained expansion in ELE sectors.

This data reflects a period of time prior to COVID (2016-2021). Given the recent upswing in
industrial development over the past 5 years (as will be discussed in the following subsection), it is
possible ELE growth statistics may be more positive.

Owen Sound Hub, 2018

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment                  |      13

Figure 5: Owen Sound Job Count by Type

Note: Sectors categorized as ELE include “mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction”; “manufacturing”;
wholesale trade”; “transportation and warehousing”; “utilities”; “construction”; and half of the “administrative
and support, waste management and remediation services”.
Source: urbanMetrics inc. using Statistics Canada. 2021 Census of Population

As shown in Figure 6, job growth in Owen Sound between the last census periods
was focused in Construction, Agriculture and other outdoor occupations, and
Professional, scientific and technical services, with modest growth in Utilities
employment. Of these categories, only Construction and Utilities typically generate
demand for employment land, and they do so at relatively low built-space intensity
compared to manufacturing or logistics due to their higher rates of mobile or off-
site-based work.
To achieve the ELE job allocation from the County, Owen Sound will have to find
ways to reverse the trends of contracting employment in sectors such as Mining,
quarrying and oil and gas extraction, Manufacturing, Wholesale trade, and
Transportation and Warehousing.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   14

Figure 6: Job Growth by Sector 2016-2021

Source: urbanMetrics Inc. using Statistics Canada 2021 Census of Population

Development Trends
The modern industrial sector within Owen Sound was largely established in the
1960’s and ‘70s, representing the initial build-out of much of the existing space.
Construction activity was slow during the ’ 80s-2000s and notably halted during
the 2010s (Figure 7). After a few decades of little to no industrial construction,
there has been an uptick in activity over the past five years. This coincides with
broader national trends in which demand for industrial space accelerated during
and after COVID-19. The County GMP Update, which reviews building permit data,

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment                    |   15

similarly identifies this resurgence and anticipates continued demand for industrial
space. 11
Sustaining this momentum to meet 2051 job targets will require significant market
interest and the City's ability to attract capital investment. Given the scale of
growth contemplated, achieving the target would require unprecedented levels of
industrial construction, suggesting that existing space will need to be absorbed
before a meaningful wave of new development can be realized.

Figure 7: Industrial Construction by the Decade
                                      % of Total
     Decade            GFA(m2)                          Notes
                                     Constructed
     1960s                83,587         66.6%          establishing industrial market - initial build out

1970s                28,722         22.9%          establishing industrial market - initial build out

1980s                3,306           2.6%          infer construction trend

1990s                4,373           3.5%          infer construction trend

2000s                5,583           4.4%          infer construction trend

2010s                  0             0.0%          infer construction trend

2020s                6,758           5.4%          infer construction trend

125,572
     Total
Note: The table above is based on CoStar data and supplemental urbanMetrics Inc. research and should be
interpreted as a representative sample used to illustrate general development trends, rather than total supply.
Source: urbanMetrics Inc., using CoStar data (accessed March 2026) and desktop research.

Market Review: Conclusion
This review indicates that municipal policies, regional growth allocations, and
industrial development patterns each lend themselves to a different level of
demand for employment land. The recent contraction in ELE industries and modest
increase in development activity suggest market-based growth expectations are
more restrained than the Regional allocation implies. Underscoring this difference,
the City’s long-term industrial and commercial growth expectations are
significantly lower than Hemson’s 2051 employment target. That said, the Regional

Hemson, 2026, p.18

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   16

target has been adopted as the baseline for this analysis, but it should be
understood in the context of the difficulty of achieving it.

2.2 Demand Calculations
Hemson’s 2051 Job Target – Baseline Demand
The population forecasts that underpin Hemson’s land needs assessment resulted
in a total employment projection of 1,940 jobs categorized as employment land
employment (“ELE”). 12 These are jobs that are typically “industrial” in nature and
conform to the PPS 2024 definition of uses permitted within designated
Employment Areas.

Demand-Reducing Factors
While Hemson’s work was conducted in 2026, it used a 2021 baseline, meaning that
the 1,940 ELE jobs projected for Owen Sound are for the 30-year period from 2021
to 2051. To align this projection with current demand and estimate the land
required to support employment land development over the next 25 years,
adjustments were made to account for newly created and latent job capacity. To
translate new or currently available industrial space into its equivalent job
potential, a density assumption was relied upon. For consistency, we used Owen
Sound’s Development Charge Background Study calculation, which assumes 110
square metres of gross floor area per employee.
First, job creation from new development and business expansions over the interim
period from 2021 to 2026 was deducted from the baseline target. Second, the job
potential of underutilized space was identified, including developed employment
land currently for sale/lease (B) and employment-designated space occupied by
non-employment uses (C). The residual 2051 demand target was derived from
reducing the underutilized space’s job potential from the previously calculated
residual demand.

1 – Jobs Created 2021 to Present
To determine the number of new employment jobs created since 2021, we
reviewed industrial businesses that have opened or expanded in the market, as well
as new industrial development that has come online. Since 2021, approximately 131

Total new ELE jobs required between 2021-2051

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment                              |    17

jobs have been created (Figure 8). Deducting these new jobs from the existing
2051 job target of 1,940 results in a residual job target of 1,809.

Figure 8: Part A - New ELE Created Since 2021
                                                                   Year
                                                                                   GFA          GFA         Job
     ID      Address              Type          Occupant           Built/                                                          Notes
                                                                                   (ft2)        (m2)      Potential
                                                                  Opened
          1875 16th Ave.
     1                         New Build         Amazon             2025          80,729       7,500          68
                E
                                                                                                                         Self-storage is often
                                                                                                                         permitted on
          1730 27th Ave.                       Van Dolder
     2                         New Build                            2025          59,600        5,537          5         employment lands
                  E                            Self Storage
                                                                                                                         and classified as
                                                                                                                         warehousing
                                                  Fcc (+
     3    2707 17th St. E      New Build                            2025           9,569         889           8
                                                  others)
                                                                                                                         2023 Expansion -
                                                Hydrogen                                                                 $3.5 Million
     4    1800 17th St. E     Expansion                             2021          38,500        3,577         50
                                                Optimized                                                                Invested by Fed.
                                                                                                                         Government

Total                                                                                               131

Notes:
1. Applying DCBS 2023 density assumption of 110 m2 floor area per employment lands employee. May not add due to
   rounding.
2. 1745 23rd St. E construction estimated late 2021/early 2022 based on a Staff Report dated July 19, 2021. The property is
   currently for sale. Its job potential is captured in the existing inventory for sale/lease. 3. The project is currently out for bid
   with no site specifics provided. As such, any estimate of job potential could not be confirmed.
3. Self-storage employment estimated at one-tenth of typical industrial employment densities.
Source: urbanMetrics inc.

2 - Amount Created from Identified Expansions or New
Developments (2026+):
At the time of submission, only one recent and significant industrial development
has been identified within Owen Sound. CurrentH2 is proposing a hydrogen peaker
plant set to open in 2028, adjacent to Hydrogen Optimized on what is currently
vacant land (Figure 9). 13 Limited project details have been released, with none
indicating facility size, but images show a storage facility with outdoor
infrastructure.

CurrentH2, 2025, https://www.owensoundh2peaker.ca/#timeline

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   18

Therefore, the number of additional jobs associated with this new development has
not been factored into the demand analysis, and the land's status is vacant in the
supply analysis.

Figure 9: CurrentH2 Hydrogen Peaker Plan Proposed Site Location

Source: urbanMetrics inc. customized base map visual by CurrentH2.

3 - Underutilized Existing Employment Space
The underutilized existing space in the market was also reviewed. This space fell
into two categories: for-sale/for-lease industrial space and non-employment uses
occupying employment space.
Our review of the market for industrial space identified 6 spaces currently available
to support industrial employment. Using a floor space per worker assumption from
the City’s Development Charges Background Study, these spaces could, in
aggregate, accommodate approximately 259 jobs (Figure 10).

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment                |      19

Figure 10: Part B - Employment Land for Sale or Lease
                                                            Total Space             Available Space
                                                      Total GFA     Total GFA                    GFA            Job
 ID         Address                  Unit                                         GFA (ft2)
                                                        (ft2)         (m2)                       (m2)         Potential

3225 E Bayshore
  1.1                              1st Fl - 6           107,607       9,997        26,580       2,469            22
        Rd
        3225 E Bayshore
 1.2                                 Unit B                                         9,150        850              8
        Rd

2     625 6th St. E                1st Fl              85,812        7,972       85,812       7,972            72

Half Building -
  3     1800 17th St. E     Hydrogen Co. occupies       218,800       20,327       180,300      16,750           152
                                  38.5K SF

4     1745 23rd St. E                                  3,655         340          3,655        340              3

5     1843 23rd St. E                                  1,560          145         1,560        145              1

Total                                           417,434                   307,057       28,527           259

Note: May not add due to rounding.
Source: urbanMetrics inc., using listing data available as of March 2026 from MadeinGrey.ca property listings;
Loopnet, Realtor.ca, and Northridge Property listings.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   20

Job Target 2051 - Residual Demand
Collectively, these underutilized employment spaces have the potential to generate
259 jobs. Subtracting this total from the residual job target of 1,809, the 2051 job
target is then 1,550 jobs (Figure 11).
A more aggressive approach that assumes replacing uses inconsistent with the
PPS definition of the Employment Area with PPS-aligned ELE employment would
further reduce the residual job target to 1,409 jobs.

Figure 11: Employment Land Demand - 2051 Job Target

2051 Job Target:                                                                   1,940

A (-) Jobs Created 2021-Present                                                    131

Residual Jobs Required to Meet the 2051 Job Target                                 1,809

B (-) Job Potential of Developed Industrial Space Available (For Sale/For Lease)   259

Residual Jobs Required to Meet the 2051 Job Target                                 1,550

Source: urbanMetrics inc.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   21

3 Supply Analysis
The County Growth Management Plan Update identified that 86 hectares were
required to support the allocated 1,940 ELE jobs in Owen Sound to 2051. During
this process, the quantity of vacant employment land in the City was identified by
reviewing MPAC records and logging all lands classified as code 105, “vacant
industrial land”. 14 This approach is inherently high-level and top-down, as it relies
on the validity of MPAC’s classification records, which do not always align with the
property's current use, Official Plan land use designations, and/or zoning.
The urbanMetrics approach utilized herein, and as outlined in Section 1.3, was more
localized and rooted in spatial analysis. This was done to ensure all designated
employment lands with developable potential were factored into the overall
analysis.
Our supply analysis indicates that, excluding the Subject Site, a total of 152.8 gross
hectares is available, approximately 66.8 hectares more than Hemson identified.
The process for arriving at this estimate is detailed in the following sections.

3.1 Supply Context
The key supply context relevant to the future demand for employment lands is the
substantial amount and variety of employment-supportive space currently
available. This ranges from vacant land to smaller light industrial opportunities, to
larger manufacturing and logistic spaces (Figure 12). It is important to note that
this figure reports only publicly marketed space available for lease or sale, and
does not account for the full vacant and greenfield employment-land inventory
with development potential. A broader assessment of land supply is discussed in
the following section.
High-level market estimates from CoStar data indicate that vacancy rates have
increased to 9.7%, above the historical average of approximately 8%, with
availability at 19.2%. 15 This data suggests there is limited demand, as market
absorption is slow: approximately 12.8 months when offered for lease and 14.8
months when vacant. 16

14 Hemson, 2026, p.60
15 Historical Availability Rate average is approximately 8%, according to CoStar.
16 CoStar data accessed March 2026, searching Owen Sound’s industrial market.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment             |      22

Figure 12: Industrial Spaces & Properties Available for Lease or Sale
                                                                         Total Space      Available Space
 ID    Address               Type                   Site /     Land     Total    Total     GFA       GFA     Loading
                                                    Plaza      Area     GFA      GFA       (ft2)     (m2)    Capacity
                                                    Name       (ha)     (ft2)    (m2)

1.1   3225 E Bayshore       Warehouse/
                                                                                                                 1 Bay; 4
       Rd – 1st Fl, Unit 6   Logistics – Partial               6.27    107,607   9,997    26,580    2,469
                                                                                                                  Docks
                             Buildout (M1)
 1.2   3225 E Bayshore       Warehouse/
       Rd – Unit B           Logistics (M1)                                                9,150     850         2 Bays

2     625 6th St. E – 1st   Light Industrial
       Fl.                   Facility/Service                  2.59    85,812    7,972    85,812    7,972           -
                             w/ Office (M1)
 3     1800 17th St. E -     Warehouse/
       Hydrogen Co.          Manufacturing
       occupies 38.5K        w/ Office (M2)                    12.94   218,800   20,327   180,300   16,750       1 Dock
       SF

4     1745 23rd St. E       Storage /
                                                    Southern
                             Contractor Yard                   0.4      3,655     340      3,655     340            -
                                                   Neighbour
                             (M2)
 5     1843 23rd St. E       Flex – Small/Med.
                             w/ Office (M2-1)                  0.4      1,560     145      1,560     145         2 Docks

6     23rd St. E             Vacant Land           Western
                             (M1)                  Neighbour   11.3

7     733 9th Ave. E         Vacant Land          McIntree
                             (M1)                              0.75
                                                    Plaza
       Total
                                                               34.6    417,434            307,057   28,527
Source: urbanMetrics inc. 17

Taken together, the market data indicate a strong pipeline of short-term industrial
opportunities in Owen Sound, with elevated vacancy indicators, slow absorption,
and large viable spaces that remain either partially or wholly unoccupied. In this
context, adding more land to the supply would not address Owen Sound’s actual
employment challenge. The following section assesses the City's long-term land
supply in this context.

3.2 Inventory
To complete the inventory, employment lands in Owen Sound with development
potential were catalogued as either vacant or undeveloped. These terms were

17 The vacant land shown is currently publicly advertised and was included to show all employment land

opportunities currently marketed. These vacant parcels were included in the land inventory, and their potential
space is not listed in the chart.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   23

largely determined by the City’s Interactive GIS Map parcel layer’s “property use”
attribute.
The term “greenfield” in this context refers to employment lands not explicitly
logged as vacant employment, that may have been given a different use status
(despite being designated and zoned for employment), not given any status at all
(empty data field) or were being used either fully or partially for purposes other
than employment (e.g. farming, residential). Where no “property use” data was
provided, a combination of desktop research, including but not limited to Google
Streetview and Google Earth, was used to determine occupancy status and current
use.
For example, a large Employment Area-designated 30-hectare parcel at the corner
of 26th Street E. and 28th Avenue E. had very limited data available. In the absence
of associated data, GIS measurement and desktop research indicated the parcel
hosts the City’s Compost – Leaf and Yard Waste Site.
The eastern portion of the site, approximately 10 hectares (blue in Figure 13),
appears to host the waste infrastructure; the western portion of the site,
approximately 20 hectares (orange, Figure 13), appears to be an open field with no
road or waste infrastructure on it. Therefore, we logged 10 hectares of the site as
“developed” and 20 hectares as “vacant”. This inventory reports gross hectares
and does not assess the developability of each parcel, other than by excluding
land-use designations such as Open Space and Commercial areas.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment               |   24

Figure 13: Parcel Hosting the City’s Compost - Leaf & Yard Waste Site

Source: urbanMetrics inc. customized City of Owen Sound’s Interactive GIS Map Parcel Layer

Density Assumption
There are two primary methods of translating industrial land and space into job
estimates: jobs per hectare or floor area per employee. The jobs-per-hectare
approach assumes a single average number of jobs accommodated per worker
across all employment lands. The County’s GMP Update used a density assumption
of 22.5 jobs per hectare.
The floor area per employee approach uses an estimate or assumption of the space
required by each worker in industrial-type employment, along with a land coverage
or floor area ratio for industrial buildings. The City’s Development Charge
Background Study uses 110 m2 of floor area per employee for employment lands.
To determine the potential size of an industrial building on a vacant or greenfield
site, we used a 25% floor-area ratio, consistent with recent averages and industry
standards. Applied to 10,000 square metres (1 hectare), this equates to 2,500
square metres. At 110 square metres per employee, this GFA-based assumption

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   25

works out to 22.7 jobs per hectare, in line with the County’s land-based assumption
of 22.5 jobs per hectare.

Inventory Findings
Our inventory, using the City of Owen Sounds GIS platform and informed by a
review of existing and historical real estate listings, identified approximately 189
hectares of vacant employment-designated land, excluding the Subject Site. This
includes some 104.2 hectares of Employment Area land and 84.2 hectares of
Flexible Employment Area land.
Using the City’s Development Charge Background Study (2023), employment
density assumption of 110 square metres per employee applied to a floor area or
lot coverage ratio of 25% results in a total ELE potential of approximately 2,383
jobs on Employment Area lands and 1,913 jobs on Flexible Employment Area lands.
A breakdown of the employment land and its job potential is provided below in
Figure 14.

Figure 14: Land Supply & Job Creation Potential

Source: urbanMetrics inc.

3.3 Other Employment Opportunities
Beyond vacant land identified during our inventory, the intensification of
underutilized sites also represents a potential means of supporting future industrial
employment. The unused land contiguous to existing facilities presents another
potential source of ELE job creation, realized if existing users expand their facilities
onto underutilized land rather than purchasing an entirely new property.
For example, the aforementioned Hydrogen Optimized site (Section 2.2, Figure 9)
is on a parcel that has a notable amount of open space that is prime for
intensification (Figure 15). This form of optimizing existing serviced sites is both

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment                |     26

efficient and economically and fiscally advantageous and should be encouraged as
part of the City’s industrial development strategy.

Figure 15: 1800 17th Street East – Intensification Potential

Notes: For illustrative purposes only. Red dash lines represent the parcel boundary of 1800 17th Street with
approx. 180,000 ft2 of leaseable space currently available & the orange area indicates potential area for
intensification.
Source: urbanMetrics inc. customized base map visual by CurrentH2; measurements are estimates, taken using
City of Owen Sound’s GIS Interactive Map.

Another developed property identified as having intensification potential is 2875 E
Bayshore Rd. The 14.6-hectare site currently hosts Hobart Food Equipment Group,
a structure with accompanying infrastructure covering approximately 43,000 m2
(29%) of the site (Figure 16). With a substantial portion of “Hazard Lands” covering
the northern portion of the property, an estimated 8.4 hectares of net buildable
area would translate into 229 jobs.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment       |    27

Figure 16: 2875 E Bayshore Rd. Intensification Potential

Note: For illustrative purposes only.
Source: urbanMetrics inc., Google Maps base layer; measurements are estimates taken using City of Owen
Sound’s GIS Interactive Map.

These two parcels highlight how existing land inventory may have job-generating
potential beyond what this analysis has determined. This underscores the fact
Owen Sound has a robust inventory of currently available and underutilized space
that can be unlocked to support additional ELE growth. As such, achieving the
2051 employment target will likely be influenced more by economic development
initiatives and market appetite/conditions than by land constraints.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   28

4 Surplus/Deficit Analysis
4.1 Residual Demand
The surplus/deficit analysis brings together the residual demand established in
Section 2 and the land supply quantified in Section 3 to determine whether Owen
Sound has sufficient employment land to meet its 2051 job target without the
Subject Site. It does not include the intensification opportunities identified in
Section 3.3.
As outlined in Section 2, the demand analysis shows that Owen Sound has a
residual requirement of 1,550 jobs to meet Hemson’s 2051 growth target of 1,940,
after deducting jobs created since 2021 and the employment-accommodating
potential of developed industrial space available for sale or lease.
This residual demand of 1,550 then serves as the City’s benchmark for assessing
the remaining land supply. Conservatively, we have not accounted for the
intensification opportunities outlined in the previous section in developing the
residual demand calculation.

4.2 Subject Site Conversion: Resulting
    Surplus or Deficit
When the Subject Site is removed from the employment land inventory, the
remaining identified lands can potentially support up to 4,296 jobs, with 2,383 on
Employment Area lands and 1,913 on Flexible Employment Area lands. This
potential of 4,296 jobs represents an excess of 2,746 jobs above the residual
demand of 1,550. This surplus or deficit is subject to refinement as the exact
designated and developable area of the identified properties is identified with
additional data from the City.
Based on the findings of the supply and demand analysis and subject to further
refinement, the City has a surplus of Employment Land, where the land supply's
capacity to accommodate future job growth exceeds the 2051 employment target
shown in Figure 17.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   29

Figure 17: Employment Land Capacity to Meet 2051 Job Target

Source: urbanMetrics inc.

4.3 Sensitivity Test
To further underscore how the City can meet its employment targets while
permitting the conversion of the Subject Site, we have conducted a sensitivity test
that factors in high-level servicing feasibility.
As a sensitivity test, we have conducted a preliminary review of how considering
municipal services would affect the supply of employment land. It should be noted
that the City of Owen Sound does not currently provide a GIS-compatible map of
water mains, trunk sewers, and other basic municipal services.
As such, this high-level assessment is based on primary research, including a
review of the City of Owen Sound East Owen Sound Master Servicing Study,
prepared in 2007 by R.J Burnside & Associates Limited, a review of past and
present real estate listings and the presence of developed properties connected to
municipal services at immediately adjacent properties and can be conducted in
further detail with additional data from the City.
As shown in Figure 18, if only employment-supportive properties assumed to have
municipal services available at their property line or immediately adjacent
properties are included, the City could accommodate approximately 2,850
employment land jobs, some 1,300 more than required to meet the residual long-
term target of 1,550.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment          |      30

Figure 18: Land Supply - High Level Servicing Sensitivity
                                                                Flexible Employment   Total - All Land Use
                                              Employment Area
                                                                         Area            Designations
       Servicing Accessible Lands                   41.3                 84.2                 125.4
                   FAR                             25.0%                25.0%
          Industrial GFA (sq m.)                  103,136              210,411             313,547
       Square Metres per Employee                  110.0                110.0
          Employment Estimate                       938                 1,913                2,850
       Surplus (Deficit) from Target               (612)                 363                 1,300

SOURCE: urbanMetrics inc.

This high-level review should not be considered equivalent to an assessment of
servicing or development feasibility conducted by an expert in that field, but it
provides an indication of the suitability of the identified land supply to
accommodate projected growth. A summary of our servicing status classifications
by property ARN is available in Appendix A5.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   31

5 Subject Site Conversion
The conversion of the Subject Site to permit residential use does not compromise
the intended function of the surrounding lands. As mentioned, the site’s location on
the periphery of the City’s Employment Area means that a large portion of the
surrounding lands are low-impact and even pedestrian-oriented—namely,
residential and open space.

5.1 Qualitative Analysis
Industrial Logistics & Surrounding Land Use
The site fronts two local roads that have no direct access to Highway 26 and are
not major goods-moving or industrial routes. Residential access will primarily arrive
from the east off 9th Ave through established subdivisions and will neither increase
nor impede industrial traffic within the employment lands.
Furthermore, the surrounding employment uses are Flexible Employment Areas,
which permit a wider variety of industrial and ancillary activities. Despite being
zoned M2 (heavy industrial), the immediate area is predominantly lower-intensity
uses, such as automotive shops, contractor/storage sites, and commercial uses in
employment space. These types of uses do not pose major acoustic, light, or odour
externalities.
If these uses do create negative externalities, the southern portion of the site
fronting 23rd Street—across from the “Flexible Employment Use”—is envisioned as
light industrial/commercial. This site configuration effectively creates a buffer,
shielding the residential condominium units on the northern portion of the site
from employment land activity to the south of the street.
Adjacent lands to the east and west of the site are both vacant “Flexible
Employment Use”. The approximately 11-hectare parcel to the west is currently for
sale and zoned M1 (light industrial). To the east, the approximately 12-hectare
parcel is zoned M2 (heavy industrial), but its long, narrow shape, which tapers to a
close in the north (bounded by the CP Rail Trail), makes it unlikely to
accommodate a major heavy industrial operation. Given the City’s extensive
employment lands inventory, smaller, irregularly shaped parcels and those in
proximity to residential areas may be considered for OPA/ZBA in the future.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment            |      32

Proximity to Residential-Supporting Amenities & Attractions
While residential use is technically prohibited in the employment land area, the
site’s peripheral location and proximity to pedestrian-friendly amenities, such as
transit, community facilities (parkland and trails), and commercial areas (both local
and regional shopping centres), make it prime for conversion. Off 26th Street, a
transit stop along the East Bayshore route is within a 5-minute walk (0.37 km), as
shown in Figure 19.

Figure 19: Subject Site in Relation to Transit & Waste Collection Services

Source: urbanMetrics inc. customized base map from City of Owen Sound Interactive GIS Map [screenshot].

There is an abundance of park and trail space accessible to the site: the Kiwanis
Soccer Complex is a 9-12-minute walk away (0.92km); open space—what could be
considered a park—is just a 1-2 minute walk west on 23rd Street; surrounding the
Subject Site is the CP Rail Trail East, with what appears to be almost immediate
access (Figure 20).

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment            |      33

Figure 20: Subject Site in Relation to Trails, Parkland & Recreation

Source: urbanMetrics inc. customized base map from City of Owen Sound Interactive GIS Map [screenshot].

Within the Flexible Employment Area to the south of the site, there are many
commercial goods and service-oriented businesses that would directly support the
site’s future residential population such as optometrists (along 20th St. E.), a major
discount grocery store (Food4Less, 2125 16th Ave. E.), and an indoor rock-climbing
facility (1580 20th St. E.). These commercial and recreational opportunities are all
within a 1 km or less walk.
The site is also accessible to both future and existing commercially designated
sites offering local and regional shopping. Heritage Place Mall is within a 4–8-
minute bike ride or 2-5 minute drive, as is 16th St. E, the largest commercial
corridor in the City (approximately. 1.7km away).

Direct Employment Benefits of the Proposal
The site’s current land use designation permits a broader range of uses, well
beyond those traditionally associated with industrial activity and those
conventionally considered employment under the PPS.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   34

The proposed development would retain the southern section of the parcel for
industrial use, providing future on-site employment opportunities and making a
direct contribution to the City’s employment targets beyond what is quantified in
the previous sections.
This complementary site programming ensures the proposal contributes to diverse
housing solutions while advancing the City’s economic development goals and its
requirement to plan for allocated job growth.

Site Assessment
In sum, the Subject Site’s peripheral location at the edge of Owen Sound’s
industrial park—surrounded by flexible employment uses, open space, and nearby
residential areas—supports a compatible transition without disrupting the broader
employment function. The site is not located along key goods movement corridors,
and the surrounding uses are predominantly low-impact, reducing the potential for
land-use conflict.
The proposed site design further mitigates compatibility concerns by locating
industrial/commercial uses along the southern frontage, creating a functional
buffer between external employment lands and the residential community. At the
same time, the site is conducive to residential as it benefits from proximity to
transit, recreation, neighbouring residential and both local and regional commercial
amenities—despite being within an employment designation. Most importantly, the
proposed conversion does not compromise the area’s employment function.
Rather, it integrates on-site employment uses, while introducing an affordable
residential component that supports workforce housing and enhances the area's
overall functionality. Collectively, the site’s periphery location, surrounding
context, access conditions and proposed programming demonstrate that
conversion can occur without undermining the long-term viability of the
Employment Area.

5.2 LNA Evaluation Matrix
To illustrate the suitability of the Subject Site’s conversion from Employment to
non-employment use and to demonstrate compliance with policy, the conversion
was evaluated based on criteria outlined in the PPS 2024 Section 2.8.2.5 and the
City’s Official Plan. A summary of our findings, based on the quantitative (demand,
supply, surplus/deficit analyses) and qualitative (site evaluation) analyses, is
detailed in the preceding sections.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   35

PPS 2.8.2.5(a)
There is an identified need for the removal, and the land is not required for
Employment Area uses over the long term.
The City has sufficient vacant, greenfield, and functionally available employment
lands to meet long-term needs, and the Subject Site is not required to satisfy the
2051 ELE target. The proposed co-operative and affordable residential uses
represent a broadening of the spectrum of housing options in Owen Sound and
Grey County, and would uniquely contribute to meeting local housing needs.
Further, the proposed conversion to an affordable housing condominium, with
small assembly/production services on-site, helps address both the affordability
and housing crises while providing employment opportunities. By co-locating
housing and employment, the development improves workforce accessibility,
supports business operations, and advances broader economic development
objectives, while enhancing the area’s attractiveness to investment through a
stable, nearby labour supply.

PPS 2.8.2.5(b)(1)
The proposed uses would not negatively impact the overall viability of the
Employment Area by: avoiding, or where avoidance is not possible, minimizing
and mitigating potential impacts to existing or planned Employment Area uses
in accordance with policy 3.5.
The Subject Site sits at the northern periphery of the industrial park, accessed only
by local roads with no connection to Highway 26. Surrounding uses are low-
intensity such as automotive shops, contractor yards, and light commercial, and do
not generate significant externalities. The proposed design retains light industrial
and commercial uses along the southern frontage, buffering the residential co-op
from the employment lands to the south. Adjacent vacant parcels are constrained
in shape and location and are unlikely candidates for large-format industrial use
regardless. The conversion will not compromise the function of the Employment
Area.

PPS 2.8.2.5(b)(2)
Maintaining access to major goods movement facilities and corridors
The Subject Site does not have a goods movement function. It is connected only
by local roads, with Highway 26 approximately 1.5 kilometres away. Residential

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   36

traffic will enter from established subdivisions to the west, entirely separate from
industrial traffic flows. The conversion will have no effect on access to major goods
movement corridors for any existing or planned industrial use.

PPS 2.8.2.5(c)
Existing or planned infrastructure and public service facilities are available to
accommodate the proposed uses.
The site is fully serviced with municipal water and sanitary connections along 23rd
Street. Transit is accessible within a five-minute walk. Community facilities,
parkland, and trail access are within one kilometre. Regional commercial is within
1.7 kilometres. It is our understanding that the infrastructure and public services
necessary to support a residential population are located along the southern
property line, and that no new municipally funded infrastructure investment is
required. However, the proposed development will pay development charges that
can be reinvested into eligible infrastructure projects elsewhere in the City.

PPS 2.8.2.5(d)
The municipality has sufficient employment lands to accommodate projected
employment growth to the horizon of the approved official plan.
Yes. Excluding the Subject Site, Owen Sound retains approximately 152.8 gross
hectares of employment-designated land capable of supporting approximately
3,472 jobs, with 1,559 on Employment Area lands and 1,913 on Flexible Employment
Area lands. Employment Area lands alone (1,559 jobs) exceed the estimated
residual employment target of 1,550.
Additional growth capacity exists through the intensification of existing
underutilized sites as well as through agricultural or rural-designated lands within
the settlement boundary, which are available for future designation if required.

6 Conclusion
This Employment Land Needs Assessment finds that the Glassworks Site is not
required to achieve Owen Sound’s employment targets, and that the City will
retain a sufficient supply of employment land to achieve its 2051 employment
targets as set by Grey County’s Growth Management Forecasts. Further, based on

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   37

the analysis herein the proposed redesignation of the Subject Site is consistent
with the Provincial Policy Statement 2024 and other relevant policy guiding
assessments of employment land removals or conversions.
   1. The City has sufficient employment land to support economic growth and
      expansion to 2051 and beyond.
Excluding the Subject Site, our inventory identified approximately 152.8 hectares of
vacant and underutilized employment-designated land that collectively supports
over 3,472 jobs, with the total employment land target of 1,940 and an estimated
remaining or residual target of 1,550 after adjustments for employment-supportive
space built in the interim, currently for lease or sale, or otherwise not factored into
previous planning towards the target.
Lands identified as having servicing at the property line or on adjacent properties
can generate over 1,681 jobs, exceeding the residual 1,550-job target.
   2. The supply is supported by additional capacity not captured in the base
      case.
Intensification of underutilized serviced sites can unlock an estimated 284
additional jobs without new designation. New developments are being built at
higher densities than the assumptions underlying this analysis, thereby
understating the supply's job-generating capacity. Further significant supply of
Rural-designated lands within the settlement boundary is available for future
employment designation should long-term demand materialize. Owen Sound is not
at risk of running short of employment land.
   3. The Subject Site is not suited for industrial uses.
The site is peripheral, accessible only by local roads with no connection to Highway
26, and is surrounded on three sides by open space and established residential
areas. It shares multiple boundaries with an existing single-family home, which will
limit the industrial uses permitted on the site and subject them to the Minimum
Distance Separation Criteria. The site’s developable area is estimated to be
approximately 9.7 hectares of its 18.6-hectare total area
In part due to these factors, the Site has attracted no industrial interest despite
years of vacancy. The market has already determined that this site is not viable for
the heavy industrial uses its designation contemplates.
   4. The proposal to build affordable housing options for Owen Sound
      residents directly addresses the city's real employment challenge.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   38

Owen Sound's path to its 2051 target will be determined by its ability to attract
investment, support existing businesses, and provide workforce housing — not by
the number of hectares designated for employment. The Glassworks proposal
retains employment-generating uses on the southern portion of the site and
delivers up to 522 affordable housing units adjacent to the industrial area, directly
improving the conditions that industrial employers need to recruit and retain
workers.
   5. Approving the conversion has long-term benefits for the City.
The only practical barrier to this conversion is the Subject Site's current
designation. On balance, the analysis demonstrates that the Glassworks proposal
offers a community benefit that is not contingent on retaining the Subject Site's
employment designation, and that the City can simultaneously pursue both
meeting its 2051 employment targets and addressing its housing affordability
needs.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   39

A1      References
Aderneck, E. (2024, April 1). Intensive industrial as part of an innovative economy:
     augmenting and enhancing innovation districts. Building.
     https://building.ca/feature/intensive-industrial-as-part-of-an-innovative-
     economy-augmenting-and-enhancing-innovation-
     districts/#:~:text=While%20being%20responsive%20to%20the,the%20area%
     20and%20a%20city.
City of Owen Sound. (n.d.). Interactive GIS Map. Accessed March 16, 2026.
      https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f3a1262f41be4ce78ca5b0db0978
      2b38
City of Owen Sound. (2022, February 15). Official Plan [Consolidated].
      https://www.owensound.ca/media/sqkldpco/final-approved-official-plan-
      feb-15-2022.pdf
City of Owen Sound. (2026, March 23). Official Plan [Final Draft].
      https://ourcity.owensound.ca/38563/widgets/219473/documents/166250
City of Owen Sound. (2026, March 23). Official Plan Schedules [Final Draft].
      https://ourcity.owensound.ca/38563/widgets/219473/documents/166251
City of Owen Sound. (2010, September). Transportation Master Plan.
      https://www.owensound.ca/media/ejjlown1/owen-sound-transportation-
      master-plan.pdf
City of Owen Sound. (2025, October). Future Owen Sound: Vision 2050 Long-
      Term Strategic Plan. https://www.owensound.ca/media/kygkmmak/future-
      owen-sound-vision-2050-long-term-strategic-plan.pdf
CurrentH2. (2025). Hydrogen Peaking Plant. owensoundh2peaker.ca/
Government of Canada. (2023, September 7). Government of Canada invests over
      $3.5 million to support growth of clean hydrogen in Owen Sound.
      https://www.canada.ca/en/economic-development-southern-
      ontario/news/2023/09/government-of-canada-invests-over-35-million-to-
      support-growth-of-clean-hydrogen-in-owen-sound.html
Grey County. (2023, October). The grey’t reset: Economic development, tourism
     and culture master plan. https://pub-
     grey.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=1713

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   40

Hemson. (2023, May 15). Development charges background study. City of Owen
    Sound. https://www.owensound.ca/media/o1uloljx/2023-development-
    charges-background-study.pdf
Hemson. (2026, February). Growth Management Plan Update. Grey County.
     https://countyofgrey.sharepoint.com/sites/Extranet/Web%20Content/Form
     s/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FExtranet%2FWeb%20Content%2FHEMSON%
     20%2D%20Grey%20County%20Growth%20Management%20Plan%20Report
     %20%2D%2025Feb26%20Final%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2FExtranet%2FWe
     b%20Content&p=true&ga=1
Owen Sound Hub. (2018, October 26). City to lose largest industrial employer.
    https://www.owensoundhub.org/news/6103-city-to-lose-largest-industrial-
    employer.html
Provincial Policy Statement. (2024). Government of Ontario.
      https://www.ontario.ca/files/2024-10/mmah-provincial-planning-statement-
      en-2024-10-23.pdf

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   41

A2      Policy Reference
Owen Sound Official Plan 2022, 3.9.2.6
      “The conversion of lands designated Employment to a nonemployment use
      requires a comprehensive review in accordance with the provisions of the
      Provincial Policy Statement demonstrating that the land is not required for
      employment purposes over the long term and that there is a need for the
      conversion.”
Provincial Planning Statement 2024, 2.8.2.5
(a)   There is an identified need for the removal and the land is not required for
      Employment Area uses over the long term;
(b)(i) the proposed uses would not negatively impact the overall viability of the
       Employment Area by: avoiding, or where avoidance is not possible,
       minimizing and mitigating potential impacts to existing or planned
       Employment Area uses in accordance with policy 3.5 (Land Use Sensitivity);
(b)(ii) maintaining access to major goods movement facilities and corridors;
(c)   existing or planned infrastructure and public service facilities are available to
      accommodate the proposed uses; and
(d)   the municipality has sufficient employment lands to accommodate projected
      employment growth to the horizon of the approved official plan.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   42

A3      Policy Employment Land Definitions

The City’s Official Plan’s employment designations as well as the PPS’s
employment definition are provided below:
Official Plan (Final Draft, 2026) 3.9.1.1-3.9.1.2:
      3.9.1.1: Where lands are designated Employment Area on Schedule ‘A’ –
      Land Use, the predominant use shall be for Employment Area uses as
      defined in the Provincial Planning Statement. The following primary uses are
      permitted:
      a. Manufacturing;
      b. Research and development in connection with manufacturing;
      c. Warehousing;
      d. Goods Movement; and
      e. Ancillary uses associated with the primary uses listed above, including:
            a. Retail; and
            b. Office
      3.9.1.2: Where lands are designated Flexible Employment Area on Schedule
      ‘A’ – Land Use, the predominant use shall be for employment uses and
      ancillary sales and service uses including the following uses:
      a. Wide range of employment and business uses including but not limited to
      manufacturing, fabricating, packaging and warehousing.
      b. Controlled outdoor storage, including contractor yards.
      c. Commercial self-storage facilities.
      d. Food and Beverage Production and Cannabis Production Facilities.
      e. Retail sales accessory to a manufacturing use.
      f. Utilities, technology and industrial innovation centres.
      g. Vehicle service stations, vehicle repair, auto body paint and repair, car
      washes, transportation depots.

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   43

h. Commercial schools.
     i. Sports, health and fitness recreational centres.
     j. Adult entertainment and body rub parlours.
     k. An accessory sleeping quarters for a custodian or maintenance person.
     l. Open space.
Provincial Planning Statement 2024
      “those areas designated in an official plan for clusters of business and
      economic activities including manufacturing, research and development in
      connection with manufacturing, warehousing, goods movement, associated
      retail and office, and ancillary facilities. An Employment Area also includes
      areas of land described by subsection 1(1.1) of the Planning Act. Institutional
      and commercial uses, including retail and office uses not associated with the
      primary employment use listed above are excluded from the definition of an
      Employment Area.”

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   44

A4        City’s Land Use Plan 2026

Source: City of Owen Sound Schedule ‘A’ – Land Use Plan, Final Draft March 23, 2026

Glassworks Village – Employment Land Needs Assessment   |   45

A5   Employment Supportive Land Supply

Deputation from Kristopher Stevens, Glassworks Development Cooperative Board President Re: Glassworks Village Official Plan and
Rezoning Applications
PUBLIC FORUM

9 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED FOR WHICH DIRECTION OF COUNCIL IS REQUIRED There are no correspondence items being presented for consideration.

CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED FOR WHICH DIRECTION OF COUNCIL IS
REQUIRED
There are no correspondence items being presented for consideration.

The Site Plan report for the townhouses to the west (ST2021-005) being
Block 4 of the East Court Residences subdivision anticipated an extension of
the proposed 1.5 metre sidewalk on the north side of 11th Street East that
will facilitate a future connection through Block 6 and the Sunlife property at
1100 16th Avenue East, ultimately to allow pedestrians to cross at the
signalized intersection of 10th Street East and 16th Avenue East and travel
further south. The 1.5 metre sidewalk on the north side of 11th Street East
will also be extended north to connect to the future sidewalk at 15th Avenue
East.
Similarly, the approved Site Plan (ST2016-005) for the commercial
development at the northwest corner of 10th Street East and 16th Street East
(aka Sunlife) illustrates a 1.5 metre sidewalk along the entire south lot line
along with a retaining wall identified as ‘future items to be completed by
others’ because it is over an undeveloped portion of the overall site.
Through preliminary consultation, an Easement Plan was identified as a
requirement of any future Site Plan Approval application to demonstrate how
required easements connect to and through adjacent properties including but
not limited to the 1.5 metre pedestrian connection/concrete sidewalk from
Block 4 across Block 6 to provide connection to the intersection of 10th Street
East and 16th Avenue East as well as connection to 15th Avenue East.
Specific design measures and easements as well as when connections are
possible given other undeveloped properties will be addressed at the time of
any future Site Plan Approval application in accordance with the Official Plan
policies in force and effect at the time and the Site Development Engineering
Standards.
From the ends of the 15th Avenue East bulb to the nearest transit is
estimated to be approximately 500 metres. The distance from the westerly
property boundary (aka 11th Street East) to the intersection of 10th Street
East and 16th Avenue East is less than 300 metres.
Approvals Process ZBA 58
The owner’s vision for the property and detailed design has evolved since the
time of Subdivision Approval.
The applicant engaged the City in the fall of 2025 to undertake preliminary
consultation on a single apartment building proposal following which they
refined their plan further and met again with staff in February of 2026.
Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

Subsequently, the process relating to the formal application has proceeded
as follows:
Date

Step

Days

April 10, 2026

Submission of initial application for ZBA

April 24, 2026

Submission of application fees

May 11, 2026

Submission of final supporting materials

May 15, 2026

Letter regarding Notice of Complete
Application to the applicant

May 15, 2026

Request for comments to City staff and
external agencies

May 22, 2026

Notice of Complete Application & Public
Meeting mailed to property owners within
120 m of subject lands and notice posted
on property.

June 15, 2026

Public Meeting and Technical Report to
Council

July 13, 2026

Recommendation Report and Amending Bylaws to Council

The Planning Act provides for a total of 90 days to process a ZBA application.

Analysis:
The Planning Act and the City’s Official Plan establish criteria for evaluating
an application to amend the City’s Zoning By-law. In making land use
planning decisions, Council must consider the matters of Provincial interest
as described in Section 2 of the Planning Act. Section 3 of the Planning Act
also prescribes that the decision of Council on a planning matter shall be
consistent with the policy statements issued under the Act.
Policies within the Official Plan are intended to be consistent with the policies
of the relevant Provincial agency, in conformity with the Grey County Official

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

Plan, and address requirements and regulations of other agencies and
related regulating authorities.
The City’s Official Plan (OP 9.1.1.2) provides that the City may amend the
Zoning By-law where in the opinion of Council, sufficient justification exists.
Amendments must conform to the policies of the Official Plan. When
considering an amendment, the City should consider the goals, objectives,
and policies of the Official Plan. Additionally, decisions should consider the
compatibility with adjacent uses of land and servicing (transportation, sewer,
and water).
The application is subject to review by the City’s Development Team and
external commenting agencies. Public notice has been given.
The technical report outlined the key policy considerations relevant to the
evaluation of the subject application. This report will not repeat all of the
policies outlined in the previous report; it will respond to them.
This report should be read in conjunction with the technical report and is
intended to assess the application in consideration of the applicable policies,
standards, and comments received.
In assessing the proposal, it is important to recall that through OPA 9 and
ZBA 27 and Draft Plan of Subdivision 42T-18501, together with Council
approval of the implementing by-laws, the premise of permitting
residential development, and specifically an apartment dwelling on
the subject lands has been established. As such, this analysis does not
address whether an apartment building is an appropriate use of the lands.
This report assesses whether the additional Community Lifestyle use
and site-specific zoning requirements requested are appropriate in
this location as proposed.
A: Provincial Planning Statement (2024) & Matters of Provincial
Interest
In making land use planning decisions, Council must consider the matters of
Provincial interest as described in Section 2 of the Planning Act. These
matters include (but are not limited to) the orderly development of safe and
healthy communities, the appropriate location of growth and development,
promotion of development designed to be sustainable, support public transit
and be oriented to pedestrians.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

The 2024 Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) provides direction on matters
of provincial interest. The vision of the PPS includes that:
“Ontario will increase the supply and mix of housing options,
addressing the full range of housing affordability needs. Every
community will build homes that respond to changing market needs
and local demand. Providing a sufficient supply with the necessary mix
of housing options will support a diverse and growing population and
workforce, now and for many years to come.”
The PPS recognizes that municipal Official Plans are the most important
vehicle for implementation of the Provincial Planning Statement and for
achieving comprehensive, integrated, and long-term planning. It further
identifies zoning by-laws as important for the implementation of the PPS
directing that they should be forward-looking and facilitate opportunities for
an appropriate range and mix of housing options for all Ontarians.
The site represents a block in a comprehensively planned subdivision that
provides a range and mix of housing options and tenures from semidetached and townhouse dwellings to semi-independent seniors housing
adjacent to long-term care, with this site representing the final and most
dense form being an apartment building. Through the subdivision
agreement, provision is made for full municipal services, stormwater
management, roads, and sidewalks.
The proposed apartment building will add 128 rental dwelling units to the
City’s housing stock.
The Grey Bruce 2026 Vital Signs report recently released by Community
Foundation Grey Bruce identifies a 1.7 per cent rental vacancy rate for Grey
County where 3 per cent represents a healthy benchmark and notes that one
in three rental tenants pay rent that exceeds 30 per cent affordability in the
region.
The development will contribute much needed rental housing, with a portion
proposed to be affordable, to the range and mix of housing options and
tenures in the City to meet the needs of current and future residents.
The proximity of the site to nearby commercial uses and community services
as well as transit stops helps to support a complete community and reduce
reliance on automobile use.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

The PPS includes that airports shall be protected from incompatible land
uses. The applicant has provided an assessment of the hospital helipad
approach pathway confirming the building will not obstruct the helipad
vertical and horizontal pathways.
As part of the overall subdivision, the applicant made a contribution of
parkland and a trail around the stormwater management pond to the north
offers opportunity for recreation. Ed Taylor Park to the west provides a
playground and further greenspace for recreation.
The applicant has proposed amenity areas on site that will be discussed
further below.
Supporting new housing density within Settlement Areas helps to reduce
development pressure on surrounding natural heritage, rural and agricultural
lands, and maintain settlement area boundaries.
Cultural Heritage
Development and site alteration shall not be permitted on lands containing
archaeological resources or areas of archaeological potential unless
significant archaeological resources have been conserved. Planning
authorities shall engage with indigenous communities and ensure their
interests are considered when identifying, protecting, and managing
archaeological resources, built heritage resources, and cultural landscapes.
The City’s Official Plan provides for an Archaeological Assessment Report,
prepared by a qualified person, to be required as part of a complete
application.
A Stage 1 and 2 Archaeological Assessment was completed as part of OPA 9,
ZBA 27m and 42T-18501 finding that the project area was considered free
from archaeological concerns and no further assessment is necessary and
the assessment is entered in the Public Register of Archaeological Reports
without technical review by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport at the
time. Standard cautionary conditions recommended by the assessment are in
the Subdivision Agreement.
As no archaeological concerns were identified at the time of the subdivision
approval, staff did not request further archaeological study as a requirement
through preliminary consultation. Saugeen Ojibway Nation was circulated on
the preliminary consultation with no comment received.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

Saugeen Ojibway Nation was circulated the request for comments on ZBA 58
and provided comment (Schedule ‘F’) requesting archeological assessment.
Staff reached out to the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) Environment Office
following receipt of their comments to ensure they had the complete study
and were aware that the site has already been subject to alteration and pregrading under the subdivision agreement and to clarify if additional study
was being requested.
SON Environment Office responded with preference for additional study as
they do not consider the past report to sufficiently address or adhere to SON
standards and note “if the City and/or the proponent are not proposing any
further archeological work, we would appreciate the opportunity to discuss
the rationale and determine whether an appropriate path forward can be
identified”. Staff understand that the applicant has reached out to SON for
further discussion in this regard.
The comments from SON do not object to the site-specific amendments
requested.
Staff will monitor progress on this matter and consider any necessary
conditions through any future site plan approval application review.
Conclusion on PPS Consistency
The City has an Official Plan in effect and an adopted update (OPA 14)
awaiting approval by the County. The purpose of the update, in part, was to
address conformity with the 2024 PPS.
The PPS recognizes that planning authorities at times must decide on
planning matters before their Official Plans and other planning instruments
are updated and directs in those instances, it must still make a decision that
is consistent with the PPS.
The proposed development is in a designated Settlement Area and will
contribute to the range and mix of housing options and tenures in the City
and add rental housing to meet an identified need of current and future
residents.
The proposed development represents intensification on lands within a
settlement area having access to full municipal services, a mix of commercial
and service uses, active transportation, and transit.
The proposal is consistent with the policy direction of the PPS.
Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

B: County of Grey Official Plan
The City of Owen Sound is within the ‘Primary Settlement Area’ designation
in the County of Grey Official Plan (County OP).
Settlement areas with full municipal services are the focus of most of the
growth within the County. The County OP promotes a full range of
residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, and institutional land uses
within Primary Settlement Areas. Land use policies and development
standards are in accordance with the local Official Plan.
County policies direct an overall minimum residential density of 25 units per
net hectare for new residential development in Primary Settlement Areas and
encourage form and density which is supportive of future transit needs. The
County OP (3.5) lists numerous benefits of increased residential density
including:







lowering impacts on air quality, while promoting efficient energy
use,
supporting active transportation and transit supportive
communities,
enabling and encouraging lifestyles that reduce greenhouse gas
emissions,
providing a range of housing types including owned, rental, and
accessible units,
preserving other lands for natural, farm, or resource use, and
providing infrastructure that is financially sustainable throughout its
life-cycle, including replacement costs.

The County OP does not support residential zones within Primary Settlement
Areas which only allow for single detached dwellings as the only residential
use in a zone. [3.5 (8)].
The County OP includes other types of Settlement Areas which provide for
limited growth at lower densities and other forms of servicing.
The development of the site will support the City in assisting the County in
achieving the growth allocation targets established in the County OP of 15
per cent of new residential units by way of intensification.
The County has been consulted on the proposal and County staff have no
objection to the applications.
The proposal conforms to the policies of the County Official Plan.
Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

C: City of Owen Sound Official Plan
As noted above, the City has adopted an Official Plan update that is not yet
approved by the County of Grey.
The subject lands are designated as follows:
City of Owen
Sound Official
Plan

Official Plan
(2021) <in
effect>

Schedule A:

Residential

Schedule A2,
Sydenham
Heights Planning
Area:

Residential –
High Density

Official Plan
Update (OPA 14)
<not yet in
force>

Schedule A:

Residential

Schedule A2,
Sydenham
Heights Planning
Area:

Residential –
High Density

Staff have considered policies of both the 2021 and 2026 update.
Schedule ‘B’ attached shows the designation of adjacent properties, which
are residential to the north and west, commercial to the east, and a mix of
residential and institutional to the south.
Schedule ‘C’ of the Official Plan identifies the segment of 10th Street East to
the south as a Collector Road and nearby 16th Avenue East as a Minor
Arterial Road. 15th Street East fronting the property is a local road.
Schedule ‘D’ of the Official Plan further identifies this section of 10th Street
East and nearby 16th Avenue East as bicycle routes. 16th Avenue East in this
area is also an identified snowmobile trail.
The following analysis responds to the City Official Plan (OP) policies
highlighted in the technical report. There are many OP policies applicable to
development of land; this report focuses on responding to those policies that
relate specifically to the zoning amendments requested in this instance
keeping in mind the lands are already designated and zoned to permit
residential apartment use.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

The Vision outlined in the OP states:
“The City of Owen Sound is where you want to live. A complete
community that values the natural environment, cultural diversity,
historic streetscapes, vibrant waterfront and provides a sense of
belonging. The City will plan to evolve as a centre for growth,
opportunity and innovation while ensuring that equity, inclusion,
diversity, sustainability, resiliency, and quality of life are considered in
every decision.”
This vision and the goals of the OP should be top of mind in considering the
following policy sections.
Permitted Uses
Where lands are designated Residential on Schedule ‘A’ – Land Use, the
predominant use shall be housing and other uses that are complementary
and provide service to residential uses.
Permitted uses include, among other uses, apartment dwellings and other
forms of multiple housing and secondary uses of a non-residential nature
known as local institutional uses. Examples of such uses include libraries and
community centres noting also “similar local institutional uses”.
The Sydenham Heights Phase I and II Planning Areas shall primarily
accommodate residential land uses together with a mix of compatible
institutional, commercial, and open space uses to support and service the
local residential area in accordance with the policies of Section 3.1 of this
Plan.
 Community Lifestyle Facility Use
It warrants noting that a woodworking space in the building and a pickleball
court outside could be considered accessory to the main apartment use if
they were intended solely for the use of the residents of this proposed
building.
The zoning by-law amendment to add “Community Lifestyle Facility” as a
permitted use is requested so that the applicant may allow booking by the
broader public, including residents of this development (East Court
Residences).

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

To consider this additional use, it is important to understand its definition in
the zoning by-law:
‘Community Lifestyle Facility’ means a lot, building or part thereof used
for gatherings, meetings and activities of a civic, educational, political,
religious, social, cultural, athletic, amusement or recreational nature
but does not include any other commercial use otherwise defined in
this By-law.
In the Zoning By-law list of permitted uses for Residential Zones, Community
Lifestyle Facilities are listed under the heading “Institutional” as are Public
Parks.
The policies of the Residential section include that local institutional uses
may be permitted in areas generally located along arterial roads with access
to public transit and full municipal services, and may be permitted where
(3.1.3.2):
a. The local institutional use does not introduce unwanted and
inappropriate impacts in the residential area on residential uses in
terms of noise, odour, dust, storage, and traffic.
b. The outward appearance, scale and design of the local institution
use shall be compatible with the character of the residential area
and appropriate buffering shall be included to minimize negative
impacts on abutting residential uses.
c. Local institutional uses will be limited in size, scale and location
through the Zoning By-law.
In the Sydenham Heights Planning Area, local institutional uses such as
schools and churches may be permitted in areas designated Residential
provided access to such facilities from arterial or collector streets are readily
available, are subject to rezoning and the policies of Section 3.10 of this
Plan.
Section 3.10 applies to all institutional uses including major stand alone uses
such as hospitals and colleges. In considering the locational criteria, the
scale of the use warrants consideration. Section 3.10.2.2 indicates that
institutional uses should be located to adequately serve the principal user
groups, discouraging traffic from local roads, and ensuring safety in all
modes of transportation. Institutional uses should be located only where they
are complementary to adjacent land uses.
Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

Section 7.2 the Community Services policies of the Official Plan encourage
the provision of a range and distribution of health, safety, educational,
cultural, and recreational facilities and services throughout the community.
The Parks and Recreation policies of Section 7.4 further indicate that the City
may require the inclusion of recreational facilities in large multiple unit
residential developments where the facilities are proportionate in size and
nature to the scale of the development they serve.
In this case, the lands are adjacent to but not accessed from the abutting
10th Street East collector road. However, as the Planning Justification Report
submitted by the applicant indicates, the primary function of the proposed
community lifestyle facility is “to support the daily recreational needs of
residents on the site and in the immediate community.”
The size and scale of the community lifestyle facility is not anticipated to
draw large crowds. The requested zoning amendment includes that parking
not be required for community lifestyle facilities under 200 m2 in gross floor
area. This confirms that the applicant intends to limit the size of the facilities
available for community lifestyle use.
The parking requirements of the Zoning By-law consider that some
community lifestyle facilities are unenclosed and therefore do not have a
gross floor area. The by-law provides a separate parking requirement for
them.
The applicant has indicated the community lifestyle facility is proposed as a
woodworking space in the building and pickleball court outside. Staff do not
feel it is necessary to limit the permission of a community lifestyle facility to
these particular uses though consideration should be given to the potential
impacts of both indoor and outdoor uses in the by-law recommendations.
To ensure the requested community lifestyle facilities remain complementary
to the residential uses and at a neighbourhood scale, staff recommend:




Community Lifestyle Facility be permitted only where it is in
combination with a permitted Apartment Dwelling;
Any racquet court or bowling green shall be setback from any lot
line a minimum of 7.5 metres;
Off-street parking shall:
o

be required for any Community Lifestyle Facility that exceeds
200 m2 of gross floor area; and

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

o

not be required for any Community Lifestyle Facility that is
comprised of an outdoor racquet court or bowling green.

Permitting a community lifestyle facility use in this location that is
appropriate to the scale of the neighbourhood and in conjunction with a
permitted residential use supports the vision of the Official Plan to encourage
an appropriate range and distribution of health and wellness and recreational
facilities throughout the community.
Staff recommend that with the modifications to the requested
amendment adding a community lifestyle facility as a permitted use
on the lands is appropriate and conforms to the intent of the Official
Plan.
OPA 14 updates do not change this recommendation.
 Residential Density
The subject lands are within the Sydenham Heights Planning Area which is
proposed to be largely a residential mixed-use community. In this area, the
Official Plan provides an overall density target for the Planning Area of not
less than 25 units per net hectare. This target shall be planned for in an
equitable manner across the entire secondary plan area.
The Official Plan policies with respect to growth and density are planned to
evolve through OPA 14 to reflect changes to the Provincial and County
policies. Before and after the changes, the City of Owen Sound Official Plan
supports a target of 15 per cent of new residential units by way of
intensification and providing a range and mix of housing options and
densities to meet the current and projected needs of the City. The City
further supports the integration of affordable housing units within the
existing community fabric.
In this case, the applicant has indicated an intention to include affordable
housing units in the development but has not requested any special
permissions or grants from the City in this regard. Certainly, the inclusion of
affordable housing units will support the intent and policies of the Official
Plan.
With or without affordable housing units, the density of the development of
the lands is already permitted by Site Specific policy 4.2.9.1:

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

“4.2.9.1 Notwithstanding the policies of Section 3.1.2.1 and Section
4.2.2.4, the maximum residential density, for those lands located on
the west side of 16th Avenue East, north of 10th Street East and south
of 16th Street East and legally described as Part of Park Lots 4 and 5,
East Garafraxa Road, Geographic Township of Sydenham in the City of
Owen Sound and designated ‘Residential-High Density’, shall be 130
units per hectare.”
The subject lands are designated ‘Residential-High Density’ in the Sydenham
Heights Planning Area Schedule A2.
While Section 3.1.2 discusses Residential Density generally, for the subject
lands, it is superseded by this site-specific policy. The application proposes
128 dwelling units on 1.01 hectares of land resulting in an approximate net
density of 127 dwelling units per hectare. The proposed density does not
exceed 130 units per hectare, and an Official Plan Amendment is not
required.
OPA 14 does not change this site-specific policy.
 Residential Height, Floor Space Index, and Urban Design
The property is part of a planned subdivision. The proposed apartment use
and density was already anticipated by OPA 9 as noted above.
The Official Plan does not stipulate minimum and maximum height of
buildings in the residential designation but rather provides direction on
considering height relative to existing and permitted uses.
To consider floor space index, it is important to understand its definition in
the zoning by-law:
‘Floor Space Index (FSI)’ means an index that, when multiplied by the
total land area of a lot, indicates the maximum permissible gross floor
area for all buildings on the lot, excluding underground or covered
parking structures and floor space located in the cellar.
As noted above, the density of the development, based on number of units
proposed, is permitted. Floor Space index is a related but different measure
of density relating the size of the building to the size of the lot. The City of
Toronto provides a helpful illustration of Floor Space Index on their website.
Where the density in terms of number of units is not exceeded, the impact of
increased FSI relates primarily to building mass.
Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
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The permitted Floor Space Index for an apartment dwelling on the lands is
1.0 and it is requested to be increased to 1.4. The difference in floor area
between what is permitted and what is proposed on this site is just over
4,000 m2.
For the gross floor area of the building proposed, an amendment to FSI
would be required whether or not height was also requested to be increased
(because a lower large footprint building could have the same FSI), but
certainly increasing FSI also relates to the requested increase in height.
The assessment of FSI and height should be considered together as they
both contribute to the massing of the building on the lands.
In considering the increased height and FSI, the intensification policies are
useful as they require that the size and scale of the proposed development is
compatible with adjacent development and planned land use, and the urban
design policies expand on the measure of compatibility and introduce
measure for mitigating impact such as landscaped buffers and tree planting,
appropriate quantity and location of parking, and setbacks.
Through preliminary consultation, an Urban Design Study and Shadow Study
were requested. The applicant has responded by supplying the supporting
studies including an Urban Design Brief, Shadow Study, and Shadow Study
Addendum.
Together with the Planning Justification Report, these studies articulate the
context of the development site within the surrounding neighbourhood.
Highlights of these studies include:








The site is located outside of and at the edge of the nearest
established neighbourhood surrounded by other residences geared
towards an aging population and supportive commercial uses.
A neighbouring property planned to include a hotel use has site
specific permission for a height of 23.3 metres to the top of
parapet.
The site is walkable to Heritage Heights Park and Ed Taylor Park.
The compact form contributes residential density that supports
transit viability and usage.
The siting of the building is the primary design response to
minimize shadow and wind-related impacts. The building is oriented
north-south across the east side of the site with vehicular access,
parking, and servicing located to the west of the building. This:

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

o
o
o
o








Increases the separation from the existing low-rise residential
dwellings to the west (approx. 75 metres);
Minimizes potential overlook and visual dominance;
Ensures the building does not interrupt a 45-degree angular
plane from the west lot line; and
Limits the extent of shadow projection beyond the property
and ensures that the majority of shadowing occurs within the
site or over adjacent streets and non-sensitive areas.

The building incorporates articulated massing, including vertical
façade breaks, projecting balconies, and variation in colour and
materials which reduce perceived bulk.
The grade change from 10th Street East (approx. 3-4 storeys)
further reduces perceived height from the southern interface.
Landscaped buffers and screening elements along property
boundaries, as shown on the landscape plan, create separation and
enhance privacy.
The Shadow Study Addendum:
o

confirms that the proposal complies with the City’s shadow
study impact criteria being:
a) As a principle, as least 50% of more of any property is
not shaded for more than two (2) interval times (a four-hour
equivalency); or,
b) As a principle, at least 50% of any property should be in
full sun for at least two interval times (a four-hour
equivalency).

o

o



Distinguishes between shadow resulting from the proposed
development and existing conditions (including 10th Street
East); and
Demonstrates that the incremental shadow impacts are limited
and do not result in adverse effects.

A mix of indoor and outdoor, private, and shared, amenity spaces is
provided.
Approximately 48 per cent of the site is dedicated to landscaped
open space including:
o

Landscaped screening and buffer plantings proposed along
property edges;

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

o
o
o

Surface and underground parking is appropriately integrated
and softened through landscape treatment;
Outdoor amenity space including barbeque areas, pergola,
seating and gathering spaces; and
Pickleball court integrated into the landscaped design.

As demonstrated by the supporting studies, the applicant has considered the
context of the subject site and surrounding area as well as the needs of
future residents of the development in the layout of the site, building design,
and landscaping.
The increased height and floor space index is mitigated by the location of the
building on the site together with underground parking which allow for ample
landscaped open space and on-site amenity areas.
To ensure that the site-specific zoning amendment implements the findings
of these studies, the applicant requested a site-specific setback for any
building that exceeds six storeys.
Staff recommend that the site-specific amendment conforms to the
intent of the Official Plan provided the increased height and floor
space index are permitted only along with an increased westerly side
yard setback.
OPA 14 updates do not change this recommendation.
 Municipal Services
The Official Plan permits development in areas that can be adequately
serviced and within the Sydenham Heights Planning Area, development shall
proceed on the basis of full municipal wastewater and water services.
A Servicing Feasibility Study and preliminary servicing design have been
submitted in support of the application. Watermain, sanitary sewer, and
storm sewer servicing within the road allowance to the site was constructed
as part of the original subdivision agreement.
Detailed design and method of servicing on-site as well as stormwater
management will be addressed at the time of any future Site Plan Approval
application in accordance with the Official Plan policies in force and effect at
the time and the Site Development Engineering Standards.
Municipal services are available to serve the lands.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

 Vehicular and Active Transportation
The local 15th Avenue East providing access to the subject lands was
designed and approved recently as part of the subdivision process. City bus
transit stops are available along nearby 16th Avenue East.
The applicant has provided a Traffic Opinion Letter which discusses the
number and design of vehicular entrances to the site as well as traffic control
at 15th Avenue East and 14th Street East, including:




Two vehicle accesses on a cul-de-sac is common practice in
subdivision design and the two access connections as proposed is
consistent with TAC guidelines. To encourage controlled movements
out of the two vehicle accesses and reduce conflict, a stop sign and
stop-bar could be provided on-site.
To encourage traffic calming along 14th Street East and facilitate
pedestrian movements, the 15th Avenue East and 14th Street East
intersection is a candidate for a pedestrian crossing (Level 2 Type D
PXO) that is signed (no push button or electronic mechanism).

Engineering Services comments note that a revised site plan and a signage
plan for 14th Street East and 15th Avenue East will be required at the time of
Site Plan Approval to address these recommendations.
It is noted that the site grading plan and site servicing plan do not show the
concrete sidewalk at the 15th Avenue East bulb that was part of the
Subdivision Agreement, though it is shown on the conceptual site plan.
Provision of a sidewalk around the entirety of the 15th Avenue East bulb
supports the policies of the Official Plan and will be expected on any future
Site Plan Approval application to implement the Subdivision Agreement.
Active transportation between the subject site and neighbouring properties
has been discussed in the background section above. Pedestrian connectivity
to 16th Avenue East and nearby transit stops has been considered in the Site
Plan approvals for properties to the east and west of the subject lands.
Details of any pedestrian pathways across the subject site will be considered
through any future Site Plan Approval Application.
 Parking Requirements
All new development and redevelopment shall be required to provide
adequate off-street parking and loading spaces in accordance with the
standards established in the Zoning By-law. Pedestrians should have a safe,
Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

well-lit, clear route from vehicle to building at all times of the year and
parking areas are to be adequately landscaped. The City may consider
reducing the required number of parking spaces needed for development
where criteria have been justified, including demonstration that the proposed
use does not require the stated level of parking.
The Zoning By-law requires 160 parking spaces for the 128 dwelling units
proposed (1.25 spaces per unit) and the conceptual site plan meets this
requirement.
The applicant has requested a reduction in the number of parking spaces for a
community lifestyle facility when it has a gross floor area that is less than 200
m2. The Planning Justification Report notes that most users will be individuals
who already reside in the development and will be walkable to residents of the
surrounding neighbourhood.
As previously discussed, staff support the establishment of a community
lifestyle use on the lands where it is in combination with an apartment use.
Staff further support a clarification that no additional parking is required for any
outdoor racquet court or bowling green as these uses will be seasonal and
limited in size based on the footprint and parking requirements of the main
apartment use.
A site specific parking reduction for a community lifestyle use as
articulated in the zoning amendment recommended by staff will help
implement the Official Plans vision of a complete community and
compact urban form.
OPA 14 updates do not change this recommendation.
 Official Plan Conclusion
The application for site specific amendment to the Zoning By-law,
subject to recommended modifications, conforms to the policies of
the City’s Official Plan.
D: City of Owen Sound Zoning By-law
As noted above, the City has approved a Zoning By-law Update (ZBA 57)
that is not yet in force and effect.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

The subject lands are zoned as follows:
City of Owen
Sound Zoning
By-law

Zoning By-law
2010-078, as
amended to ZBA
57 <in effect>

Schedule A, Map

General
Residential (R5)

By-law No. 2026- Schedule A, Map
030 Update <not 13
yet in force and
effect>

Medium Density
Residential (R2)

Attached as Schedule ‘G’ is a Zoning Summary Table which outlines the
effects of the requested zoning amendment and staff recommended
standards in relation to specific requirements of both the Zoning By-law
2010-078, as amended up to ZBA 57 and the 2026 update ZBA 57 and the
detailed request from the applicant. Matters specific to ZBA 57 have a
backdrop of grey.
The following discusses each effect, request, and recommendation.
Permit a “Community Lifestyle Facility” as an Additional Permitted
Use
A Community Lifestyle Facility is not currently permitted in the R5 (future
R2) Zone. A limited number of commercial and institutional uses are
permitted such as clinics, personal service uses, day nurseries, and schools.
A Community Lifestyle Facility would be permitted in the Multiple Residential
Zone which also permits dwelling units in combination with a permitted nonresidential use. This suggests that community lifestyle facilities are
appropriate to consider together with apartment buildings.
Non-residential uses are limited in the subject zone to comply with the
Official Plan. The Official Plan direction for non-residential uses in residential
areas is discussed in detail above.
The community lifestyle facility has been presented at a scale that could be
considered accessory to the main use except that that the applicant seeks
permission to open it to the broader public.
A stand-alone community lifestyle facility has not been contemplated or
studied.
Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
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Staff find that permitting a community lifestyle facility as an
additional permitted use on the lands provided it is in combination
with an apartment dwelling use meets the intent of the Zoning Bylaw.
ZBA 57 updates do not change this recommendation.
Permit a Reduced Number of Parking Spaces for a Community
Lifestyle Facility
Off-street parking requirements implement the intent of the Official Plan to
ensure adequate parking is provided on-site for new development.
The scale of community lifestyle facilities that would not require additional
parking is proposed to be capped in floor area of the building and outdoor
facilities will be constrained by the need for the site to accommodate surface
parking.
The 128-unit apartment dwelling as proposed requires 160 parking spaces
(1.25/dwelling unit). A stand-alone community lifestyle facility of 200 m2
would require 10 parking spaces with a racquet court or bowling green
requiring an additional 3 spaces (13 spaces total). Although a bowling green
is not proposed, it would be permitted as part of a community lifestyle
facility and so its impact is being considered as similar to pickleball.
Thirteen (13) parking spaces represent less than 9 per cent of the total
parking spaces proposed for the apartment dwelling. More than one parking
space per dwelling unit would continue to be available for residents.
The community lifestyle facility proposed is anticipated to draw from the
residential neighbourhood which has been constructed with sidewalks for
walkability.
It is also foreseeable that residents of the apartment building might invite
guests to use the community lifestyle facilities with them. In this regard, it is
logical that the parking for these facilities overlaps with visitor parking for
the apartments.
Staff support the request and recommend a clarification that no offstreet parking be required for a racquet court or bowling green as
these would have no gross floor area.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

Permit a Maximum Building Height of 8 storeys or 28 metres,
Whichever is Greater
The R5 (future R2) zone permits a range of uses including single detached,
semi-detached, duplex, townhouse, and converted dwellings, group home
and apartment buildings, long-term care facilites, and schools among other
uses. The maximum building heights in the zone strive to balance these built
forms and reasonable setbacks for these different uses with the fact that
they are permitted as of right to be located adjacent to one another.
The maximum permited height for an apartment building of 12 metres in the
R5 Zone (14 metres in the future R2 zone) is permitted on a relatively small
lot (450 m2) with side yard setbacks as little as 1.2 metres. An apartment
building could be located as of right, next to a single detached dwelling with
a side yard setback of only 0.9 metres.
When considering a height increase, the context of the proposal is important.
The requirement for a zoning by-law amendment, with the direction of the
Official Plan, gives the City the opportuniy to require appropriate studies and
consider development in its site specific context.
In this case, the applicant has undertaken the studies requested, considered
the site specific context, and addressed the policies of the Official Plan as
noted in the Official Plan section above.
The site exceeds the minimum lot area for an apartment building which gives
the applicant flexibility in where to place the building on the lot. The
supporting studies lean heavily on the location of the building close to the
easterly lot line in their support of the proposal.
In addition to just considering the height, the zoning by-law amendment put
forward by the applicant requests an increased westerly side yard in
recognition of this key design element.
Together with the other recommended amendments, staff find the requested
height increase to 28 metres supportable.
The City’s Zoning By-law assesses maximum height in metric units and not
by storey. Storeys can vary in height and the definition of storey in the
Zoning By-law considers interior space not exterior surfaces. Staff do not
recommend the portion of the request that would permit up to 8 storeys.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

The subject lands sit in a transitional location between lower density
residential to the west and undeveloped C2 properties to the east.
In this location and subject an increased westerly side yard setback
(requested by the applicant), staff find the site-specific amendment
to permit a maximum apartment building height of 28 metres is
appropriate and meets the intent of the City’s Zoning By-law.
Require a 20 Metre Setback from the Westerly Side Yard for any
Building Greater than 6 Storeys in Height
As discussed above, this request gives effect to the support for the building
being located on the easterly portion of the site.
Staff support this request with a clarification that a 4 metre westerly
side yard setback would apply to shorter buildings.
Permit a Maximum Floor Space Index of 1.4
As discussed in the Official Plan section, the floor space index is related to
both mass and height. The applicant has demonstrated in the context of the
subject site that even with an increase in floor space index, the site can
provide sufficient parking and ample landscaped open space. Height is
discussed above.
In the R5 (future R2) Zone that applies to the subject lands, it is interesting
to note that the limited commercial uses permitted would be allowed at a
density of 1.5 FSI. In the neighbouring C2 zone to the east, commercial uses
and dwelling units in combination therewith have no maximum FSI.
An apartment building with a density of 1.4 FSI is appropriate in this
transitional location between existing residential uses to the west and future
commercial uses to the east.
In this location, together with the other recommended amendments,
staff find the requested increase in FSI supportable.
Permit Accessory Structures in the Front Yard Provided they Maintain
a 10 Metre Setback from the Front Lot Line
The definition of Accessory in the Zoning By-law is important to note in
considering this request:
‘Accessory’ means a use, building or structure subordinate and
incidental to and functionally associated with the main use, building or
Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
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structure located on the same lot therewith, and when applied to
buildings or structures, also means a building or structure separate
from the main building on the same lot otherwise provided for in this
By-law.
Accessory buildings and structures to residential uses are not permitted in
the front yard. This requirement intends to implement the Urban Design
policies of the Official Plan which seek to provide relatively consistent
streetscapes with similar setbacks defining the visual width of the streets.
Keeping accessory structures out of the front yard also helps to maintain
visibility of the street from main buildings, also known as ‘eyes on the
street’.
This is another instance of context being important. The east side of 15th
Avenue East in this location has only two properties abutting it, Owen Sound
Gardens to the north and the subject site. The front lot line for this lot is the
turning bulb at the end of 15th Avenue East; the limited number of lots and
shape of the bulb do not allow for determination of a consistent streetscape
in this location.
The proposed location of the main building on the lot is pushed to the east or
rear of the site to mitigate impacts of the increased height proposed. Clear
pedestrian pathways are proposed from the sidewalk along 15th Avenue East
to the main building entrance.
The applicant has proposed that if accessory structures are permitted in the
front yard that they be setback at least 10 metres from the front lot line, a
distance that exceeds the minimum required front yard setback for the main
building (which is 6.5 metres).
Accessory structures anticipated in this context are a pergola or similar
amenity features and potential aesthetic enclosures of otherwise essential
utility equipment. Accessory structures are limited in height to 5 metres (6
metres in the future ZBA 57).
Accessory structures can provide protection from the elements in otherwise
outdoor spaces enhancing the outdoor amenity areas, providing comfortable
rest and gathering spaces, and supporting interaction among residents. They
can also provide storage of equipment necessary to maintain landscaping
and screening of other functional elements.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
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In this unique site context, staff support the proposal to permit
accessory buildings or structures in the front yard provided they
maintain a 10 metre front yard setback (as requested by the
applicant) and that all other setbacks shall be as required for the
main building on the lot.
General Zoning Conformity
Planning staff have undertaken a fulsome review of the proposal in
consideration of the general and zone provisions of both Zoning By-law
2010-078, as amended up to ZBA 57 and the 2026 update ZBA 57. The
proposed development can comply with all other general and zone-specific
provisions.
Staff find, subject to the recommended modifications, that the
proposal can uphold the intent and purpose of both the Zoning Bylaw 2010-078, as amended up to ZBA 57 and the 2026 update ZBA
57.
To ensure that any decision of Council is implemented following any appeal
period, two amending by-laws are recommended, one to each of the Zoning
By-law 2010-078, as amended up to ZBA 57 and the other to the 2026
update ZBA 57.
E: Comments Received
In accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act, notice of the
subject application was provided to the public and prescribed bodies by the
Deputy Clerk. The Planning & Heritage Division also requested comments
from those departments and agencies likely to have an interest in the
applications.
In addition to written comments received, comments from the public were
also heard at the Public Meeting held June 15, 2026.
Comments received by the Clerk as of writing of this report are attached as
Schedule ‘F’. The Public Meeting view is available online and draft Minutes
are included in the Council Agenda for July 13, 2026.
Public Comments
Members of the public presented oral submissions at the public meeting and
provided written submissions.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

Public comments have been considered in the assessment of the subject
application. Comment themes are summarized and responded to as follows:
 Support for the Proposed Rezoning







Extra height can offset construction costs.
Extra height does not appear to impact existing community
significantly.
Welcome purpose built rental.
Suggestion for a minimum floor space index to ensure density.
The community lifestyle facility should not necessitate additional
parking.
Step towards more flexible, medium density housing.

Staff have considered these comments in the recommendations throughout
this report. Staff do not recommend a minimum floor space index at this
time as that would potentially eliminate certain permitted uses on the site
which was not contemplated through OPA 9 or the recent comprehensive
review of both the Official Plan and Zoning By-law. Staff will take the idea
into consideration for future comprehensive policy reviews.
 Neither for nor Against


Inquiry regarding the cost for public use of community lifestyle
facilities.

The cost of private community lifestyle facility use is beyond the scope of a
Zoning By-law or zoning by-law amendment.
It is important to note that permitting a community lifestyle facility on the
site does not obligate the owner to permit public use of any facilities on site
but gives them the opportunity to do so should they choose.
For information, staff have discussed the question with the applicant. The
mechanism to book and fee for future public access to any facilities on site is
something that would be established and facilitated through any future
property manager.
 Opposition for the Proposed Rezoning with Respect to Height
Oral comments at the Public Meeting supported by written submission (see
Schedule ‘F’) outline concerns including:


8 storeys is a major change in scale.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
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







That the proposal may create a concentrated humanitarian burden,
including increased food insecurity, mental health strain, and
demand on emergency services, with studies linked in the written
comments.
Elevator availability and outages.
Cost of construction and affordability.
Apartment living separates people from land, and homes should
reconnect people to land, food, work, family, and neighbourly
responsibility.
Alternate approaches to address housing shortage were raised
including vacant land home tax, land trusts, and permitting landbased developments

These comments remind us that a home is more than the space one lives in.
For this reason, a range and mix of housing options is supported by policy
but not all built forms are permitted in all locations.
Official Plan policies supported by the provincial policy framework support
intensification in new development on full municipal services and the lands
are already zoned to permit an apartment building.
Staff are not aware of any legislative authority to compel the applicant to
build a different form of housing or pay any fees or contingencies not already
contemplated by existing policy, by-laws, or agreements.
The studies respecting high-rise living linked in the comments call for further
research and note location, lighting and spaciousness, design and access to
greenspace, and socio-economic dynamics of the tenancy as potentially
related to public health outcomes.
Various benefits of increased residential density generally are listed in the
County Official Plan section above.
In this case, the proposed apartment building is one part of a neighbourhood
offering a variety of housing forms. The applicant has undertaken study and
located the building to prioritize natural light. The proposed site design
includes both indoor and outdoor amenity spaces, balconies, and
opportunities for programmed active recreation. Indoor and outdoor amenity
space for this development is proposed at approximately 21 m2 per dwelling
unit. The building is proposed by the applicant to include tenants with a
variety of socioeconomic backgrounds.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
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The building construction and fire protection will be required to satisfy the
Ontario Building Code. The conceptual site plan contemplates an emergency
generator.
The City’s Official Plan and Community Gardens Policy recognizes the
importance of food security and benefits of community resources that offer
opportunities for recreation, education, and building social connections. Ed
Taylor Park is less than an 800 metre walk and is one of the locations preapproved for a community garden. The proposed development could also
include opportunities for resident managed gardens should they choose.
Canada Post
Comment has been received from Canada Post with no objection raised, and
providing description of the multi-unity policy for a Lock Box Assembly.
Ministry of Transportation (MTO)
MTO has indicated the property is located beyond MTO’s permit control.
Historic Saugeen Metis
Comment has been received from the Historic Saugeen Metis with no
objection.
Grey County
Comment has been received from Grey County with no objection raised, and
providing information about the County’s Green Development Program.
Saugeen Ojibway Nation Environment Office (SON)
Comment has been received from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Environment
Office requesting archaeological assessment.
Follow-up correspondence to these comments is discussed earlier in this
report. As no objection was raised to the zoning amendments, staff will
report further on this matter at the time of any future Site Plan Application
recommendation report.
City of Owen Sound Engineering and Public Works Department (ESD)
Comment from the City’s Engineering and Public Works Department indicate
no objection to the zoning amendment. Comments and recommendations are
included to inform any future Site Plan Approval application.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

City of Owen Sound Fire Prevention
Comments from the City’s Fire Prevention Officer indicate no objection to the
zoning amendment.
F: Site Plan Control Matters
A conceptual site plan (Schedule ‘D’) has been provided with the Zoning Bylaw Amendment Application for the purpose of assessing the zoning
regulations.
The proposed development is subject to Site Plan Control in accordance with
Section 41 of the Planning Act and City By-law No. 2019-185. As legislated,
site plan approval is now a staff-delegated process.
Through the preliminary consultation process, items required for a complete
site plan approval application were identified, including but not limited to
additional fees and detailed plans. The plans and studies submitted in
support of the zoning application will be finalized and reflect any changes for
site plan approval.
It is anticipated that a formal site plan approval application will follow should
the zoning by-law amendment application be approved.
Changes made to the Planning Act limit the extent to which any future site
plan approval can impact the exterior design and appearance of buildings
and works.
Through Site Plan Review, staff will assess the development for such matters
as:













Existing and required easements;
Vehicular access design;
Pedestrian walkways and connectivity;
Matters of accessibility;
Site lighting;
On-site servicing design;
On-site stormwater management design;
Parking lot design and layout;
Streetscapes and landscaping;
Retaining wall location and construction;
Fencing in accordance with the City’s Zoning By-law; and
Cultural Heritage.

Staff Report CS-26-060: Recommendation Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th
Avenue East (East Court Residences Apartments)

Background:
Andpet Realty Limited has submitted a request for Council to consider
exempting the proposed seniors' residential development at 1201 15th
Avenue East from the payment of City development charges. The proponent
has advised that the project is intended to provide additional rental housing
for seniors, supporting aging in place and helping address the increasing
demand for senior-oriented accommodation within the community. The
developer has further indicated that relief from development charges would
improve the financial feasibility of the project by allowing additional
resources to be directed toward construction costs, accessibility features, and
resident services.
East Court Residences is an established retirement residence community
within Owen Sound, and previous phases of the development have added 52
rental units to the City's housing inventory. The developer has noted that
earlier phases of the project benefited from municipal development charge
relief and has requested that Council extend similar consideration to the
proposed expansion.
Historically, the City provided a broad exemption and deferral framework for
purpose-built rental housing in an effort to encourage the development of
new rental units. However, following significant changes to the Development
Charges Act, 1997 and the introduction of provincial definitions for affordable
and attainable housing, Council adopted a new Development Charges By-law
that aligns municipal incentives with the provincial legislative framework.
Under the current by-law, development charge relief is no longer provided
solely on the basis that a project is purpose-built rental housing. Instead,
exemptions and deferrals are available for residential units that meet the
Province's prescribed affordability criteria and are secured through a
Development Charge Deferral and Exemption Agreement. These agreements
require that qualifying units remain affordable for a prescribed period of

Staff Report CR-26-064: Development Charge Exemption Request – 1201 15th
Avenue East

time, ensuring that development charge relief is directed toward long-term
affordable housing outcomes.
The current request does not seek relief under the affordable housing
provisions of the City's Development Charges By-law. Rather, it asks Council
to provide a project-specific exemption based on the broader community
benefits associated with the proposed development. Council's consideration
of this request therefore involves determining whether an exception should
be made to the City's current development charges framework.

Analysis and Options:
The request before Council is not whether the proposed development
provides a community benefit. Staff acknowledge that the addition of seniororiented rental housing supports important municipal objectives, including
increasing housing supply, supporting aging in place, and strengthening the
local assessment base. The developer has indicated that previous phases of
the East Court Residences development have added 52 rental units to the
community and generated additional annual property tax revenue for the
City.
Rather, the question before Council is whether development charge relief
should be granted outside of the framework established through the City's
current Development Charges By-law.
Development charges are a key component of the City's long-term financial
sustainability and exist to ensure that growth contributes toward the cost of
the infrastructure required to support that growth. Roads, parks, recreation
facilities, and wastewater infrastructure all require ongoing investment as the
community expands. Without development charges, these costs are
ultimately borne by existing taxpayers. The principle that "growth pays for
growth" has long been a cornerstone of municipal infrastructure financing in
Ontario.
Historically, the City provided broad relief for purpose-built rental housing
developments. However, as part of the adoption of the current Development
Charges By-law, Council made a deliberate decision to align the City's
exemption framework with the Province's affordable and attainable housing
legislation. Under the current approach, development charge exemptions and
deferrals are available where developments satisfy the Province's prescribed

Staff Report CR-26-064: Development Charge Exemption Request – 1201 15th
Avenue East

affordability criteria and are secured through a Development Charge Deferral
and Exemption Agreement.
It is also important to note that purpose-built rental housing already benefits
from mandatory reductions established through the Development Charges
Act, 1997 and incorporated into the City's Development Charges By-law.
Multi-unit residential developments currently receive discounts of 15 per
cent for units with three or more bedrooms, 20 per cent for twobedroom units, and 25 per cent for one-bedroom and bachelor units.
These legislated reductions were introduced by the Province specifically to
encourage the construction of rental housing and are automatically applied to
qualifying developments.
In addition to these mandatory rental housing discounts, current provincial
legislation provides a further incentive by requiring that development
charges for eligible rental housing developments be paid in six equal annual
instalments commencing at first occupancy. This legislated payment
structure reduces the upfront financing burden associated with new rental
construction while ensuring that municipalities ultimately recover the growthrelated infrastructure costs associated with new development.
Beyond these mandatory rental housing discounts, the Province updates the
affordability thresholds through its Affordable Residential Units Bulletin. As of
the current bulletin, the maximum affordable monthly rents for Owen Sound
are established at $880 for a bachelor unit, $1,075 for a one-bedroom
unit, $1,213 for a two-bedroom unit, and $1,275 for a three-bedroom
or larger unit. To qualify for development charge relief, units must remain
affordable for a minimum period of 25 years and be rented on an arm's
length basis.
In discussions with staff leading up to this report, the developer has
expressed the view that the current provincial affordability thresholds do not
reflect the economics of constructing new rental housing in today's market
and that projects delivered at those rent levels may not be financially viable.
Staff acknowledge that this concern is shared by many participants in the
housing sector and recognize the challenges associated with delivering new
rental housing.
However, the affordability thresholds are established by the Province and
incorporated into the City's Development Charges By-law through Council's
adoption of the current policy framework. The purpose of this approach was
Staff Report CR-26-064: Development Charge Exemption Request – 1201 15th
Avenue East

to replace subjective assessments of affordability with a clear, objective
standard that can be applied consistently to all development proposals.
Providing relief outside of that framework would effectively reintroduce the
discretionary approach that Council recently moved away from.
Approving a project-specific exemption would also create a precedent that
may be difficult to distinguish from future requests. Staff would have limited
ability to recommend against similar applications from other purpose-built
rental developments that may also argue that market conditions make
construction financially challenging. While the financial impact of future
requests cannot be reasonably quantified, staff note that significant
residential development is anticipated in the east end of the City over the
coming years. A decision to exempt development charges for this project
could reasonably be relied upon by future proponents seeking comparable
treatment, creating potentially material long-term implications for the City's
development charges program.
Staff further note that the current Development Charges By-law already
provides a mechanism through which developments that meet the Province's
affordability criteria may receive relief. Granting an exemption to a project
that does not satisfy those criteria would create an inequity for other
developers who either structure their projects to meet the affordability
requirements or who pay development charges in accordance with the bylaw.
Council retains the authority to grant a project-specific exemption if it
determines that the community benefits outweigh the financial and policy
considerations described above. However, from an administrative and
financial stewardship perspective, staff recommend that development
charges continue to be administered consistently and in accordance with the
Development Charges Act, 1997 and the City's Development Charges By-law.
While staff acknowledge the value of the proposed development and its
contribution to Owen Sound's housing supply, maintaining a fair,
transparent, and predictable development charges framework is important to
ensuring that growth continues to contribute appropriately toward the
infrastructure required to support it.

Staff Report CR-26-064: Development Charge Exemption Request – 1201 15th
Avenue East

Resource Alignment:
Financial Resources
Based on the preliminary planning information available to staff, the
proposed development is anticipated to include approximately 24 onebedroom units and 104 two-bedroom units. Applying the current City
apartment development charge rate together with the mandatory rental
housing discounts established under the Development Charges Act, 1997,
the estimated City development charges payable would be approximately
$985,000.
Approval of the requested exemption would result in the City foregoing these
development charge revenues, which are intended to fund the growthrelated capital infrastructure required to support new development. These
funds contribute toward the capital costs associated with roads, parks,
recreation facilities, and wastewater infrastructure that are necessary to
accommodate growth.
While the direct financial impact of this request can be reasonably estimated,
staff are unable to quantify the potential long-term financial implications
associated with future requests for similar treatment. Given the significant
amount of residential development anticipated within the City, particularly in
the east end, approval of a project-specific exemption may establish a
precedent that could lead to additional requests for discretionary
development charge relief, resulting in further reductions to development
charge revenues that would otherwise offset the cost of growth.

Human Resources
N/A.

Time and Scheduling
N/A.

Technology and Infrastructure
N/A.

Climate and Environmental Impacts:
There are no anticipated climate or environmental impacts.

Staff Report CR-26-064: Development Charge Exemption Request – 1201 15th
Avenue East

Communication and Engagement:
The City’s Development Charges By-law and Background Study are available
on the city’s website.
Development Charges | City of Owen Sound

Report Developed in Consultation With:
N/A.

Attachments:
Letter from Andpet Realty Limited
Submission approved by:
Tim Simmonds, City Manager
For more information on this report, please contact Kate Allan, Director of
Corporate Services at kallan@owensound.ca or 519-376-4440 ext. 1238.

Staff Report CR-26-064: Development Charge Exemption Request – 1201 15th
Avenue East

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

· DEVELOPMENT · MANAGEMENT · LEASING

June 1, 2026
Mayor and Members of Council
City of Owen Sound
808 2nd Avenue East
Owen Sound, ON N4K 2H4
Agenda Submission Request
Subject: Request for Agenda Item – Development Charge Deferral for Proposed Seniors’
Residences at 1201 15th Avenue East
Dear Mayor and Members of Council,
We respectfully request that Council place on an upcoming agenda the consideration of a
development charge deferral for the proposed seniors’ residential development at 1201 15th
Avenue East, Owen Sound.
This project is intended to provide much-needed affordable housing for seniors in our
community, supporting aging in place and helping address the growing demand for
senior-oriented accommodation. Deferring development charges would improve the project's
financial feasibility, allowing resources to be directed toward overall construction and building
costs, accessibility features, and resident services while advancing Owen Sound’s housing and
community development objectives.
We would welcome the opportunity to appear before Council to provide an overview of the
project, discuss its benefits to Owen Sound, and outline the rationale for a development charge
deferral arrangement.
Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to working with the City to help expand
housing options for seniors in Owen Sound.
Respectfully submitted,

Peter Van Dolder, President
Andpet Realty Limited
Office: 519-376-9002
Mobile: 519-372-8500

Report CR-26-063 from the Director of Corporate Services Re: Support for
Affordable Housing - Transfer of Lands to the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit
Housing Corporation
The City Clerk advised that, before the staff report can be considered, Council
must first waive the notice of motion requirement set out in the Procedural By-law
and then pass a motion to reconsider its previous decision.

“THAT City Council waives the notice of motion requirement in the City’s
Procedural By-law in order to discuss a matter relating to the transfer of
lands to the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation rather
than the Owen Sound Housing Company.”
“THAT City Council reconsider the decision contained in Item No. 2 of
Company, save and except the condition that Peter Lemon be recognized in
the naming of the building or complex.”
The Director of Corporate Services provided an overview of the report.
Mayor Boddy emphasized the importance of proceeding with the development
and noted that the Owen Sound Housing Company, as reflected in its May 21,
2026 special meeting minutes, intends to recognize Peter Lemon.
"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CR-06-063 respecting the transfer of
lands to the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation to
support for affordable housing, City Council directs staff to bring forward a
by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute all documents
necessary to complete the transfer of the subject lands to the Owen Sound
Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation (OSMNPHC)."

Recommendations:
THAT in consideration of Staff Report OP-26-034 respecting the 16th Avenue
and 20th Street East Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project Update, City
Council:
1.

Approves the project budget increase of $488,167.38, including the
non-refundable allocation of HST; and

2.

Authorizes the Purchasing Agent to execute Contract Change
Orders for engineering and construction related activities deemed
necessary to complete the project.

Highlights:



The award of the Tender for the project was approved by Council on
July 21, 2025.
The scope of work includes the replacement of approximately 750
metres of sanitary sewer pipe, including the removal of
approximately 600 metres of abandoned watermain, road and curb
restoration and the reinstatement of affected driveways and
shoulders.

Staff Report OP-26-034: 16th Avenue and 20th Street East Sanitary Sewer
Replacement Project Update

Recommendations:
THAT in consideration of Staff Report CS-26-066 respecting a request to
lease two additional parking spaces in the municipal parking area on 11th
Street West, City Council directs staff to bring forward a by-law to authorize
the Mayor and Clerk to execute an amendment to the lease agreement for
the additional two parking spaces, subject to:
1.

An additional cost of $300 per year, per space plus a 3 per cent per
year adjustment for inflation; and

2.

The lessee is responsible for locates and the installation of posts
and signage.

Highlights:






Council approved a 10-year lease in 2025 for five municipal parking
spaces on 11th Street West to support the redevelopment of 1095
1st Avenue West, where four of five commercial units are now
occupied, and the final unit is proposed as a wine bar.
The property is within the City’s Waterfront Mixed Use designation,
and the redevelopment supports increased activity, tourism, and
commercial use in the harbour area while making use of an
underutilized site.
The owner is now requesting that two additional adjacent parking
spaces be added to the existing lease on substantially the same

Staff Report CS-26-066: Request to Lease Two Additional Parking Spaces –
Municipal Parking Area – 11th Street West

REPORTS OF CITY STAFF
10.a
Report CS-26-060 from the Senior Planner Re: Recommendation
Report - ZBA No. 58 for 1201 15th Avenue East (East Court
Residences Apartments)
10.b
Report CR-26-064 from the Director of Corporate Services Re:
Development Charge Exemption Request - 1201 15th Avenue East
10.c
Report CS-26-070 from the Manager of Planning and Heritage Re:
Request for Conditional Building Permit - 2125 16th Street East
(Heritage Grove) (Report to Follow)
10.d
Report OP-26-034 from the Manager of Public Works and Engineering
Re: 16th Avenue and 20th Street East Sanitary Sewer Replacement
Project Update
10.e
Verbal Report from the Deputy Mayor Re: Grey County Council
CONSENT AGENDA
11.a
Report CS-26-066 from the Director of Community Services Re:
Request to Lease Two Additional Parking Spaces - Municipal Parking
Area - 11th Street West
11.b
Report CR-26-066 from the Director of Corporate Services Re:
Development Charges Reduction Program - Application Update
11.c
Report CS-26-067 from the Director of Community Services Re:
Request to Lease Lands to the West of 612 2nd Avenue East
11.d
Report CR-26-042 from the Purchasing and Claims Coordinator Re:
Contract Assignment of RFP-24-009 Parking Enforcement and
Crossing Guard Services and RFP-24-003 Campground Security
Services
11.e
Report CR-26-072 from the Purchasing and Claims Coordinator Re:
Approval of Non-Standard Procurement - Supply and Delivery of Two
(2) Sidewalk Plows
11.f
Minutes of Boards and Committees for Receipt Re: Bruce Grey Poverty
Task Force meeting held on June 19, 2026
11.g
Minutes of Boards and Committees for Receipt Re: Owen Sound
Police Service Board meeting held on May 27, 2026
11.h
Minutes of Boards and Committees for Receipt Re: River District Board
of Management meeting held on May 13, 2026
11.i
11.j

Background:
In 2025, City Council considered report CS-25-045 respecting a request to
lease a portion of a municipal parking area on 11th Street West. A by-law was
approved authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to execute a 10-year Lease
Agreement for five parking spaces.
The lease of the parking has supported the redevelopment of an adjacent
property at 1095 1st Avenue West.
The land at 1095 1st Avenue West is designated Waterfront Mixed Use in the
City’s Official Plan. This designation is intended to integrate a broad array of
industrial, residential, office, retail, and service uses, institutions,
entertainment, recreation, and cultural activities, and parks and open space
uses in a compact urban form at higher densities. An active harbour is to be
Staff Report CS-26-066: Request to Lease Two Additional Parking Spaces –
Municipal Parking Area – 11th Street West

retained with small boat marinas as well as uses that support recreation and
tourism.
The 11th Street West road allowance has been developed with parking on the
north side (approximately 10 spaces) with a pedestrian connection along the
south side which includes decorative lighting that connects to the sidewalk
on 1st Avenue West to the harbour walkway. There is access to the north side
of 1095 1st Avenue West and to 1099 1st Avenue West from the south side of
11th Street West.
There is a significant amount of underground infrastructure within the rightof-way (water, sanitary, hydro, etc.). The infrastructure is not impacted by
the use of a portion of the right-of-way for parking.
Further to the direction provided by Council, a lease agreement was
executed in the fall of 2025, and the parking spaces have been signed and
are in place. The building has five commercial units; four of these have
tenants. The additional parking spaces are to support the last use which is
proposed as a wine bar.
The purpose of this report is to present a request from the owner to add two
parking spaces to the existing lease, subject to substantially the same terms
as were previously approved.

Analysis and Options:
For the majority of commercial uses permitted in the Zoning By-law, parking
is required at a rate of 1 space per 25m2. As this building contains four
commercial units and a residential unit, the parking was calculated using the
“neighbourhood shopping centre” requirement. The site has sufficient
parking based on the requirements of the Zoning By-law. The parking spaces
are not required, but they are requested to support the redevelopment of the
existing building.
In 2025, when Council considered the original request, the following
comments were provided:



The redevelopment of 1095 1st Avenue West will bring more people
and activity to the waterfront.
The existing parking area is generally underutilized, and there is
also a significant amount of parking available on City lands to the
north that also provides access to the west harbour area.

Staff Report CS-26-066: Request to Lease Two Additional Parking Spaces –
Municipal Parking Area – 11th Street West












Leasing a number of parking spaces in this area will not interfere
with the delivery of goods to the West Harbour area that supports
shipping.
Leasing parking spaces will generate revenue that will offset the
City’s costs to provide winter maintenance and repairs to the street
and parking area.
The lease will require the tenant to provide insurance and standard
indemnity clauses.
The adjacent BCK development has sufficient on-site parking and
does not rely on off-site parking to support this redevelopment.
Staff did reach out to the Owen Sound Transportation Company
(OSTC) regarding the request. No response was received at the
time of writing this report. Staff is recommending that the leased
parking spaces be closest to 1st Avenue West, leaving the parking
spaces closer to the waterfront for other activities. The City is not
aware of any agreement or arrangement with the OSTC for the use
of these parking spaces.
The City’s legal cost to prepare the lease will be the responsibility of
the lessee.
The rate of the lease is recommended at the same value per space
as a monthly parking pass. Currently, these spaces do not have
restrictions and do not generate any revenue for the City.

Previously, the City had completed the locates for the sign installation and
installed the posts. It is recommended that for the additional two parking
spaces:



The lessee be responsible for completing the locates and installing
posts and signs; and
The two additional parking spaces be adjacent to the existing five
parking spaces.

Resource Alignment:
Financial Resources
Five (5) parking spaces currently at $300/year =$1,500 per year
Two (2) additional parking spaces will add $600/year for a total of $2,100.
The updated lease will be amended to include a 3 per cent per year lease
rate adjustment.
Staff Report CS-26-066: Request to Lease Two Additional Parking Spaces –
Municipal Parking Area – 11th Street West

Human Resources
Should Council approve the amended lease agreement, the Director of
Community Services will work with the requestor to execute the amended
lease agreement.

Time and Scheduling
Should Council approve the amended lease agreement, the by-law to
execute the amended agreement will be brought to Council at its next
meeting on July 27, 2026.

Technology and Infrastructure
N/A.

Climate and Environmental Impacts:
This supports the objectives of the City’s Corporate Climate Change
Adaptation Plan by considering climate adaptation in the development of the
City’s strategies, plans, and policies.
Of particular note:



The proposed development will maximize the use of existing
vacant, underutilized buildings and municipal services.
Sharing parking, where possible, promotes efficient use of existing
resources and limits new impervious surfaces.

Communication and Engagement:
Staff report CS-25-045 was developed in conjunction with the City Clerk, Bylaw Enforcement staff, Public Works and Engineering Department staff,
Building Division staff, and the Manager of Planning & Heritage. The new
request was not circulated for further comment.
The City has not received any negative communication since the parking
spaces were assigned in 2025 for private use.

Report Developed in Consultation With:
City Clerk

Staff Report CS-26-066: Request to Lease Two Additional Parking Spaces –
Municipal Parking Area – 11th Street West

Attachments:
None.
Submission approved by:
Tim Simmonds, City Manager
For more information on this report, please contact Pamela Coulter, Director
of Community Services at pcoulter@owensound.ca or 519-376-4440 ext.
1252.

Staff Report CS-26-066: Request to Lease Two Additional Parking Spaces –
Municipal Parking Area – 11th Street West

Background:
On June 15, 2026, Council received Report CR-26-065 and authorized staff
to submit applications to the Canada-Ontario Development Charge Reduction
Program (DCRP). The report outlined two proposed applications, including an
East Side Growth Corridor Infrastructure Program application and a Fire Hall
Development application. Council also endorsed, in principle, the City's
participation in the program and authorized the Treasurer to execute the
documents required to complete the applications.
The DCRP application window opened on June 1, 2026 and closed on June
19, 2026. During this period, staff participated in a provincial information
session on June 11, 2026, and a Development Charges 201 training session
on June 16, 2026. These sessions included participation from municipal staff
across Ontario and provided additional guidance regarding program eligibility
requirements, development charge reduction commitments, and application
preparation.
Given the extremely compressed timelines between the release of program
information, Council consideration of Report CR-26-065, and the June 19,
2026 application deadline, staff continued to refine the City's applications
following the Council meeting. As additional guidance became available and
project information was finalized, staff made several adjustments to the
applications prior to submission. The purpose of this report is to provide
Council with an update on the final applications submitted to the Province
and to outline the key changes made following Council's June 15, 2026
direction.

Staff Report CR-26-066: Development Charges Reduction Program – Application
Update

Analysis and Options:
Development Charge Reduction Clarification
Following Council's consideration of Report CR-26-065, staff continued to
participate in program information sessions and development charge training
opportunities while finalizing the City's applications. Through these
discussions with provincial representatives and municipal peers, staff
received clarification that municipalities may rely on development charge
reductions already implemented through their existing Development Charges
By-laws when demonstrating compliance with the program's development
charge reduction requirements.
As a result, the City's applications do not propose any further reduction to
current development charge rates. Instead, the applications rely on the
development charge reductions already approved by Council through the
2023 Development Charges By-law. When adopting the by-law, Council
elected to limit development charge collections to a portion of hard service
categories only, resulting in a residential development charge of $16,221 for
a single detached dwelling compared to the fully calculated rate of $34,913
identified in the Development Charges Background Study. This represents a
reduction of approximately 54 per cent and demonstrates Council's existing
commitment to reducing the cost of residential development within the
community.
Staff believe this revised approach better balances the objectives of the
Development Charge Reduction Program with the City's long-term
infrastructure funding requirements. It recognizes the significant reductions
already implemented by Council while avoiding the need for additional
development charge reductions that could adversely affect the City's ability
to fund future growth-related infrastructure.
Based on current development forecasts and active planning applications,
staff estimate that approximately 1,417 residential units may be constructed
within the City's east side growth areas during the three-year program
period. Had the City proceeded with the complete elimination of development
charges as contemplated in Report CR-26-065, and had this level of growth
materialized, the City could have forgone more than $16 million in
development charge revenue. The clarification received through the program
information sessions allowed staff to maintain the City's existing

Staff Report CR-26-066: Development Charges Reduction Program – Application
Update

development charge structure while continuing to pursue senior government
funding opportunities under the DCRP.
Staff believe this revised approach significantly improves the financial
business case for participation in the program while remaining consistent
with both the intent of the program and Council's previous direction to
support residential development through reduced development charges.

East Side Growth Corridor Infrastructure Program
Staff also refined the scope of Application #1 prior to submission.
The application submitted to the Province includes the following projects:





Telfer Creek / Redhawk Growth Infrastructure Project;
10th Street East Extension;
8th Street East Urbanization; and
Sand and Salt Storage Facility Expansion.

These projects collectively support growth within the City's east side
development areas and provide infrastructure required to accommodate
future residential development. The projects include transportation
improvements, growth-related water infrastructure, and operational
infrastructure necessary to maintain municipal service levels as the
community continues to expand.
The inclusion of the 8th Street East Urbanization project reflects ongoing
discussions regarding the transfer of County roads to lower-tier
municipalities. As the City is anticipated to assume ownership and
responsibility for the corridor, staff included the development charge
recoverable costs associated with the County's share of the project as
identified within Grey County's Development Charges Background Study.
Staff believe this approach appropriately reflects the infrastructure
obligations that will ultimately reside with the City.
The Sand and Salt Storage Facility was also added to the application.
Updated engineering review and project planning identified significant
growth-related capacity requirements beyond those contemplated when the
Development Charges Background Study was prepared. The project will
provide a modern facility that meets current environmental standards,
improves operational efficiency, and supports the City's ability to maintain
winter maintenance service levels for both existing and future residents.

Staff Report CR-26-066: Development Charges Reduction Program – Application
Update

The final East Side Growth Corridor Infrastructure Program application
requests approximately $4.7 million in grant funding. Staff continue to
believe that this application represents the stronger of the City's two
submissions due to the direct relationship between the proposed
infrastructure works and future housing development.

Fire Hall Development Project
The Fire Hall Development Project application was submitted substantially as
presented to Council in Report CR-26-065. The application seeks funding for
the development charge recoverable portion of the project and is intended to
support the expansion of emergency services infrastructure required to
accommodate future growth.
While the project is not directly linked to housing construction in the same
manner as the East Side Growth Corridor Infrastructure Program, staff
believe the application demonstrates the importance of ensuring that
municipal emergency services infrastructure remains capable of serving a
growing population and supporting long-term community development.

Resource Alignment:
Financial Resources
The final applications submitted by the City request approximately $4.7
million in funding for the East Side Growth Corridor Infrastructure Program
and approximately $2.75 million in funding for the development charge
recoverable portion of the proposed Fire Hall Development Project. Should
either application be approved, the City would be responsible for the required
municipal contribution and staff anticipate that this contribution could be
funded from the Capital Reserve. Any required amendments to future capital
plans and financing strategies would be brought forward for Council
consideration as part of the annual budget process.
A significant financial concern identified in Report CR-26-065 was the
potential impact of eliminating development charges for a three-year period.
Based on updated growth forecasts and active planning applications, staff
estimate that approximately 1,417 residential units may be constructed
within the City's east side growth areas during that period. Had the City
proceeded with the complete elimination of development charges as
originally contemplated, the resulting forgone development charge revenue
could have exceeded $16 million. The clarification received through
Staff Report CR-26-066: Development Charges Reduction Program – Application
Update

subsequent program information sessions allowed staff to rely on the
development charge reductions already implemented through the City's 2023
Development Charges By-law. As a result, the applications submitted do not
require any further reduction to the City's current development charge rates.
Should either application be successful, staff will report back to Council with
the details of any funding agreement, the required municipal contribution,
and any resulting impacts on future capital financing strategies prior to
entering into any binding agreement with the Province.

Human Resources
Preparation of the DCRP applications required a significant staff commitment
due to the compressed timelines established by the Province. Staff from
Finance, Engineering, Planning, Fire Services, and GIS collaborated to review
program requirements, refine project scopes, prepare supporting
documentation, quantify development charge eligible costs, estimate housing
impacts and complete the required application materials within the June 19,
2026 deadline.
The East Side Growth Corridor Infrastructure Program application was led by
Finance staff with significant support from the Engineering and Planning
divisions. The Fire Hall Development Project application was prepared by the
Fire Services Administrator with support from Finance and GIS staff. The
successful submission of both applications required substantial
interdepartmental coordination while maintaining regular operational
responsibilities and ongoing capital planning activities.

Time and Scheduling
Under the terms of the DCRP, approved projects must commence
construction no later than July 31, 2030, and achieve substantial completion
by October 31, 2035. While funding approval secures access to the program,
grant payments are contingent upon the eligible projects proceeding and
eligible costs actually being incurred. As a result, approval of funding does
not guarantee that the City will receive the full amount requested through
either application.
Staff are satisfied that the Fire Hall Development Project can be completed
within the timelines established by the program. Similarly, the Sand and Salt
Storage Facility Expansion and the 8th Street East Urbanization Project are
projects that are expected to proceed independent of future development
Staff Report CR-26-066: Development Charges Reduction Program – Application
Update

activity and are anticipated to align with the program's milestone
requirements.
Two of the projects included within the East Side Growth Corridor
Infrastructure Program, specifically the Telfer Creek / Redhawk Growth
Infrastructure Project and the 10th Street East Extension, are directly tied to
the timing and progression of private sector development. While staff are
confident that these projects support active growth areas and have a
reasonable likelihood of proceeding within the program timeframe, the timing
of development activity ultimately remains outside of the City's control.
Accordingly, there is a possibility that some portion of the funding requested
through Application #1 may not ultimately be realized if developmentdependent projects do not advance as anticipated during the program period.

Technology and Infrastructure
N/A.

Climate and Environmental Impacts:
There are no anticipated climate or environmental impacts.

Communication and Engagement:
The applications were submitted through the Transfer Payment Ontario
(TPON) portal prior to the June 19, 2026 deadline established by the
Province. Under the program guidelines, applications and supporting
documentation could not be amended after submission. Staff therefore relied
on the authority provided by Council through Report CR-26-065 and utilized
the period between Council approval and the application deadline to finalize
project scopes, supporting documentation, and application details.
Should the applications be successful, the Province has indicated that
Transfer Payment Agreements must be executed prior to August 15, 2026.
Staff anticipate that any proposed Transfer Payment Agreement, together
with a summary of the funding offer, financial implications, and program
requirements, will be brought forward to Council for consideration prior to
execution.
Future communication regarding the status of the applications, any approved
funding, and the progress of funded projects will occur through Council

Staff Report CR-26-066: Development Charges Reduction Program – Application
Update

reports, annual budget deliberations, capital project reporting, and year-end
financial reporting processes, as appropriate.

Report Developed in Consultation With:
City Manager
County of Grey
Development Team

Attachments:
None.
Submission approved by:
Tim Simmonds, City Manager
For more information on this report, please contact Kate Allan, Director of
Corporate Services at kallan@owensound.ca or 519-376-4440 ext. 1238.

Staff Report CR-26-066: Development Charges Reduction Program – Application
Update

Background:
In 2011/2012, the City worked with the Family Y to facilitate the sale of the
former YMCA Fitness Facility to AMICO Properties in Trust for Bruce Grey
Child and Family Services (BGCFS) and to sever this property from the
daycare.
At that time, the City entered into a lease agreement for the Y daycare (612
2nd Avenue East) for City lands located to the rear of the building. The leased
lands include Parts 7, 8, and 13 on Plan 16R-10301. Parts 7 and 8 are the
former 1st Avenue East road allowance that was stopped up and closed in
1989 (By-law No. 1989-148). The agreement also provided an easement in
favour of 612 2nd Avenue East over lands described as Parts 4, 5, and 6 on
Plan 16R-10301 (Attachment 2).
At this same time, other lands were leased and transferred to the BGCFS.
The City retains certain public rights for access to the stairway that provides
access to the Sydenham River, as well as parking, and there are also
Staff Report CS-26-067: Request to Lease Lands to the West of 612 2nd Avenue
East

easements in favour of 612 2nd Avenue East for vehicular and pedestrian
access as well as parking.
The lease may be assigned with the City's consent; however, the current
lease has expired.
The former 1st Avenue East right-of-way has a 525 mm City sanitary trunk
main as well as hydro infrastructure.
The former Y daycare building has been vacant for several years and the
lease has now expired.
The City has received a letter from Safe ‘N Sound, the new owner of 612 2nd
Avenue East, requesting that the City renew the lease for the lands
immediately to the rear of the property (see Attachment 3).

Analysis and Options:
Official Plan and Zoning
612 2nd Avenue East is designated primarily River District (RD) Commercial
in the Official Plan with a small area to the rear of the lands designated
Hazard. The leased land is entirely designated Hazard. The building is
located entirely in the area designated RD Commercial. The hard-surfaced
parking area is included in the Hazard designation. The OP permits at-grade
parking in the Hazard designation. The RD Commercial designation is
intended to provide a full range of commercial, institutional, recreational, and
residential uses.
612 2nd Avenue East is zoned C1 (Core Commercial) with a small area of ZH
(Hazard) in the Zoning By-law 2010-078, as amended. The leased area is
entirely zoned Hazard. The C1 zone permits, among other uses, a crisis
residence. The parking is existing and is considered a legal, non-conforming
use.
Photos of 612 2nd Avenue East and the leased lands are included in
Attachment 4.

Required Parking for Emergency Shelter
In 1992, when the Y daycare received site plan approval, 10 parking spaces
were required. Based on the current (and recently approved Zoning By-law),
a crisis residence requires eight (8) parking spaces. These spaces can be
provided on the leased lands.
Staff Report CS-26-067: Request to Lease Lands to the West of 612 2nd Avenue
East

The outdoor space adjacent to the building, on lands owned by Safe ‘N
Sound in the C1 area, will be fenced and used as an outdoor amenity area.

Proposed Use of Lands
Safe ‘N Sound has purchased the property for use as an emergency shelter
(called a “crisis residence” in the Zoning By-law). The area closest to the rear
of the building will provide a fenced, outdoor amenity area. The leased lands
will provide for the required parking spaces.
The City has met with the Executive Director of Safe ‘N Sound regarding
grants that may assist in the development of the amenity space. The details
of this space will be addressed in a report to Community Services Committee
on July 22, 2026.

Lease
The current lease describes the “use” as parking in conjunction with the
daycare. The updated lease will provide for parking in conjunction with a
crisis residence. There are restrictions relating to nuisance, damage to
premises, injury or nuisance to adjacent property, or public access to the
trail. The agreement has provisions relating to acts of default and breach.
These will continue with the updated lease. The current lease does not
provide for termination with notice; however, this can be included in the
update. 90 days' notice of termination may be appropriate. Other
recommended updates to the lease agreement by the City solicitor will be
incorporated into the updated lease. The term will be for a period of five
years with an additional five-year renewal option.

Resource Alignment:
Financial Resources
The current lease provides for the lands to be leased at a cost of $1. The
proposed lease to Safe 'N Sound will maintain the same lease rate of $1.

Human Resources
Should Council approve the lease agreement, the Director of Community
Services will work with the City Solicitor and the Safe ‘N Sound Executive
Director to execute the lease agreement.

Staff Report CS-26-067: Request to Lease Lands to the West of 612 2nd Avenue
East

Time and Scheduling
Should Council approve the lease agreement, the by-law to execute the
agreement will be brought to Council at its next meeting on July 27, 2026.

Technology and Infrastructure
N/A.

Climate and Environmental Impacts:
There are no anticipated climate or environmental impacts.

Communication and Engagement:
This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance
of the meeting. Council’s decision will be communicated with the Safe ‘N
Sound Executive Director.

Report Developed in Consultation With:
Planning & Heritage Division staff.

Attachments:
1. Survey of Lands
2. Letter from Safe ‘N Sound
3. Photos of Leased Area
Submission approved by:
Tim Simmonds, City Manager
For more information on this report, please contact Pamela Coulter, Director
of Community Services at pcoulter@owensound.ca or 519-376-4440 ex
1252.

Staff Report CS-26-067: Request to Lease Lands to the West of 612 2nd Avenue
East

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June 22, 2026
City of Owen Sound
808 2nd Avenue East
Owen Sound, ON
N4K 2H4
Re: Request to Lease Eight Parking Spaces Behind 612 2nd Avenue East
To whom it may concern,
On behalf of Safe 'N Sound Grey Bruce, I am writing to respectfully request the opportunity
to enter into a lease agreement with the City of Owen Sound for eight parking spaces
located behind our property at 612 2nd Avenue East. The requested spaces are situated
within Part 7, Part 8, and Part 13 of the easement lands associated with the property.
This request is being submitted as a follow-up to our meeting with City staff on June 16,
2026 regarding the development of Safe 'N Sound's new emergency shelter. During that
meeting, it was identified that the site requires eight parking spaces in order to satisfy
parking requirements associated with the project.
Safe 'N Sound is currently developing a year-round low-barrier emergency shelter at 612
2nd Avenue East to provide accommodation and support services for individuals
experiencing homelessness in our community. Access to adequate parking is an important
component of the facility's operation and long-term success.
The requested spaces would primarily be used by staff and visiting service providers
supporting the operation of the shelter. Utilizing the existing easement lands for this
purpose would provide a practical solution that minimizes impacts on neighbouring
properties while making effective use of existing infrastructure.
Thank you for your consideration of this request and for the City's continued collaboration
as Safe 'N Sound works to expand services for vulnerable members of our community. We
look forward to continuing to work together to ensure the success of this important project.
Sincerely,
Annette Pedlar
Executive Director, Safe 'N Sound Grey Bruce
310 8th Street East
Owen Sound, ON N4K 1L4
(519) 470-7233
execdirector@safensoundgreybruce.ca

Attachment 4 – Photos of Leased Area

Looking south
Leased area in the background – hydro poles in the former right of way

West edge of leased area looking southeast

Looking east – leased area behind 612 2nd Avenue East

Previous Report/Authority:
Report CR-24-080 from the Purchasing and Claims Coordinator Re: Award of
RFP-24-009 – Parking Enforcement Crossing Guard Services
Purchase Order 26-00051 - Extension of RFP-24-003 - Campground Security
Services.

Background:
Parking Enforcement and Crossing Guard Services
The Request for Proposal was awarded by Council on July 8, 2024, to
Fairmount Holdings Inc. o/a Fairmount Security Services as the highestranked proposal meeting the City’s requirements.
The term of the contract is a total of three (3) years commencing September
1, 2024 to August 31, 2027, with the option to renew the contract for an
additional two (2) 12-month terms upon mutual agreement.

Campground Security Services
The Request for Proposal was awarded through Staff Delegated Authority on
April 2, 2024 to Wheildon Investments Inc. o/a Fairmount Security Services
as the highest ranked proposal meeting the City’s requirements.
The term of the contract is a total of one (1) year commencing May 10, 2024
to May 9, 2025, with the option to renew the contract for an additional three
(3) 12-month terms upon mutual agreement.

Analysis and Options:
On June 14, 2026, the City was notified that Fairmount Holdings Inc. and
Wheildon Investments Inc. requested that the contracts be assigned to
1000255784 Ontario Inc o/a 14 Acres Parking and Bylaw, effective August 1,
2026.

Staff Report CR-26-042: Contract Assignment of RFP-24-009 Parking Enforcement
and Crossing Guard Services and RFP-24-003 Campground Security Services

City staff obtained legal advice regarding the proposed assignment and the
steps required to complete the process.
A review of the General Assignment and Assumption of Contracts Agreement
confirmed that no amendments to the existing contract are required. Service
levels, pricing, and all contractual terms will remain unchanged. The new
vendor will be required to comply with all provisions of RFP-24-009 and RFP24-003.
The City will obtain all required documentation from the new provider,
including WSIB clearance, proof of insurance, and health and safety
documentation, in accordance with contract requirements.

Resource Alignment:
Financial Resources
No financial impact. The new provider will continue under the existing
contract terms.

Human Resources
N/A.

Time and Scheduling
The contract assignment is administrative in nature and does not affect
timelines, milestones, or service delivery schedules.

Technology and Infrastructure
N/A.

Climate and Environmental Impacts:
There are no anticipated climate or environmental impacts.

Communication and Engagement:
As this is an administrative assignment with no expected impact to the
public, no communication strategy is required.

Report Developed in Consultation With:
City Clerk
Staff Report CR-26-042: Contract Assignment of RFP-24-009 Parking Enforcement
and Crossing Guard Services and RFP-24-003 Campground Security Services

Manager of Legislative Services

Attachments:
None.
Reviewed by:
Jason Hoffman, Manager of Corporate Services
Kate Allan, Director of Corporate Services
Submission approved by:
Tim Simmonds, City Manager
For more information on this report, please contact Lauren Stewart,
Purchasing and Claims Coordinator at lstewart@owensound.ca or 519-3764440 ext. 1242.

Staff Report CR-26-042: Contract Assignment of RFP-24-009 Parking Enforcement
and Crossing Guard Services and RFP-24-003 Campground Security Services

Resource Alignment:
Financial Resources
The purchase of the two (2) sidewalk plows will be funded from the fleet and
equipment reserve fund and was scheduled for replacement in 2025 at a
replacement cost of $200,000 each.
The cost of supplying and delivering the equipment is $437,343.86, including
the City’s non-refundable allocation of HST.
The funding shortfall of $37,343.86 will be included in the City’s annual
contribution to the fleet and equipment reserve. Staff update this reserve
annually with consideration given to current market conditions and any
adjustments to the City’s fleet and equipment inventory. The annual
contribution to the Public Works reserve will increase in 2027, subject to the
difference between the shortfall and the proceeds from the sale of the
Staff Report CR-26-072: Approval of Non-Standard Procurement – Supply and
Delivery of Two (2) Sidewalk Plows

existing sidewalk plows. The sidewalk plows will be posted to the GovDeals
auction site once the new units are in service.

Human Resources
The Purchasing and Claims Coordinator is responsible for preparing,
developing, coordinating, awarding, and executing all phases of bid
opportunities, including Requests for Tenders, Quotations, Proposals, and
Non-Standard Procurement. Additionally, the Purchasing and Claims
Coordinator is responsible for issuing Purchase Orders when necessary.
Relevant department heads or their delegates are responsible for preparing
scopes of work, specifications, and managing internal communication related
to procurement requirements.
The Capital Asset and Risk Management Coordinator is responsible for
posting to the GovDeals auction site.

Time and Scheduling
The delivery date for the equipment is estimated to be November 2026,
based on current market conditions and the City’s anticipated timing for
issuing a Purchase Order.

Technology and Infrastructure
N/A.

Climate and Environmental Impacts:
The recommendation supports both the City's Corporate Climate Change
Adaptation Plan and the City's Climate Mitigation Plan.

Communication and Engagement:
The Request for Proposal, issued by LAS Canoe, was posted in accordance
with the requirements of the City’s purchasing policies and procedure.

Report Developed in Consultation With:
Manager of Public Works and Engineering
Public Works Superintendent
City Mechanic

Staff Report CR-26-072: Approval of Non-Standard Procurement – Supply and
Delivery of Two (2) Sidewalk Plows

Attachments:
None.
Reviewed by:
Jason Hoffman, Manager of Corporate Services
Kate Allan, Director of Corporate Services
Submission approved by:
Tim Simmonds, City Manager
For more information on this report, please contact Lauren Stewart,
Purchasing and Claims Coordinator at lstewart@owensound.ca or 519-3764440 ext. 1242.

Staff Report CR-26-072: Approval of Non-Standard Procurement – Supply and
Delivery of Two (2) Sidewalk Plows

Conclusion: 1) both councillors and frontline organizations share responsibility for building genuine, ongoing relationships — not one-time visits, 2)
accessibility, humility, and trust-building are prerequisites for meaningful engagement with marginalized community members, and 3) presenting to
municipal councils is a recommended strategy for raising awareness and countering misinformation.
Upcoming Events and Poverty Task Force Planning
PTF Updates:
• The Vital Signs 2026 was released on June 17th Vital Signs 2026 – Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force as well as the Vial Signs Data
Document bgdisc.ca/post/vital-signs-2026
• On May 22nd, our Written Submission to the Federal 2026 Pre-Budget Consultation – Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force was submitted to the
Federal government and shared with our Members of Parliament.
• RentSafe Owen Sound Climate Resiliency Roundtable: June 22nd event has been postponed until September 2026. A new date will be
circulated and will be held at the Community Impact Lab at Sydenham Campus.
PTF Upcoming Events
• In Their Own Words Report Launch and Community Discussion: will take place on June 25th, 10:30am. In Their Own Words: The State
of Social Assistance in Ontario – Report Launch and Community Discussion – Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force. This event will not be
recorded, so please register: http://bit.ly/3Sm0X9D
• This week's Income & Employment Security Action Group meeting discussed the In Their Own Words Report in the rural context with
these slides highlighting the rural perspective. Slides for Income & Employment Security Action Group_In Their Own Words: A RecipientInformed Case for Fixing Ontario’s Social Assistance System, ISAC, 16 June 2026
• Our next Food Security Action Group on Friday, June 26th will meet in-person at the OSHaRE Food Depot to discuss Grey Bruce Food
Rescue logistics for the region as well as collective advocacy.
Next Poverty Task Force Meeting will be on September 18th, 2026, 10am.
•
•

The Poverty Task Force will not meet in July or August (summer break) but will use August for planning.
The Poverty Task Force plans to host a municipal candidate education panel during the election period, covering all 17 municipalities online, with
careful attention to ethical inclusion of lived-experience voices. The candidate education panel will be developed collaboratively with partners.

January 2026

Collective Impact Framework
Our collective impact efforts seek to inform policies and support upstream interventions to address
poverty-related community issues. Together we have a common agenda, mutually reinforcing
activities, continuous communication and backbone infrastructure.

Collective Action
The Poverty Task Force is made up of 90+ organizations that work
across priority sectors to reinforce activities that contribute to
reducing poverty.

Principles
Create safe spaces for meaningful exchange to build resiliency,
hold space and build collaboration for poverty reduction solutions.

Build Better Relations
Be guided by the Truth & Reconciliation Call to Action and
OFIFC principles to build better relations and systems.

Data Driven
Collect and report on local data on social determinants of health,
including housing/homelessness, food insecurity, employment and
income.

Advocacy and Policy
Mobilize networks and government representatives to put poverty
reduction - income, housing and food security; health equity, and
justice at the top of their policy agendas.

6. Confirmation of the Minutes of the Public Session held April 22, 2026.
7. Business arising out of the Public Session Minutes of April 22, 2026. HEARING
NONE
8. Correspondence received
a) Safety for our community
9. Chairman’s Report
Chair Thomson attended a zoom meeting of the OAPSB board on April 30, 2026. It
was their first meeting being known officially as PGO (Police Governance of Ontario).
Highlights of that meeting included:
•
•
•
•
•

OAPSB received an unqualified audit or clean audit report from our auditors.
Assets up $154,000 from 2024
Liabilities are up slightly by $41,000
Revenues up $207,000
Expenses up $77,400

•

The Transfer Payment Agreement has been received from the Solicitor General’s
office. This agreement will be used to develop training courses and materials for
police boards both municipal and O.P.P. and First Nation’s boards across
Ontario over the next three years.

•

An MOU is being developed among the PGO, PAO and OACP for the annual
employment conference in February 2027.

•

The new PGO website is up and running and is much improved over our
previous website. Members will need to register on the new website.
Unfortunately, the old passwords will not automatically work in the new site. If
you want to use the same email and password, you may.

Chair Thomson reported that Chief Ambrose and Deputy Chief Bishop were awarded the
Member of Order of Merit of Police Forces and received their appointment letters back on
November 15, 2024. On May 14, 2026 a formal investiture ceremony was held at Rideau

Owen Sound Police Service
Open Session Minutes May 27th, 2026

Hall where Mike Duheme the Commissionaire of the RCMP and the Honourable Mary
Simon the Governor General of Canada presented the medals to Chief Ambrose and
Deputy Chief Bishop, after which they attended a luncheon at Rideau Hall held in their
honor.
The chair offered his congratulations to both and on the work, they had done to be
recognized by this coveted award.
10. Governance
Chair Thomson reported that on April 23, 2026 Ontario’s Inspector General of Policing,
Ryan Teschner announced the appointment of the Honourable William Hourigan as the
external inspector for the province-wide inspection on police integrity and anti-corruption
practices.
First announced in February 2026, as a result of Project South, the province wide
inspection will examine the adequacy and effectiveness of police services, including the
Ontario Provincial Police, and police service boards. The inspections will focus on
system-level practices for preventing, detecting, responding to, and fortifying their
organizations against corruption, but not on individual conduct.
11. Operational Reports
a) Criminal Investigations Branch and Drug Enforcement/Criminal Intelligence
Unit (CIB), Community Oriented Response & Enforcement Unit (CORE) and
Bail Compliance and Warrant Apprehension Unit (BCWA)
b) Auxiliary Unit Report
c) Front Line Patrol and Collision Statistics
d) Community Services Office
e) Training
12. Administrative Reports
a) Records, Courts and Bylaw
b) OSECC and IT
c) Human Resources

Owen Sound Police Service
Open Session Minutes May 27th, 2026

13. Building and Facility Update
Deputy Chief Bishop reported several facility maintenance and capital items remain under
review. Exterior brick deterioration requiring waterproofing and cladding remains
outstanding and is not scheduled for completion in 2026. Water leaks identified in the
previous reporting period were addressed by City staff and have not reoccurred.
Cleaning services continue to meet expectations, and the addition of on-site facilities staff
has improved routine maintenance and repair response times. HVAC balancing and
recalibration were completed in May, along with the replacement of damaged ceiling tiles
and interior painting in select areas of the building.
Several projects remain outstanding, including modifications to the front lobby washroom
access controls, elevator security measures, and the main floor staff washroom
renovation. The washroom access project is awaiting scheduling by a locksmith, while no
start date has been provided for the staff washroom renovation.
Parking lot drainage issues reoccurred during heavy spring rainfall and will require further
review. Accessibility (AODA) compliance requirements remain a long-term consideration
and will need to be addressed through a future facility assessment, with no capital funding
currently allocated.
14. Financial Update from the Chief of Police
Chief Ambrose reported that he reviewed the financials with J. Hawk- Financial
Coordinator and K. Allan-Director of Corporate Services. The budget is currently
projected to be $20,000–$30,000 over budget; however, there are contingencies built into
the budget.
15. Operating Reports from the Chief of Police
a) Chief’s Activity Reports
16. Other Items and New Business
a) Review of Nuisance By-law No. 2024-026
Chair Thomson reported that this matter had previously been included on the Board’s
April 2025 agenda, at which time the Board reviewed the applicable bylaw and
confirmed its intent to:

Owen Sound Police Service
Open Session Minutes May 27th, 2026

Minutes of the Closed Session of the River District Board of Management
meeting held on March 11, 2026
RD-260513-001
"THAT the minutes of the Closed Session of the River District Board of
Management meeting held on March 11, 2026 be approved as printed."

5.b

Minutes of the River District Board of Management meeting held on March 11,

RD-260513-002
"THAT the minutes of the River District Board of Management meeting held
on March 11, 2026 be approved as printed."
Chair Parsons welcomed new Board member, Maegan Cookson, and held
introductions.

6.

DEPUTATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
There were no deputations or presentations.

7.

PUBLIC FORUM
7.a

James Dingwall, Owen Sound resident
Mr. Dingwall inquired whether the Owen Sound Police Service (OSPS) continues
to utilize undercover officers to patrol the River District.
The Detective Sergeant advised that, as the officer in charge of the OSPS
Criminal Investigative Branch, he oversees several plain-clothes detectives, a
dedicated Drug Enforcement Unit, and a Bail Compliance and Apprehension
Team. Detective Sergeant Gurney noted that the Drug Enforcement Unit is one of
the few dedicated units of its kind in the surrounding area, with officers
specifically assigned to those responsibilities. Detective Sergeant Gurney further
advised that members of these units regularly conduct monitoring activities
throughout the City while in plain clothes. Detective Sergeant Gurney noted that
the units recently collaborated on a targeted initiative in the River District,
resulting in the arrest of nine individuals for open drug use.

Correspondence Items Presented for Information
                          July 13, 2026
1)   Correspondence from AMO Re: AMO Policy Update.

a)   A Framework for Navigating the Development Charges Reduction
          Program.

b)   Development Charges Reduction Program: New Provincial Guidance.

c)   AMO Calls for Bill 100 Reversal; Build Communities Strong: New Stream
          Launches; NEW IESO Process for Major Projects; and Various ERO
          Submissions.

2)   Correspondence from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Re: Recent
     Changes to the Strong Mayor Framework.

3)   Correspondence from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Re: New
     Framework for Developer-Identified Parkland Dedication.

4)   Correspondence from the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and
     Parks Re: Minister’s Direction under Section 1.14 of the Conservation
     Authorities Act with respect to Budget and Apportionment Matters.

5)   Correspondence from the Director, Great Lakes and Inland Waters Branch,
     Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Re: Regulatory Changes
     to the Clean Water Act, 2006 and the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002.

6)   Correspondence from the Director, Development and Hazard Policy Branch,
     Ministry of Natural Resources Re: Updates to Certain Operational Policies
     under the Aggregates Resource Act.

7)   Correspondence from the Deputy Clerk, City of Owen Sound Re: Affirming
     Outdoor Education as an Essential Part of Public Education in Ontario.

8)   Correspondence from the Legislative & Licensing Coordinator, Municipality of
     South Huron Re: Sustainable Provincial Grant Funding for Fire Services in
     Ontario.

9)   Correspondence from the Deputy Clerk, Township of Brudenell, Lyndoch and
     Raglan Re: Community Safety and Well-Being Plan.

10) Correspondence from the City Clerk, City of Burlington Re: New Development
    Charge Reduction Program.

11) Correspondence from the Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Plympton-
    Wyoming Re: Canada-Ontario Development Charge Reduction Program.

12) Correspondence from the Mayor, Town of Penetanguishene Re: Heads and
    Beds Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes Program.

13) Correspondence from the Supervisor of Legislative Services, Town of Whitby
    Re: Review of the Ontario Land Tribunal and Enhancing Deference to
    Municipal Planning Decisions.

14) Correspondence from the Village of Burk’s Falls Re: Retention of the Cancer/
    Oncology Clinic at the Huntsville Memorial Hospital.

15) Correspondence from the Clerk, Township of Puslinch Re: Proposed Planning
    Act Changes – Schedule 7 of Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities
    Act, 2026 (Bill 119).

16) Correspondence from the Mayor, Town of Caledon Re: Provincial Support,
    Funding, and Coordinated Plans to Combat Tick Borne Diseases.

17) Correspondence from the Executive Director, Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team
    Re: Grey-Bruce Primary Care and Health System Update.

18) Correspondence from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Re: Community
    Mailbox Conversion.

Item 1a

A Framework for Navigating the Development Charges
                  Reduction Program

The Development Charges Reduction Program (DCRP) was launched on June
1. The short window for funding submissions and end of August timeline for
funding agreement execution requires councils to make significant
infrastructure investments and revenue management decisions under
compressed timelines.

AMO has developed a primer to help councils navigate the key fiscal and
community impact considerations of participating in the DRCP. The resource
provides program information and principles-based framework that guides
councils through three key decision points:

•   Program participation

•   Application submission, and

•   Agreement execution.

With the June 19 application deadline fast approaching, this primer is
designed to support municipalities’ due diligence and council discussions. It
was developed based on final program design, aligning to MMAH’s
guidelines, https://www.ontario.ca/page/development-charges-reduction-
program, and interpretative advice.

AMO is working with MMAH to hold a webinar for our sector, to provide an
opportunity for MMAH to provide clarity on the program and answer our
sector's top questions. Invitation with confirmed meeting date to follow as
an invitation to CAOs and Treasurers.

An online version of this Policy Update is also available on the AMO website.

Item 1b

AMO Policy Update – Development Charges Reduction
            Program: New Provincial Guidance

Announcement Highlights

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has shared new
Development Charges Reduction Program (DCRP) guidance resources with
AMO. These materials include:

•   Frequently asked questions

•   Program overview slides from the June 11 MMAH/AMO technical
      webinar for Treasurers and CAOs

These resources address key municipal inquiries, specifically regarding the
required municipal contribution. This guidance is intended to support your
council’s program decision-making and applications.

An online version of this Policy Update is also available on the AMO Website.

Item 1c

AMO Policy Update – AMO Calls for Bill 100 Reversal; Build
Communities Strong: New Stream Launches; New IESO Process for
         Major Projects; and Various ERO Submissions

Top Insights

• AMO calls for the province to restore local voice and keep local
governance accountable to the communities they serve by reversing the
appointment of Regional Chairs through Bill 100, Better Regional
Governance Act

• Federal government launches new Local Impact Stream providing up to
$1 million for community infrastructure projects

• IESO launches a new process to identify major projects and facilitate
collaboration between stakeholders, including municipalities, to plan for
future factual energy demand

• AMO welcomes the province’s proposed new framework for e-bike
classification, which will help address public safety and municipal liability
challenges

• The province has proposed changes to landfill requirements that reflect
AMO advocacy calling for a balance between approvals speed and
protections

• AMO has made recommendations to the province on its proposed
 regulatory framework for municipal consent of communal water and
 wastewater systems

AMO Opposes Appointment of Regional Chairs, Calls for Reversal of
Bill 100

Bill 100, the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 was passed on May 7.
AMO has sent a letter to the province opposing the government’s decision to
move forward with the appointment of regional chairs, the Warden of
Simcoe County, and the Chair of Muskoka District. Municipal leaders should
be elected by, and accountable to local voters – not Queen’s Park. AMO calls
on the province to restore the balance of local governance by reversing Bill
100 and maintaining the democratic election of heads of council.

The appointment of regional chairs with “strong chair” powers is
fundamentally undemocratic. It erodes accountability to voters, undermines
the ability of councils to represent the interests of their residents, move
forward on local priorities, and deliver effective services. The selection of
heads of council should be kept local. This is key to ensuring:

•   Regional chairs have a strong, local mandate to deliver local priorities
       and drive growth

•   Residents can hold elected officials to account and elect people who
       care about their priorities

•   Unelected appointees cannot overturn decisions made by
       democratically-elected council members

•   Regional chairs have a deep understanding of how municipal
       government works, and are able to build consensus, trust and buy-in
       at Council and in the community to advance shared local goals

Local Impact Stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund

The federal government has announced a new $1 billion national Local
Impact Stream allocating funding from the Build Communities Strong Fund
towards community infrastructure. Municipalities can apply for up to $1
million to build or improve community infrastructure that is primarily for
public use and/or benefit. This includes community buildings, recreation and
sport facilities, parks, and cultural infrastructure.

The Local Impact Stream will be administered by Canada’s regional
development agencies – FedDev Ontario for Southern Ontario,
and FedNor for Northern Ontario. Applications are now open for the first
intake with an initial deadline of July 8 for Northern Ontario, and July 9 in
Southern Ontario.

AMO is hosting a joint webinar with FedDev Ontario on June 24 explaining
the eligibility criteria, funding details, and how to prepare a strong
application. Register now over Zoom.

IESO Launches new Major Project Identification Committee Process

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has established a
new Major Projects Identification Committee (MPIC) process intended to
serve as an early warning system for identifying large projects that could
drive significant new demand for electricity (e.g. manufacturing facilities,
mines, housing developments, data centres). MPICs will not replace existing
energy planning, grid connection or local development processes, but are
intended to help identify major projects earlier, and facilitate planning
between the IESO, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and
stakeholders.

When projects are identified, municipalities will be invited to participate in a
voluntary process along with relevant partners and authorities. The intent is
to provide all stakeholders with a structured approach to coordinating
growth and electricity demand planning. For more information about MPICs,
please contact majorprojects@ieso.ca.

AMO Comments on Proposed E-Bike Framework

AMO submitted comments on the Ministry of Transportation’s proposal to
modernize Ontario’s framework for power-assisted bicycles (e-bikes). AMO
supports the province’s proposed approach as a way to introduce more
standardized safety and usage requirements for e-bikes across the province.
AMO’s submission emphasized that any new framework should preserve
municipal authority to determine where different e-bike classes are
permitted based on local infrastructure, transportation networks, and
community safety needs.

The submission also highlighted the need for province-wide direction on
enforcement roles, lithium-ion battery safety, public education, and
compliance, including clear guidance for local police services, municipalities,
manufacturers, retailers, and users. AMO welcomes the proposed 12-month
education and awareness period included as part of the proposed framework
and looks forward to working with the province to implement a framework
that balances innovation with public safety, municipal liability
considerations, and local decision-making.

AMO Comments on Proposal to Streamline Landfill Requirements

AMO submitted comments to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation
and Parks on the province’s proposal to streamline approval requirements
for changes to waste disposal site service areas and fill rates. AMO and the
municipal sector are broadly supportive of the proposed changes that would
reduce duplicative processes and increase site flexibility, while still ensuring
that appropriate environmental controls and oversight remain in place. In
the past, AMO has advocated for a balanced approach that would empower
municipalities and the province to protect the environment and community
well-being while taking decisive action to expand landfill capacity in Ontario.
We are pleased to see the province has incorporated these
recommendations into this proposal.

AMO Comments on a Regulatory Framework for Communal Water
and Wastewater Systems

AMO has submitted comments to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Housing on its proposal to establish a regulatory framework for municipal
consent of communal water and wastewater systems. To be successful, AMO
advised advancing clear regulations and governance requirements that do
not undermine municipal fiscal health or the integrity of Official and capital
plans. AMO's recommendations included:

•   Establishing clear definitions for the types of systems subject to the
       framework

•   Maintaining a level regulatory playing field between private communal
       and municipally-owned systems

•   Ensuring the development of communal systems is aligned with long-
       term settlement patterns, servicing strategies, and infrastructure
       capacity

•   Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of municipalities and the
       province in the event of system failure, and adopting a one-window
       model for provincial approvals and oversight

We will monitor next steps and share feedback with the province to help
ensure any future regulations deliver a clear, consistent, and fiscally
sustainable framework.

An online version of this Policy Update is also available on the AMO Website.

Item 2

Ministry of                   Ministère des
    Municipal Affairs             Affaires municipales
    and Housing                   et du Logement

Office of the Minister        Bureau du ministre

777 Bay Street, 17th Floor    777, rue Bay, 17e étage
    Toronto ON M7A 2J3            Toronto ON M7A 2J3
    Tel. 416 585-7000             Tél. 416 585-7000

234-2025-1873

June 23, 2026

Dear Head of Council:

I am writing to inform you of recent changes to the strong mayor framework, which apply to
your municipality.

These changes were made through regulatory amendments to O. Reg. 530/22, under the
Municipal Act, 2001, and are intended to strengthen accountability for decision-making
during a municipal election year by ensuring that certain rules which currently apply in non-
strong mayor municipalities similarly apply to strong mayor municipalities.

Specifically, heads of council in strong mayor municipalities are subject to the following
rules which came into force on June 22, 2026:

•      Election year budget rules: Outgoing heads of council are limited from proposing the
       municipal budget for the year immediately following a regular municipal election,
       aligning strong mayor municipalities with existing municipal budget rules.

•      Restricted acts rules: Heads of council are restricted from appointing or removing the
       chief administrative officer and other municipal division heads, changing the
       organizational structure of the municipality, or, if not already authorized in the
       municipality's budget, exercising their by-law power to dispose of property valued over
       $50,000 or authorize expenditures or liabilities over $50,000. These restrictions would
       apply if it can be determined that either three-quarters of the outgoing members of
       council will not be members of the new council, or the outgoing head of council will not
       be the new head of council.

As head of council, you may wish to ensure that any relevant delegations you wish to
establish are in place in advance of nomination day on August 21, 2026. The regulation
provides that delegable strong mayor powers that may later become restricted can continue
to be exercised where they were delegated to the CAO and or council prior to nomination
day.

For more information on strong mayor powers and duties please see:
   • Regulations made under the Municipal Act, 2001 that relate to strong mayor powers
      and duties: O. Reg. 530/22; O. Reg 580/22
   • Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001 – Special Powers and Duties of the Head of
      Council
   • The Strong Mayor chapter of the Ontario Municipal Councillor’s Guide

…/2

-2-

If you have any questions about the strong mayor framework, your staff may wish to
contact your local Municipal Services Office within the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Housing.

Please accept my best wishes.

Sincerely,

Hon. Robert J. Flack
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

c.    Robert Dodd, Chief of Staff
      Martha Greenberg, Deputy Minister
      Laurie Miller, Assistant Deputy Minister, Local Government Division
      Sean Fraser, Assistant Deputy Minister, Municipal and Housing Operations Division
      Municipal Clerk and Chief Administrative Officer

Item 3
Ministry of                      Ministère des
Municipal Affairs                Affaires municipales
and Housing                      et du Logement

Office of the Minister           Bureau du ministre

777 Bay Street, 17th Floor       777, rue Bay, 17e étage
Toronto ON M7A 2J3               Toronto (Ontario) M7A 2J3
Tel.: 416 585-7000               Tél. : 416 585-7000

234-2026-2403

June 30, 2026

Dear Head of Council,

I am writing to provide an update that the government has amended a regulation under
the Planning Act to support a new framework for developer-identified parkland
dedication.

Specifically, amendments to the regulation prescribes requirements to support:
  • The identification of land
  • Notice to owners
  • Record to the Ontario Land Tribunal, and
  • Land suitability criteria

The changes affect the following regulation:

•    O. Reg. 509/20: Community Benefits Charges and Parkland

The amending regulation supports the government’s plan to support increased housing
supply, job creation, and economic activity in Ontario.

Please see the links below to the amending regulation: O. Reg. 207/26: Community
Benefits Charges and Parkland
Updates will also be noted on the ERO posting: Proposed Changes to Support
Standardizing of Parkland Requirements Under the Planning Act

These changes were filed on June 26, 2026, and will come into force on July 1, 2026.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Flack
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

c.        Municipal Chief Administrative Officer and/or Treasurer
          Robert Dodd, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
          Martha Greenberg, Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
          Laurie Miller, Assistant Deputy Minister, Local Government Division, Municipal
          Affairs and Housing

Item 4

Ministry of the Environment,       Ministère de l'Environnement,
Conservation and Parks             de la Protection de la nature et des
                                   Parcs

Office of the Minister             Bureau du ministre

777 Bay Street, 5th Floor          777, rue Bay, 5e étage
Toronto ON M7A 2J3                 Toronto ON M7A 2J3
Tel.: 416 314-6790                 Tél.: 416 314-6790

357-2026-1745
  June 26, 2026

TO:                    Conservation Authorities Chairs, GMs/CAOs, and municipalities

SUBJECT:               Minister’s direction under section 1.14 of the Conservation Authorities
                         Act with respect to budget and apportionment matters

I am writing with regards to the transition of Ontario’s conservation authority system
  to a consolidated regional model. Pursuant to my authority under section 1.14 of
  the Conservation Authorities Act (CAA), I am issuing a direction (“Direction”) to
  conservation authorities on budget and apportionment matters leading up to the
  transition date – please see attached Direction.

The purpose of this Direction, effective from June 26, 2026 to the transition date
  under the CAA (i.e., February 1, 2027, or such later date as may be prescribed by the
  regulations), is to require conservation authorities to complete the budgetary process
  for the 2027 calendar year budget before the transition date, and in accordance with
  the CAA and applicable budget and apportionment regulations.

This Direction establishes deadlines for key budget process milestones, including the
  holding of meetings to approve apportionment amounts and final budgets, and the
  sending of notices of apportionment to participating municipalities. Conservation
  authorities are also required to notify the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation
  and Parks and the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) as certain steps
  of the budget process are completed. This Direction applies to all conservation
  authorities listed in Appendix A, with additional guidance set out in Appendix B of the
  attachment.

The Direction is intended to ensure that the transition to consolidation is successful
  with minimal disruptions to conservation authorities’ governance, programs and
  services.

If you have any questions regarding this Direction, please contact the Conservation
  Authorities Section of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks at
  ca.office@ontario.ca.

…2

Conservation Authorities Chairs, GMs/CAOs, and municipalities
Page 2.

Sincerely,

Todd McCarthy
Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Enclosures

c:    The Honorable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

ATTACHMENT A

Minister’s Direction Issued Pursuant to Section 1.14 of the Conservation
                          Authorities Act (this “Direction”)

Section 1.14 of the Conservation Authorities Act (CAA) provides the Minister with the
authority to issue a direction to a conservation authority in relation to various matters for
the purpose of facilitating the transition to a regional watershed-based framework for
conservation authorities. The types of directions that can be issued by the Minister are
set out in clauses 1.14(1)(a) to (d):

(a) prohibiting the authority from making a decision in relation to its exercise of any
       of its powers under this Act or any other Act in the circumstances specified in the
       direction and subject to any specified conditions;
   (b) requiring the authority to give notice, in accordance with the direction, of a
       decision that it has made;
   (c) requiring the authority to send notices under subsection 25 (2), 27 (3) or 27.2 (3)
       by the date specified in the direction;
   (d) governing budgetary and apportionment matters relating to the authority that are
       otherwise addressed in a regulation made under clause 40 (1) (c), (e) or (f) or
       clause 40 (3) (k).

Section 1.14 further provides that an authority that receives such a direction shall
comply with the direction within the time specified in the direction.

Pursuant to the authority of the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
under clauses 1.14(1)(c) and (d), the conservation authorities set out under Appendix
“A” of this Direction (the “authorities” or each, an “authority”) are hereby directed as
follows:

1. Each authority shall take all necessary steps to develop and approve its budget
      for the 2027 calendar year, in accordance with the CAA, to ensure that the
      authority complies with paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Direction.
   2. No later than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the transition date, each authority
      shall:
         i.    Hold a meeting to approve apportionment amounts for its participating and
               specified municipalities as required by section 16 of O. Reg. 402/22.
         ii.   Hold a meeting to approve a final budget as required by section 22 of O.
               Reg. 402/22.

3. Prior to the transition date, each authority shall:
         i.    Provide a copy of its final budget to the Minister and each of its
               participating and specified municipalities in accordance with section 24 of
               O. Reg. 402/22, and in addition, provide a copy of the approved final
               budget to the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA).
         ii.   Send notices to the authority’s participating and specified municipalities in
               accordance with subsections 25(2) (notices of apportionment of capital

costs), 27(3) (notices of apportionment of operating expenses) and 27.2(3)
                (notices of amounts owed by specified municipalities) of the CAA.

4. Upon completion of each of the following steps, each authority shall provide
      written notice of the completion of the step to the Ministry of the Environment,
      Conservation, and Parks and the OPCA:
          i.    Approval of a draft budget for consultation purposes in accordance with
                section 14 of O. Reg. 402/22.
          ii.   Approval of apportionment amounts for participating and specified
                municipalities in accordance with section 18 of O. Reg. 402/22.
       iii.     Approval of a final budget in accordance with section 23 of O. Reg.
                402/22.

iv.      Sending of notices to participating and specified municipalities in
                accordance with subsections 25 (2), 27(3) and 27.2(3) of the CAA.

General

5. This Direction applies to the authorities listed in Appendix “A” to this Direction.

6. This Direction is effective from the date of its issuance to the transition date,
      within the meaning of the CAA (i.e., February 1, 2027 or such later date as may
      be prescribed by the regulations).

7. This Direction may be amended in writing from time to time at the sole discretion
      of the Minister.

Todd McCarthy
Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
[June 26, 2026]

APPENDIX A

LIST OF CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES TO WHICH THE DIRECTION APPLIES

Ausable Bayfield CA                Lower Trent Region CA
                                   Maitland Valley CA
Cataraqui Region CA
                                   Mattagami Region CA
Catfish Creek CA
                                   Mississippi Valley CA
Central Lake Ontario CA
                                   Niagara Peninsula CA
Credit Valley CA
                                   Nickel District CA
Crowe Valley CA
                                   North Bay-Mattawa CA
Essex Region CA
                                   Nottawasaga Valley CA
Ganaraska Region CA
                                   Otonabee Region CA
Grand River CA
                                   Quinte Region CA
Grey Sauble CA
                                   Raisin Region CA
Halton Region CA
                                   Rideau Valley CA
Hamilton Region CA
                                   Saugeen Valley CA
Kawartha Region CA
                                   Sault Ste. Marie Region CA
Kettle Creek CA
                                   South Nation River CA
Lake Simcoe Region CA
                                   St. Clair Region CA
Long Point Region CA
                                   Toronto and Region CA
Lower Thames Valley CA
                                   Upper Thames River CA

APPENDIX B

Guidance document for the Minister’s Direction issued under section 1.14 of the
             CAA with respect to budget and apportionment matters

The Minister’s Direction issued June 26, 2026 under s.1.14 of the CAA aims to preserve
operational and budget process continuity through the transition to a regional governance
model for conservation authorities.

While Ontario Regulation 402/22 (Budget and Apportionment) does not set out specific
dates or deadlines for the completion of the various phases of the budget and
apportionment process, this Direction sets the following timing requirements and additional
notification requirements:

Item/Task                                       Deadline
 i. Holding of meeting to approve apportionment amounts for                 No later than 30
    participating and specified municipalities (s. 16 of O. Reg. 402/22)     calendar days
 ii. Holding of meeting to approve final budget (s. 22 of O. Reg.              before the
     402/22)                                                                 transition date
 i. Providing copies of the approved final budget (s. 24 of O. Reg.
    402/22)                                                                    Prior to the
 ii. Sending of notices to participating and specified municipalities (s.    transition date
     25(2), 27(3), and 27.2(3) of the CAA)

i. Providing a notice to the Ministry of the Environment Conservation
    and Parks (MECP) and Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency
    (OPCA) when each of the following steps is completed:
      a. Approval of a draft budget for consultation purposes               Upon completion
      b. Approval of apportionment amounts                                    of each step
      c. Approval of the final budget
      d. Sending of notices to participating and specified
         municipalities

With respect to any documents and notice required to be given to the MECP and OPCA
(e.g., approved final budget and notice of completion of various steps), please send those
documents and notices to MECP at ca.office@ontario.ca and OPCA at CCEO@ontario.ca.

2027 Annual Budget
Conservation authorities will carry out the 2027 calendar year budget process in
accordance with Ministers Directions, the CAA and its regulations. The determination of
revenue, expenses and costs under Section 5 of O. Reg. 402/22 and determination of
reduced amounts to be apportioned under Section 6 of O. Reg. 402/22 should reflect
continuity of normal operations of an authority according to current organization’s

governance, financial structures, and programs and services. Any anticipated impacts from
regional consolidation should not be considered or incorporated into the preparation of the
budget for the 2027 calendar year under this direction.

Municipal Consultation
Current participating and specified municipalities are to be consulted on the draft budget
for the 2027 calendar year, in accordance with existing legislative/regulatory requirements.

Voting
Budget‑related votes are conducted using current authority membership and existing
governance rules and in accordance with regulations, where that is set out.

Final Approval and Posting
Authorities approve, post, and provide copies of the final budget for the 2027 calendar
year in accordance with existing requirements and the Minister’s Direction.

Municipal Apportionment
The approach to municipal apportionment will not change for 2027 calendar year budgets
and will follow the existing methods set out in O. Reg. 402/22 and O. Reg. 401/22
(Determination of Amounts Under Subsection 27.2 (2) of the Act) and apply to the current
participating and specified municipalities of each authority per the apportionment
percentages distributed by the Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks.

Once apportioned amounts are determined and approved by authorities, notices of
apportionment are sent to each participating municipality and notices setting out amounts
owing are sent to each specified municipality. Each municipality shall be required to pay
the amount apportioned to it even after the transition date under the CAA, at which point
the payment will be due to the regional conservation authority.

Future Annual Budget
Budget alignment across regional conservation authorities will occur following the
transition date.

The ministry will assess whether any changes need to be made to the budgeting process
as set out in the budget and apportionment regulations as a result of the regional
consolidation of authorities and will consider amendments to those regulations in Fall
2026, where appropriate.

Item 5

From: protection, source (MECP) <source.protection@ontario.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2026 12:11 PM
Subject: Regulatory changes to the Clean Water Act to accelerate and
improve protection for Ontario’s drinking water sources

Hello,

We are writing to share important updates about recent regulatory changes
under the Clean Water Act, 2006 (CWA) and the Safe Drinking Water Act,
2002 that will come into effect on July 1, 2026 and on January 1, 2027.
These regulatory changes implement legislative amendments to the Clean
Water Act that were passed in fall 2025.

These amendments support timely approvals and process improvements
while continuing to ensure safeguards remain in place to protect drinking
water sources.

Regulatory amendments will:

•   Accelerate protection of drinking water sources by streamlining the source
    protection plan amendment process. These regulatory changes will come
    into effect on July 1, 2026. This will include:

o Expanding the types of minor amendments that can proceed
              without approval or consultation.

o Specifying the types of plan amendments where source
              protection authorities (i.e., generally conservation authorities)
              approve certain amendments.

o Specifying the process for how a source protection authority
              approves plan amendments, including that the source protection
              authority must first obtain the Director’s approval of the
              assessment report.

o Simplifying and speeding up consultation requirements by
           combining the two phases of public consultation into one, while
           maintaining meaningful opportunities for public and Indigenous
           community input.

o Modernizing consultation requirements, including by removing the
           requirements to publish newspaper notices and to make source

protection plan documents available for inspection at locations that
          are sufficiently accessible, and instead maintaining the requirement
          to publish documents on the Internet and requiring publication of
          notices in a manner that will bring the notice to the attention of the
          public.

o Specifying documents and information that comprise a “complete
         submission” of a proposed source protection plan amendment that
         requires Minister’s approval. The Act provides that upon a
         “complete submission” of the proposed amendment to the Minister,
         the Minister has 120 days to exercise an option to approve the
         amendment or require revisions and re-submission, otherwise the
         amendment is deemed to be approved.

•   Enable the use of new municipal drinking water sources (such as wells
    and intakes) faster, where protections are already in place, including by
    providing an exception to when the prohibition on supplying drinking
    water must be imposed in a municipal drinking water system licence or
    permit, if the source protection authority is of the opinion that such a
    condition is not necessary. This regulatory change will come into effect on
    July 1, 2026.

•   Improve and streamline how policies affecting “prescribed instruments”
    (such as permits and licences issued by MECP and other ministries) can
    be used to manage risks to municipal drinking water, including increasing
    transparency regarding how significant threats are managed. This
    regulatory change will come into effect on January 1, 2027.

Additional details are included in the regulatory decision notice titled
“Regulatory changes for accelerating and improving protections for Ontario’s
drinking water sources” (ERO #025-1104).

Thank you for your ongoing efforts to protect Ontario’s drinking water
sources. We appreciate your partnership.

Sincerely,

Leo Luong, Director, Great Lakes and Inland Waters Branch
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Item 6

Ministry of Natural Resources   Ministère des Richesses Naturelles

Development and Hazard Policy   Direction general de l ’elaboration et des
Branch                          politiques sur les risqué
Policy Division                 Division de l’élaboration des politiques
300 Water Street                300, rue Water
Peterborough, ON K9J 3C7        Peterborough (Ontario) K9J 3C7

June 15, 2026

RE: Updates to certain operational policies under the Aggregates Resource Act

Greetings,

Further to a letter from the ministry dated August 8th, 2025, I am writing to inform you
that a decision notice has been posted regarding the updates to certain operational
policies under the Aggregate Resources Act (ERO # 025-0216).

These policies were updated as part of the ministry’s initiative to modernize operational
policies that support the effective delivery of Ontario’s Aggregate Resources Act
program. The updates are intended to clarify requirements and improve program
efficiency.

Policies related to the following have been updated:

•    Cultural Heritage Report
    •    Matters to be Considered in the Issuance of a Licence
    •    Water Report
    •    Maximum Predicted Water Table Report (New Policy)

These updates better align policy guidance with the requirements of the Aggregate
Resources of Ontario Standards. Details of the decision and revised policies are
available through the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO #025-0216) and will be
posted soon on the aggregates policies and procedures page.

In addition, the ministry has rescinded 28 policies that were outdated or no longer
needed. Rescinding these policies is expected to provide greater certainty and clarity to
industry and the public about current program requirements and processes.

If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact us by email at
aggregates@ontario.ca.

Sincerely,

John Dungavell,
Director, Development and Hazard Policy Branch

Item 7
Staci Landry, Deputy Clerk                       Phone: 519-376-4440 ext. 1235
City of Owen Sound                                      Facsimile: 519-371-0511
808 2nd Avenue East                               Email: slandry@owensound.ca
Owen Sound, ON N4K 2H4                             Website: www.owensound.ca

June 22, 2026

Via Email

The Honourable Paul Calandra
Minister of Education
minister.edu@ontario.ca

Dear Honourable Paul Calandra:

Re:   Affirming Outdoor Education as an Essential Part of Public
      Education in Ontario

City Council, at its meeting held on June 15, 2026, considered the above-noted
matter, and passed Resolution No. R-260615-012 as follows:

"THAT in consideration of correspondence received on the
      June 15, 2026 Consent Agenda respecting Outdoor
      Education as an Essential Part of Public Education in
      Ontario, City Council:
        1. Supports the resolution from the Town of South
            Bruce Peninsula; and
        2. Directs staff to send this resolution to the
            Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Education,
            Paul Vickers, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, the
            Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the
            Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), the
            Board of Trustees of the Bluewater District School
            Board, the Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario,
            and the Town of South Bruce Peninsula."

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Staci Landry
Deputy Clerk

Encl: Town of South Bruce Peninsula Council Resolution of June 2, 2026

c:    Paul Vickers, MPP Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound
      Association of Municipalities of Ontario
      Rural Ontario Municipal Association
      Board of Trustees, Bluewater District School Board
      Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario
      Town of South Bruce Peninsula

Item 8

CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF SOUTH HURON
                                   322 Main Street South P.O. Box 759
                                                         Exeter Ontario
                                                              N0M 1S6
                              Phone: 519-235-0310 Fax: 519-235-3304
                                            Toll Free: 1-877-204-0747
                                                    www.southhuron.ca

June 10, 2026

Via email: doug.fordco@pc.ola.org

Premier’s Office
Room 281
Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A5

Dear Hon. Doug Ford

Re: Sustainable Provincial Grant Funding for Fire Services in Ontario

Please be advised that South Huron Council passed the following resolution at
their June 1, 2026, Regular Council Meeting:

258-2026
Moved By: Aaron Neeb
Seconded by: Wendy McLeod-Haggitt

That South Huron Council supports the May 13, 2026, correspondence of
the Town of Plympton-Wyoming regarding Sustainable Provincial Grant
Funding for Fire Services in Ontario; and

That this supporting resolution and the originating correspondence be
circulated to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of the Solicitor General,
the Minister of Infrastructure, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing,
the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, the Ontario Professional Fire
Fighters Association, the Ontario Volunteer Fire Fighters Association,
AMO, ROMA and all municipalities in Ontario.

Result: Carried

Please find attached the originating correspondence for your reference.

Respectfully,

Kendra Webster, Legislative & Licensing Coordinator
Municipality of South Huron
kwebster@southhuron.ca

519-235-0310 x. 232

Encl.

cc:
Minister of the Solicitor General, Hon. Michael Kerzner,
michael.kerzner@pc.ola.org; Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Kinga Surma,
kinga.surma@pc.ola.org; Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Hon. Rob
Flack, rob.flack@pc.ola.org; Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, info@oafc.on.ca;
Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association, admin@ontariofirefighters.org;
Ontario Volunteer Fire Fighters Association, communication@ffao.on.ca; AMO
resolutions@amo.on.ca; ROMA, roma@roma.on.ca; and all municipalities in
Ontario.

Date:                13 May 2026                                                     ______15______

Moved By:            Deputy Mayor Netty McEwen

Seconded By:         Councillor John van Klaveren

Support for Sustainable Provincial Grant Funding for Fire Services in Ontario

WHEREAS Municipal fire services in Ontario operate under legislative authority established by the
province through statutes, regulations, codes, and prescribed standards governing training,
equipment, certification, inspection, and operational requirements;

AND WHEREAS municipalities are responsible for implementing and maintaining compliance with
these provincially mandated requirements primarily through local property taxation;

AND WHEREAS current provincial fire service grant programs are available to both full-time and
volunteer fire departments across Ontario and are distributed through competitive application
processes that may not fully reflect the differing financial and administrative capacities of urban and
rural municipalities, highlighting the need for a more balanced approach to funding that supports all
fire services equitably;

AND WHEREAS volunteer firefighters represent approximately 70–75% of firefighters in Ontario,
protecting the majority of communities across the province and, particularly in rural areas, are
frequently the first emergency responders to arrive on scene ahead of other emergency
services;

AND WHEREAS other provincially regulated emergency services, including policing and paramedic
services, receive stable and predictable provincial funding contributions or cost-sharing
arrangements;

AND WHEREAS the absence of a comparable and stable funding model for fire services creates a
structural imbalance between provincial regulatory authority and municipal financial responsibility;

AND WHEREAS reliance on competitive funding creates budget uncertainty, limits long-term financial
planning, and may not reflect the actual operational needs of fire services, contributing to instability,
reduced preparedness and the reduction of services within a critical emergency response sector;

AND WHEREAS stable and predictable funding is essential to maintain emergency preparedness,
firefighter safety, service sustainability, and equitable protection for residents regardless of municipal
size or tax base;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT
The Council of the Town of Plympton-Wyoming respectfully calls upon the Province of Ontario to
transition the current practice of competitive provincial fire service grant programs into a
permanent, stable, and predictable non-competitive provincial funding program that supports
municipalities in meeting provincially legislated fire protection requirements;

AND FURTHER THAT this funding be structured to provide equitable and predictable annual support
for operational readiness and training costs associated with volunteer, composite and full-time
fire departments across Ontario;

AND FURTHER THAT the annual value of this funding be reviewed and adjusted to more
appropriately reflect the level of provincial funding support currently provided to other provincially
regulated emergency services, including policing and paramedic services;

AND FURTHER THAT this resolution be circulated for endorsement to:

•   The County of Lambton
   •   Lambton County Fire Chiefs Association
   •   All municipalities
   •   Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs
   •   Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association
   •   Ontario Volunteer Fire Fighters Association
   •   Association of Municipalities of Ontario
   •   Rural Ontario Municipal Association

AND FURTHER THAT, upon endorsement, this resolution be submitted to:

•   Steve Pinnsoneault MPP Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
   •   Bob Bailey MPP Sarnia-Lambton
   •   The Honourable Michael Kerzner, Minister of the Solicitor General
   •   The Honourable Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure
   •   The Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
   •   The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario

✔
                                            Carried              Defeated              Deferred

Item 9

Item 10

905-335-7600 ext. 7490

Mike.derond@burlington.ca

June 16, 2026

SUBJECT: Information on the new Development Charge Reduction Program (FIN-06-26)

Please be advised that at its Special Council meeting held Monday, June 15, 2026, the
Council of the City of Burlington approved the following resolution:

Whereas on March 30, 2026, the federal and provincial government signed the
      Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build agreement to support the shared goals of
      building more homes faster, making housing more affordable and accelerating
      key infrastructure projects to protect jobs and help communities grow, and the
      agreement included $8.8 billion in federal and provincial funding over 10 years
      to support housing-enabling infrastructure investments for municipalities; and

Whereas on June 1, 2026, the Province released information on the
      Development Charge Reduction Program, including details on the application
      process, eligibility and assessment criteria and funding requirements; and

Whereas municipalities had limited opportunity to provide input on the program
      design prior to its release, despite the commitment of up to $8.8 billion for
      housing enabling infrastructure representing a significant investment in
      municipal infrastructure and housing priorities; and

Whereas eligible projects must primarily enable the construction of new
      housing units, accelerate the delivery and implementation of shovel-ready
      infrastructure projects in the municipality’s DC background study and capital
      plan, begin construction by July 31, 2030, and be complete by October 31,
      2035; and

Whereas applications will also be assessed based on the percentage of
      committed DC rate reduction, the number of housing units projected to be built
      as a result of the proposed DC relief, and the municipality’s financial
      contribution, with at least 10 per cent of eligible project costs to be funded by
      the municipality; and

Whereas the City supports the objectives of the Canada-Ontario Partnership to
      Build and recognizes the importance of senior government investment in
      housing-enabling infrastructure; and

426 Brant Street  P.O Box 5013  Burlington  Ontario  L7R 3Z6  www.burlington.ca

Whereas the City has already taken significant Council-approved actions to
reduce its DC rates, which are among the lowest in Halton Region and low
compared to other GTHA municipalities, and has also used other municipal and
planning tools, including the City of Burlington Housing Community
Improvement Plan, to support housing supply, affordability and complete
communities; and

Whereas the current DCRP design, including the requirement for an across-
the-board 30 per cent to 50 per cent residential DC reduction, the minimum
municipal contribution requirement, the March 30, 2026 measurement date and
the absence of a mechanism to cap municipal exposure, presents significant
municipal financial exposure; and

Whereas in addition to the risk that the program could result in a subsidy from
City taxes, there does not appear to be consideration given to early and
creative actions already enacted by municipalities to support the creation of
new housing while also meeting specific housing targets and goals to deliver
complete communities; and

Whereas a number of Council-approved actions have been implemented that
support the creation of housing and do not impact the tax base, including:

•   Staff-driven initiative to reduce the proposed DC rates to mitigate the
       proposed increase in the DC Background Study that has been in effect
       since June 2024, resulting in residential DC rates being reduced by 28
       per cent and non-residential DC rates being reduced by 32 per cent;

•   Development of the City’s first Affordable Rental Housing Community
       Improvement Plan, including 10 programs in 2025;

•   Amendments to the Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement
       Plan in May 2026 to broaden the scope of the CIP and develop a suite of
       new temporary programs in the now named City of Burlington Housing
       Community Improvement Plan, approved in May 2026 and currently
       within the appeal period, including DC grant programs to incentivize
       purpose-built rental units and ownership units with criteria related to built
       form, bedroom numbers and unit size, including within midrise and tall
       buildings, as well as other temporary programs including a Missing
       Middle Municipal Fee Waiver, Tax Increment Equivalent Grants and
       Accessible Design Grant;

•   Modernized Official Plan policies and associated Residential Zoning By-
       law to support the creation of new residential units;

•   Completion of all Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan items; and

426 Brant Street  P.O Box 5013  Burlington  Ontario  L7R 3Z6  www.burlington.ca

Whereas in considering the DCRP, staff also note that Council recently
       reviewed options to support housing through development-related financial
       incentives, and through that work, broad DC reductions were identified as
       presenting financial and implementation risks, including reduced flexibility in
       future DC by-law updates, limitations in targeting specific housing policy
       objectives and pressure on tax-supported funding sources; and

Whereas Council ultimately approved amendments to the City’s housing-
       related Community Improvement Plan as a more targeted, temporary and
       controlled approach to supporting housing while protecting existing taxpayers;

Therefore, be it resolved that staff submit a list of projects and apply to the
       Development Charge Reduction Program on the basis that, through the
       application, the City requests to receive credit for:

1.     The significant development charge reductions for new residential units,
              being 28 per cent, already made and in effect; and

2.     The development charge exemptions available for a broad range of
              housing through the amended Community Improvement Plan; and

3.     The City’s 10 per cent portion being eliminated or funded from non-tax-
              supported sources, including Housing Accelerator Fund funding and
              development charges;

Therefore, be it further resolved that the CAO provide an accompanying letter
       to the City of Burlington’s application under the DCRP detailing these
       considerations and requesting that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
       Housing and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada evaluate
       program applications with fair consideration for previous municipal actions to
       reduce DCs and provide flexibility in working with municipalities to ensure
       successful program implementation;

Therefore, be it further resolved that a copy of this motion be shared with the
       Premier, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Minister of Finance,
       Halton Regional Council, all Ontario municipalities, the Association of
       Municipalities of Ontario and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Sincerely,

Mike de Rond
City Clerk, Director of Legislative Services

426 Brant Street  P.O Box 5013  Burlington  Ontario  L7R 3Z6  www.burlington.ca

Item 11

June 15, 2026

Hon. Robert J. Flack
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
777 Bay Street, 17th Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
Dear Minister Flack,

Re: Canada‑Ontario Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP)

On behalf of Council for the Town of Plympton‑Wyoming, I am writing to acknowledge the Province of
Ontario’s Canada‑Ontario Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) and its intent to support
housing development and critical infrastructure investment across municipalities.

Council appreciates the Province’s efforts to address housing supply challenges by incentivizing
development and providing access to infrastructure funding. The objectives of increasing housing
availability and supporting growth‑related infrastructure are important priorities that align with the
Town’s long‑term planning goals.

However, Council wishes to express concern that the current structure of the DCRP presents
significant challenges for small, rural, and northern municipalities such as the Town of
Plympton‑Wyoming. Municipalities are required to commit to substantial development charge
reductions while also preparing competitive applications for large, shovel‑ready projects within a
limited timeframe.

The program’s compressed application intake period provides limited opportunity for municipalities
with constrained staffing and financial capacity to properly evaluate participation, identify eligible
projects, and assemble a competitive submission.

Additionally, the requirement to prioritize large‑scale infrastructure projects that clearly enable
housing development, coupled with the expectation of upfront municipal financial contributions,
places smaller municipalities at a disadvantage. Many rural communities do not have the same
breadth of shovel‑ready growth‑enabling projects readily available, nor the internal resources required
to mobilize applications within such tight timelines.

Council is concerned that, without adjustments, the current program design may limit participation
from smaller municipalities and result in an inequitable distribution of funding, favouring larger urban
centres with greater administrative capacity and project readiness.

The Corporation of the Town of Plympton-Wyoming
   546 Niagara St., P.O Box 250, Wyoming ON, N0N 1T0 | Phone: (519) 845-3939 | www.plympton-wyoming.com

In light of these concerns, Council respectfully requests that the Province of Ontario consider
establishing a dedicated program stream for small, rural, and northern municipalities. Such a stream
should include:

• More flexible and extended application timelines;
• Scaled project requirements that reflect community size and capacity; and
• Adjusted eligibility criteria that recognize the unique infrastructure funding models and operational
realities of rural municipalities.

These modifications would help ensure that all municipalities, regardless of size, have a fair
opportunity to participate in the program and contribute to the Province’s shared objective of
increasing housing supply.

The Town of Plympton‑Wyoming remains committed to working collaboratively with the Province to
support sustainable growth and infrastructure investment in our community.

A copy of this correspondence has been shared with our local Members of Provincial Parliament and
Federal Parliament, as well as neighbouring municipalities, to encourage broader support for these
requested program enhancements.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Adam Sobanski
Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Plympton‑Wyoming

The Corporation of the Town of Plympton-Wyoming
   546 Niagara St., P.O Box 250, Wyoming ON, N0N 1T0 | Phone: (519) 845-3939 | www.plympton-wyoming.com

Item 12

Town of /Ville de Penetanguishene

June 24, 2026

To: Ontario municipalities affected by the Heads and Beds Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes
    Program

RE: Heads and Beds Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes Program – Municipal Collaboration
Opportunity

On behalf of the Town of Penetanguishene, I am writing to share the enclosed Council
resolution regarding the Heads and Beds Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program and to
invite your municipality to participate in a collective discussion on this matter.

The Heads and Beds PILT program, originally established in 1970 and last updated in 1987,
to $75 per head/bed for provincially owned institutional facilities. As you may be aware,
this rate has remained unchanged for nearly four decades and has not kept pace with
inflation, municipal service responsibilities, or other Provincial PILT programs.

As a result, municipalities hosting these facilities continue to experience growing financial
pressures, as the funding received does not reflect the true cost of providing essential
municipal services.

The Town of Penetanguishene has made continuous efforts over several years to seek a fair
and reasonable resolution to this matter, including multiple delegations with the Ministry of
Finance. Despite these efforts, the current system remains, in our view, both outdated and
inequitable.

We recognize that Penetanguishene is not alone in facing these challenges. Other
municipalities across Ontario may be experiencing similar financial impacts as a result of
this outdated program. As part of our ongoing advocacy efforts, we are reaching out to
municipalities that receive Heads and Beds PILT funding to gauge interest in participating
in a collective discussion. The intent is to determine whether there is a shared municipal
interest in pursuing a collaborative advocacy approach with the Provincial Government to
seek a complete review of the program and a fair and equitable solution.

If your municipality is interested in taking part in a joint discussion, or if you wish to share your
experience on this issue, we welcome the opportunity to connect. Please confirm your
municipalities interest by emailing our Executive Assistant, Emily Dermott-Simpson at
edermott-simpson@penetanguishene.ca.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We appreciate your leadership and look
forward to hearing from you.

10 rue Robert St. West/ouest, P.O./C.P. Box 5009           Tel: 705.549.7453 Fax: 705.549.3743
                 Penetanguishene, ON L9M 2G2               www.penetanguishene.ca

Sincerely,

THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF PENETANGUISHENE

Doug Rawson, Mayor
Town of Penetanguishene

10 rue Robert St. West/ouest, P.O./C.P. Box 5009   Tel: 705.549.7453 Fax: 705.549.3743
                 Penetanguishene, ON L9M 2G2       www.penetanguishene.ca

COUNCIL RESOLUTION FORM

Date:            May 5, 2026                      Disposition:      CARRIED

Moved by:        Deputy Mayor D. La Rose          Item No.:         10 vi.
 Seconded by:     Councillor G. Vadeboncoeur

Description:     Resolution – Heads and Beds In-Lieu of Taxes
RESOLUTION:

WHEREAS the Heads and Beds Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes program was established in
1970 at a fixed rate of $25 per full-time university student, increased to $50 in 1973 when
hospitals and provincial correctional facilities were included, and last increased in 1987
to $75 per head/bed; and

WHEREAS the fixed rate has remained unchanged for nearly four decades and has not
kept pace with inflation, which would place the rate at approximately $180 today; and

WHEREAS the Heads and Beds Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes has also not kept pace with
provincially mandated municipal service responsibilities or other Provincial
payment-in-lieu programs that are based on property assessment and municipal tax
rates; and

WHEREAS the Town of Penetanguishene has formally requested regulatory amendments
through multiple delegations with the Ministry of Finance, seeking a fair and reasonable
resolution to the current situation, which the Town considers to be unfair and
unreasonable; and

WHEREAS the Town is of the opinion that a complete and thorough review of the Heads
and Beds Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes program is necessary to ensure municipalities and

Recorded Vote Requested by:
 ……………………………………………….
             Yea Nay                                              MAYOR
 S. Marchand
 B. Waters
 G. Vadeboncoeur                             Declaration of Pecuniary Interest:
 D. La Rose
 B. Desroches                               …………………………………………………..
 D. Leroux                                  Disclosed his/her/their interest(s), vacated
 D. Rawson                                  he/her/their seat(s) abstained from
                                            discussion and did not vote.
                                          Page 1

local taxpayers are treated fairly and equitably in relation to the costs associated with
provincially owned facilities;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Penetanguishene
direct staff to circulate this resolution to affected municipalities across the Province of
Ontario to gauge interest in participating in a collective lobbying initiative regarding
the Heads and Beds Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the purpose of this outreach is to determine whether
there is shared municipal interest in pursuing collaborative advocacy with the Provincial
Government to seek a fair and equitable approach to the Heads and Beds
Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes program.

Recorded Vote Requested by:
 ……………………………………………….
             Yea Nay                                             MAYOR
 S. Marchand
 B. Waters
 G. Vadeboncoeur                              Declaration of Pecuniary Interest:
 D. La Rose
 B. Desroches                                …………………………………………………..
 D. Leroux                                   Disclosed his/her/their interest(s), vacated
 D. Rawson                                   he/her/their seat(s) abstained from
                                             discussion and did not vote.
                                           Page 2

Item 13

Town of Whitby
575 Rossland Road East,
Whitby, ON L1N 2M8
905.430.4300
whitby.ca

June 25, 2026

Via Email

The Honourable Doug Ford
     Premier of Ontario
     premier@ontario.ca

Re: Review of the Ontario Land Tribunal and Enhancing Deference to Municipal
         Planning Decisions

Please be advised that at its meeting held on June 22, 2026, the Council of the Town of
     Whitby adopted the following as Resolution # 166-26:

Whereas local councils are elected by residents to make planning decisions that
           reflect the needs and priorities of their communities;

Whereas municipalities rely on extensive public consultation, professional
           planning advice, engineering studies, and technical reports when making land-
           use decisions;

Whereas the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) has the authority to overturn municipal
           planning decisions, often requiring municipalities to spend significant taxpayer
           dollars defending decisions that have already undergone a thorough local review
           process;

Whereas lengthy and costly appeals can delay housing projects, consume
           municipal resources, and reduce the ability of municipalities to focus on
           delivering services to residents; and,

Whereas local governments should have greater certainty and authority when
           decisions are consistent with approved Official Plans, provincial policies, and
           sound planning principles.

Now Therefore be it Resolved:

1. That the Government of Ontario be requested to review the role and
                    mandate of the Ontario Land Tribunal to ensure greater respect for
                    municipal planning decisions that are supported by evidence, public
                    consultation, and approved planning policies;

2. That the Province consider amendments to the Planning Act and Ontario
             Land Tribunal Act to provide stronger deference to municipal decisions
             that align with provincial planning frameworks and Official Plans;

3. That the Province improve transparency and accountability within the
             Ontario Land Tribunal by requiring clear and detailed reasoning when
             municipal decisions are overturned;

4. That the Province explore measures to reduce the financial burden on
             municipalities defending planning decisions before the OLT, helping to
             protect taxpayer dollars and improve the efficiency of the planning
             process; and,

5. That Staff be directed to circulate this resolution to the Premier of Ontario,
             the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Local Members of Provincial
             Parliament, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and all
             Ontario municipalities for consideration and support.

Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of
the Town Clerk at 905-430-4300.

Kathryn Douglas
Supervisor, Legislative Services
clerk@whitby.ca

Copy: C. Harris, Director of Legislative Services/Town Clerk - clerk@whitby.ca

The Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing -
      minister.mah@ontario.ca
      Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP, Pickering-Uxbridge - peter.bethlenfalvy@pc.ola.org
      Lorne Coe, MPP, Whitby - lorne.coe@pc.ola.org
      Jennifer K. French, MPP, Oshawa - jfrench-co@ndp.on.ca
      Todd J. McCarthy, MPP, Durham - todd.mccarthy@pc.ola.org
      Rob Cerjanec, MPP, Ajax - rcerjanec.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
      Laurie Scott, MPP, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock - laurie.scott@pc.ola.org
      Robin Jones, President, Association of Municipalities of Ontario -
      amopresident@amo.on.ca
      All Ontario Municipalities

Item 14

Item 15

Planning and Housing Policy                                            Township of Puslinch
 Branch                                                              7404 Wellington Road 34
 Address                                                                Puslinch, ON N0B 2J0
 13th Flr, 777 Bay St                                                       www.puslinch.ca
 Toronto, ON
 M7A 2J3                                                                        June 19, 2026
 Canada

RE: 10.5 Proposed Planning Act Changes Schedule 7 of Bill 119, the Proposed Protecting Ontario
Streets and Communities Act

Please be advised that Township of Puslinch Council, at its meeting held on June 17, 2026
considered the aforementioned topic and subsequent to discussion, the following was resolved:

Resolution No. 2026-212:         Moved by Councillor Goyda and
                                    Seconded by Councillor Sepulis

That Correspondence Item 10.5 Proposed Planning Act Changes Schedule 7 of
              Bill 119, the Proposed Protecting Ontario Streets and Communities Act be
              received for information; and,

Whereas the Province of Ontario has proposed amendments to the Planning
              Act through Schedule 7 of Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario's Streets and
              Communities Act, 2026, to authorize municipalities to utilize Administrative
              Monetary Penalties (AMPs) for zoning by-law contraventions related to
              prohibited land uses; and

And Whereas the current enforcement process for zoning by-law violations
              requires prosecution through the Provincial Offences Court system, which can
              be time-consuming, costly, resource-intensive, and result in lengthy delays
              before compliance is achieved; and

And Whereas rural municipalities often face unique challenges in enforcing
              zoning by-laws due to limited staffing resources, large geographic areas, and
              increasing complexity of land use issues; and

And Whereas the proposed AMP framework would provide municipalities with
              a more efficient and responsive compliance tool while maintaining procedural
              fairness through administrative review and appeal mechanisms; and

And Whereas the proposed changes would reduce pressure on the Provincial
              Offences Court system by resolving appropriate zoning enforcement matters
              through an administrative process rather than requiring formal court
              proceedings; and

And Whereas a streamlined administrative process would provide greater
              certainty and timelier outcomes for both municipalities and property owners,
              encouraging voluntary compliance and reducing enforcement costs; and

Now Therefore Be It Resolved That the Council of the Township of Puslinch
              supports the Province's proposed amendments to the Planning Act under
              Schedule 7 of Bill 119 permitting the use of Administrative Monetary Penalties
              for zoning by-law contraventions relating to prohibited land uses; and,

That Council recognizes these amendments as providing municipalities,
              particularly rural municipalities, with a practical, efficient, and cost-effective
              enforcement tool that will improve compliance outcomes while reducing
              administrative and legal burdens; and,

That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Priemer, Honourable
              Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Association of Municipalities of
              Ontario (AMO), the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), MPP Joseph
              Racinsky, and all Ontario municipalities for consideration and support.

CARRIED

As per the above resolution, please accept a copy of this correspondence for your information
and consideration.

Sincerely,

Justine Brotherston
Municipal Clerk

Item 16

July 2, 2026                                Sent via E-Mail: sylvia.jones@pc.ola.org

Honourable Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier
Constituency Office
Suite A, 3rd Floor
180 Broadway Ave.
Orangeville, ON L9W 1K3

Dear Deputy Premier Jones,

RE: Motion for Provincial Support, Funding and Coordinated Plans to Combat Tick
      Borne Diseases

I am writing to advise that at the Town Council meeting held on June 23, 2026, Council
adopted a motion regarding requesting support to combat tick borne diseases.
The resolution reads as follows:

Whereas the prevalence of ticks, including those known to carry Lyme disease, and
       other Vector borne diseases have increased across Ontario;

Whereas Lyme disease diagnoses have increased by 27% in 2024 to 2369 (Public
       Health Agency of Canada, PHAC);

Whereas residents across Caledon have registered growing concerns about public
       health risks associated with tick exposure in parks, trails and residential areas;

Whereas municipalities have limited jurisdiction and resources to effectively manage
       tick populations on a broad ecological scale;

Whereas the Government of Ontario is responsible for public health policy,
       environmental management and vector-borne disease prevention and detection;

Therefore, be it resolved that:

Caledon Town Council formally requests that the Government of Ontario investigate
       and implement measures to reduce burgeoning tick populations and to mitigate their
       associated public health risks; and

That such measures may include safe and effective tick control methods, public education
campaigns and coordinated regional strategies; and

That the Province consider increased funding and support for local public health units to
address tick-borne disease prevention; and

That a copy of this motion be sent to Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, Chief Medical Officer
of Health, Kiernan Moore, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Todd
McCarthy, Peel Public Health, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), the
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and
all 444 municipalities across Ontario.

For more information regarding this request, please contact the undersigned by email to
mayor@caledon.ca or by phone at 905.584.2272 ext. 4155.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Mayor Annette Groves

CC:

Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran.Moore@ontario.ca

Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks minister.mecp@ontario.ca

Peel Public Health info@peelregion.ca

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) info@trca.ca

Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) foundation@cvc.ca

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) resolutions@amo.on.ca

444 municipalities across Ontario

Item 17

To:          Clerks, Grey County Municipalities
From:        Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team
Date:        June 15, 2026
Re:          Grey-Bruce Primary Care and Health System Update

The Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team is sharing the following update on primary care attachment,
            provincial investments in primary care, regional priorities, and collaborative initiatives underway
            across Grey and Bruce counties.

About the Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team
The Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team (GBOHT) brings together hospitals, primary care providers, community health
and social care organizations, and other partners to improve how healthcare is delivered across the region. We
collaborate with patients, families, caregivers, and the community to design better ways of delivering care. By
working across organizations, the GBOHT focuses on improving access to primary care, strengthening coordination
between services, and supporting the long-term health needs of people in Grey-Bruce. To learn more about the
GBOHT, including its governance, priorities and community resources, please visit www.greybruceoht.ca.

Primary Care Attachment Progress
Improving access to primary care remains a key priority for the Province of Ontario and the Grey Bruce Ontario
Health Team.

We are pleased to share that the January 1, 2025 Health Care Connect (HCC) waitlist has officially been cleared,
with 5,438 residents successfully connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. This milestone reflects the
significant efforts of family physicians, nurse practitioners, primary care organizations, municipalities, and
community partners working together to improve access to care across the region.

With the January 1, 2025 waitlist now cleared, efforts are focused on residents who have registered with Health
Care Connect since that date. Capacity has been identified with providers in communities across Grey and Bruce,
creating new opportunities to connect residents to care closer to home.

Residents who do not currently have a family doctor or nurse practitioner are encouraged to register with Health
Care Connect, a provincial program that helps connect patients with local providers who are accepting new
patients. Residents can register whether or not they currently have a primary care provider. For example,
individuals may wish to register if their provider is retiring or if they have moved and now live too far away to
easily access care.

Residents can register to Health Care Connect:
Online: https://ontario.ca/healthcareconnect
By phone: Call 811 (available 24/7)

More information about finding primary care locally is available here:
www.greybruceoht.ca/get-primary-care

Municipalities play an important role in helping residents access healthcare information. We are asking
municipalities to help share information about Health Care Connect so residents who do not currently have a family
doctor or nurse practitioner know how to register.

Provincial Investment in Primary Care
In April 2026, the Province of Ontario announced an investment of $4.2 million in primary care organizations
across Grey-Bruce as part of Ontario's Primary Care Action Plan and the provincial goal of connecting every
Ontarian to a primary care provider by 2029.

This funding is expected to help connect approximately 9,000 additional residents to a family doctor or nurse
practitioner while strengthening access to team-based care throughout the region. The investment will support the
addition of 17.8 interdisciplinary health care professionals across participating organizations and communities,
helping to expand primary care capacity and improve access to ongoing, comprehensive care. Read the press
release.

Question About the Funding Announcement?
The Grey Bruce OHT has developed an FAQ document to help municipalities better understand the recent
provincial primary care funding announcement. Please see the attached FAQ document for additional information.

2026/27 Strategic Priorities
The Grey Bruce OHT continues to focus on initiatives that improve access, coordination, and quality of care across
the region.

The 2026/27 Strategic Priorities maintain a strong focus on:
     • Primary care access and attachment
     • Collaborative partnerships and relationship building
     • Meaningful engagement
     • Integrated chronic disease management
These priorities reflect the shared commitment of partners across Grey-Bruce to improve access, strengthen
collaboration, and support better health outcomes for residents. View the GBOHT 2026/27 Strategy infographic.

Understanding Primary Care in Grey Bruce
As conversations about primary care expansion continue across Ontario, understanding how primary care is
organized, funded, and delivered has become increasingly important.

To support partners, municipalities, and community organizations, the GBOHT has developed a Primary Care 101
resource that explains the structure of primary care in Ontario and how primary care services are organized and
delivered across Grey-Bruce. View the Primary Care 101 presentation.

Municipal leaders, council members, and staff interested in learning more are encouraged to connect with Lindsay
Johnston, Executive Director of the Grey Bruce OHT, at execdir@greybruceoht.ca to arrange a presentation or
discussion.

Partner Spotlight Video: Equity in Palliative Care
One of the key roles of the Grey Bruce OHT is bringing partners together to develop collaborative solutions to
complex health system challenges.

A recent example is the Improving Equity in Access to Palliative Care (IEAPC) initiative, which developed an
important video that highlights the need for more equitable access to palliative care services for vulnerable
populations across Grey-Bruce. The initiative brought together healthcare providers, community partners, patients,
and caregivers to explore opportunities to improve access and address barriers to care. Watch the video.

We appreciate the ongoing support of municipal partners and look forward to continuing our collaboration as we
work to improve health and care for residents across Grey-Bruce.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Johnston
Executive Director
Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team
execdir@greybruceoht.ca

Primary Care Funding Announcement – Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario Investing Over $4.2 Million to Connect Over 9,000 Patients to Primary
Care in Bruce and Grey Counties

To read the press release issued by Paul Vickers’ Constituency Office, click here.

Why is this funding being announced across the province?
This funding is part of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan, a $3.4 billion provincial
investment to connect every Ontarian to a primary care provider by 2029. Funding is
being distributed across regions to expand team-based care and improve access to
primary care services.

Who is receiving this funding?
The funding is being provided by the province to primary care organizations (such as
Family Health Teams and Community Health Centres) to expand team-based care.

Are municipalities involved in this funding or planning?
No. Municipalities are not recipients of this funding and are not responsible for planning
or delivering primary care services. However, they are important partners in supporting
community awareness and helping residents connect to care.

What is the role of the Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team (OHT)?
The Grey Bruce OHT is a regional collaboration of over 30 local health and community
care organizations and community members. It supports coordination, planning, and
implementation of healthcare and social services across the region but does not directly
deliver care. More information can be found here: greybruceoht.ca/.

Why are specific communities named in the recent announcement?
Communities are referenced to reflect where services will be strengthened or expanded.
However, the funding flows to healthcare organizations—not to municipalities.

Why wasn’t the municipality consulted before the announcement?
The announcement was led by the Ministry of Health, and local OHTs and partners
were informed shortly before it was made public. Implementation planning is now
underway with healthcare providers.

How will this funding improve access to care?
The funding will support the hiring of interdisciplinary healthcare professionals (e.g.,
nurse practitioners, nurses, and allied health providers) within existing primary care
teams, helping connect more residents to ongoing care.

How can municipalities support this work?
Municipalities can help by:
  • Sharing information about how residents can access care (through the province-
      led Health Care Connect program)
  • Promoting resources like Health Care Connect
  • Collaborating on local awareness and outreach efforts

For more information about the announcement:

•   MPP Lisa Thompson’s Constituency Office: 519-523-4251 or
       lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org
   •   MPP Paul Vickers’ Constituency Office: 519-371-2421 or
       paul.vickers@pc.ola.org
   •   MPP Brian Saunderson’s Constituency Office: 705-435-4087
       brian.saunderson@pc.ola.org

Municipalities are encouraged to connect with their Ministry of Health liaison for
additional information.

Item 18

HA]IllS tlIF
                   MY PIIST I|TFICE!

ctlM M u 1{                   lil MAI LB0l( C0llUER$1011            Following a public review in 2015, the Commlssion sur le
Drawing on the 2016 Task Force Discussion Paper Canada
Post in the Digital Age, Canada Post claims converting              d6veloppement social et Ia diversit6 mont6alaise submitted
door-to-door delivery to community mailbox (CMB)                    a report to the City of Montreal's city council recommending
delivery represents its "greatest savings opportuniiy/'             that the City and the Montreal Urban Agglomeration,
with potential annual savings valued at $400-$450 million'          "consider all possible avenues of recourse and exert
                                                                    pressure on the federal government and Canada Post
Yet Canada Post omits any mention of the complexity                 to stop the implementation of new community mailboxes
or challenges it will face in converting some 4 million           with i n thei r territoryl'3
addresses to CMBs, These include significant up-front 4 .;:.,'
investment costs, opposition from municipalities and other .";, , Municipalities are likely to bear significant financial costs in
                                                      f
organized interests, the impacts on older Canadians and       I
                                                                  implementing the conversion, A 2015 report from the City
those living with a disability, and diminished customer )         of Hamilton put the cost of installing CMBs at $522 per
service, among   others,                                )         location, or over $2 million in total, ln comparison, Canada
                                                                  Post offered the city compensation of just $50 per location,
A Blttl0ll D0LLAR+ lllUESIlllEllL.,                                 Municipalities have other reasons to be concerned about
For one, as the Task Force report pointed out, the conversion       CMBs, One is the question of space, While newer suburban
will involve a significant up-front investment that will            housing developments are designed with CMBs in mind,
require "considerable financial resourcesl' During the years        older, denser neighbourhoods in downtown cores are not,
2013-2015, the conversion of 830,000 addresses cost a net           Finding appropriate locations to install CMBs will pose
investmeni of $240 million, or $290 per address.                    many challenges,

Adjusted for inflation, converting ihe near 4 million               Property values could also be negatively impacted,
addresses will require an investment of $375 per address,           particularly for those homes located nearest CMB
or at least $1,4 billion in total,                                  installations, CMBs are associated with several factors that
                                                                    could detract from property values including increased noise
What the Task Force said in 2016 remains true today: "Ihis          and traffic; vehicle idling; debris and waste; a loss of privacy;
level of investment illustrates that Canada Posf needs              diminished "curb appeal"; and vandalism,o
considerable financial resources to reduce ongoing costs,
which will not be easy to achieve,'a                                Security of the mail and theft from CMBs is another problem,
                                                                    Canada Post suggests parcels are safe from "porch pirates"
                                                                    when delivered to CMBs, but a news scan shows reports of
MUIIIGIPAL llPPllsmllil
                                                                    theft from CMBs in communities across the country, ln 2025
Moreover, Canada Post's plan fails to consider the likely           alone, the media reported CMB break-ins in Brampton, ON;
opposition it will face from municipal governments across           Woodbridge, ON; Barrie, ON; Mission, BC: Halton, ON;
the country, By 2015, almost 600 Canadian municipalities            Abbotsford, BC; Saskatoon, SK; and elsewhere,u
passed resolutions opposing the elimination of door-to-door
delivery following the introduction of Canada Post's Five
Point Action Plan in 2013,2

service as those who do not, For insiance, some uslng
GHlttElr$E$ FllR $Ellltln$                                                                       the program receive weekly delivery to their door, while
AllD PE0PLE UIIilS illlll                               l0lslBltlil                              the standard service is for delivery every weekday' As the
                                                                                                 Council of Canadians with Disabilities has noted, this is
Seniors and those living with a disability also have reason
                                                                                                 unfair: 'Anybody who needs accommodation should be
to oppose Canada Post's CMB conversion plans,
                                                                                                 accommodated to the same service level as anybody elsel'e
While Canada Post boasts that employees delivering to
CMBs suffer fewer injuries than their peers delivering door-                                     CUSTI|III ER PR EFER EI{CE$
to-door, it completely ignores the potential safety impacts for
                                                                                                 Market research shows that Canadians want parcels
people with mobility issues, Snow and ice increase the risk
                                                                                                 delivered to their door - not parcel lockers or CMBs,
of falling, the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations
                                                                                                 According to DH[s 2025 E-Commerce Trends Report, which
and injury deaths among Canadians over the age of 65,6
                                                                                                 surveyed 24,000 online shoppers across the world, "Home
As Allan Mankewich, interim executive director for the                                           delivery is still the top choice, with most shoppers preferring
Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities said,                                               the ease of receiving orders at their doorl']o
"Community mailboxes are already a struggle to get to'
                                                                                                 Canadian survey respondents preferred home delivery at
especially in cities like Winnipeg where you have snow
                                                                                                 a higher rate than globally, Fully 77o/o of Canadians chose
on the ground for a few months out of the year!'7
                                                                                                 home delivery as their preferred delivery option (with 60lo
Unfortunately, Canada Post's Delivery Accommodation                                              choosing parcel lockers and 8%o parcel shops) compared
Program is limited in scope, You need to apply through the                                       to 640/o globally,
Canada Post accommodation process to have your request
                                                                                                 Similarly, FedEx's 2025 e-commerce trends report found that
reviewed and considered, although it isn't the easiest
                                                                                                 81o/o o! online shoppersthought home delivery was the most
process to navigate, Seniors account for almost 2oo/o of the
                                                                                                 convenient way to receive a parcelll
Canadian population, while more lhan 25o/o of Canadians
have at least one disability, Yet only i2000 households
currently use the program,
                                                                                                 lrl[SSlUEl0B tllSSES
As the Canadian Medical Association pointed out during
                                                                                                 When Canada Post says it will save $400 - $450 million
                                                                                                 per year, it's really saying it's going to slash jobs'
Canada Post's first attempt to convert to CMB delivery, the
application process for the accommodation program raises                                         When CPC last tried to convert all door-to-door delivery to
serious questions about patient privacy and confidentiality,s                                    CMBs, the conversions resulted in job losses equalling 40olo
Why should Canadians have to share their private medical                                         of the full-time letter carrier jobs in impacted delivery stations,
information with the postal service to continue to receive
                                                                                                 Based on current staffing levels, converting the remaining
home delivery?
                                                                                                 4 million + addresses from door-to-door to CMB delivery
What's more, those who use the Delivery Accommodation                                            could result in some 3,000 lost jobs for letter carriers,
Program do not necessarily receive the same level of

Endnotes
 r 61-62,                                                                                         7 Allison Bamford and Lynn Chaya, "Canadian seniors reacl lo Canada Posl's door-to-door
 2 6eoll Bickerton and Katherine Steinhoff, "'lhe lmplications   o1 Converting   Home Mail           delivery changesl CTV News, September 20 2025, available ali www,ctvnews,ca/canada/

Delivery to Community Mailboxes:lhe Canadian Experiencei Paper presented t0 the 23'd             afticle/an-inconvenience-accessibility-concerns+aised'anid-canada-post'hlne-deliv'
    Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics,2015,      PP. 5-6.
                                                                                                     ery'changes/.
 3 C0mmission sur le d6veloppement social et la diversit6 montdalaise, Public Beview: lmpact      I Carmen Chai, "D0ctors react: ls Canada Post's request for doctor's nole a good idea?,'
    on the people of Montrdal of Canada Post's decision to eliminate door-to-door delivery in        Gl0bal News, August 14,2014. Available at: https:// globalnews,ca/news/1507709/d0ctors-

urban communitiesi 2015, p. 28                                                                   reaclis-canada-posts-request-for-d0ct0rs-note-a-900d-idea/'
 4 antec Appraisal Group, letter t0 Canadian Union of Postal Worke6, March 21, 2014.              I Hugh Adami, "Senior with disability not impressed with community mailbox or offer ol
 5 For example: Andrew Palamarchuk, "Livid'i Brampton communily mailbox site broken into,'           once-a-week home delivenf Ottawa Citizen, D€cember 13, 2015' Available al: www'ottawac-

Brampton Guardian, March 26,2025. Avaialable al: www,branptonguardian'con/news/                  itizen.clm/opini0n/colunnists/adani-seniorwith'disability-n\t-imprcssed'with-connuni'
    tivid-bnnpton-conmunity-nailbox'site'broken'into/article-elf/\de?'4938-5002'8b06-                ty- na iI box-o r-olf e r-of-o nce'a -wee k' hone' de I iv e ry.

722al4f89ec4.htnl.                                                                            10 DHL e0ommerce, '2025 E-Commerce Trends 8ep0rt; p, 30
 6 National lnitiative for Care of the Elderly, 'Falls among older adults are a serious public    11 FedEx, "Hamessing emerging trends lo drive business gtowth,' 2025, p, 6
    heallh issue in Cana dai available alwww.nicenet'ca/articles/falls-among'older-adults-are-
    a-seriou s-public- hea lth- i ssue' i n' ca nada.

The future of the public post office
                        HAilllS tlFF                                                  is on the line-take action!
                                                                                      To lear:n more about the campaign visit:
                        MY PllST I|FFICE!                                             cupw.calhands-off or scan the QR Code >

Hands Off Our Post Office - Stop the Guts

WHEREAS the Federat Government has announced drastic cuts to our treasured pubtic post office
- etiminating good jobs, ending door-to-door detivery, removing the moratorium protection on post
office ctosures, and changes to del.ivery standards for the mait.

WHEREAS the Federat Government has done this without meaningfut pubtic consuttation and has
made this decision unitateratty prior to a ptanned Canada Post Corporation Review f rom October 1 ,
2025 to March 31,2026, effectivety etiminating any opportunity for input f rom the peopte who witt
be most affected;

WHEREAS thousands of postat jobs witt be destroyed and four mittion househotds wil[ lose door-to-
door delivery, most within next fewyears;

WHEREAS post office ctosures coutd degrade or comptetety remove service in many communities;

WHEREAS these cuts witt hurt seniors and peopte with disabil,ities in particutar;

WHEREAS it is crucial. for the Government and mandate review to hear the views f rom
municipatities on key issues, inctuding maintaining Canada Post as a pubtic service, the
importance of maintaining the moratorium on post office closures, improving the Canadian Postal
Seryice Charter,keeping daity home mait and parcet detiveryto the door, improving postal' banking'
greening Canada Post, adding EV charging stations, adding food detivery, improving detivery to
rura[, remote and lndigenous communities, and devetoping seryices to assist peopte with
disabitities to hetp otder Canadians to remain in their homes for as long as possibl.e - and at the
same time, hetping to ensure that good jobs stay in their communities and that Canada Post can
remain financiatty setf-sustaining;

THEREFORE, BE lT RESOLVED that (name of municipatity) formatty writes the Minister of
Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, JOeI Lightbound, to:

a   Demand an immediate hatt to the service cuts, and to look instead for ways to increase
        services and revenues in other areas, sUCh as those as nqted above,
    a   Demand that no mandate review takes ptace untit Canada Post returns to stabilized
        operations, and;
    a   Demand that any review of Canada Post and the Canadian Postal Service Charter must be
        done through a futt and thorough transparent publ.ic review, inctuding pubtic hearings, with
        atl. key stakeholders, in every region of Canada;

THEREFORE, BE lT RESOLVED that (name of municipatity) witt make a written submission and/or
participate in hearings to provide input in the upcoming mandate review of Canada Post.

MAITING INFORMATION

1) Please send your resolution to the Minster responsible for Canada Post, and your Member of
                         Parliament:

o    Jodl Lightbound, Federal Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and
                              Procurement, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
                         a    Your Member of Parliament

Note: Mail may be sent postage-free to any member of Parliament. You can get your MP's name,
                         phone number and address by going to the Parliament of Canada website at
                         https://www.ou rco m mo ns.ca/Mem bers/e n

2l Please send copies of your resolution to
                         a    Jan Simpson, President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, 377 Bank Street, Ottawa,
                              Ontario, K2P 1Y3
                         a    Rebecca Bligh, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities,24 Clarence St, Ottawa,
                              Ontario, KlN 5P3

,      avrpt,,'^r ()raVd
                                  l2t\\     ltlvr 3r €
                                  ol,.)eNl srluND I rs{y
                                                                       NqK6r'4 l

lanadian Union of Fostal Wodters                            Tl7€stuggbtriilinu€s                 CLC/CTC"FTQ-UNI

iyndknt des tra/ailleurs et tmvailleuses des postes            Letut0e@ndnrc                              frt'E

12 • Maggas Sleep Toronto-Owen Sound, aCPAP therapy provider located at 945 3rd Avenue East •

•
Maggas Sleep Toronto-Owen Sound, a CPAP therapy
provider located at 945 3rd Avenue East
•
Expedia Cruises Owen Sound, a travel agency located at 843

Member Thomson declared an interest with item 8.a.1 due to their personal
           employment with the Grey County Department of Economic Development,
           Tourism and Culture.
4.   CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
     4.a   Minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on May 20, 2026

CS-260624-001
           Moved by Member Thomson

"THAT the Community Services Committee approves the minutes of the
           meeting held on May 20, 2026."
                                                                                      Carried.
5.   DEPUTATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

5.a   Presentation from Cassondra Dillman, Intermediate Planner at Grey County Re:
           Age-Friendly Action Plan

Cassondra Dillman of Grey County provided a PowerPoint presentation on the
           Age-Friendly Action Plan.
           In response to a question from Committee, the presenter clarified that the City of
           Owen Sound is the only Grey County community with a municipal transit service
           at this time and added that the Community Transportation Master Plan considers
           a regional approach to transportation.

In response to a question from Committee, the Manager of Planning and
           Heritage noted that the City's Official Plan (OP) includes aspects relating to age-
           friendly design, including transportation and urban design features, and clarified
           that the OP does not need updated to align with the County's Age-Friendly Action
           Plan at this time.

5.b   Presentation from Megan Myles, Sustainability Planning Program Coordinator at
           Grey County Re: Green Development Program Update

Megan Myles of Grey County provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Green
           Development Program.

In response to a question from Committee, the presenter noted that electric
           vehicle charging station readiness is one of the metrics considered in this
           program. The presenter added that while installing additional County-owned
           chargers is outside the scope of this program, chargers have been installed at
           many County facilities for fleet.

In response to a question from Committee, the Director of Community Services
           noted that the recent Official Plan updates and Urban Design Guidelines
           integrate with the green development standards, and that the City will work with
           the County on promoting these to people who are building and developing in the
           City.

In response to a question from Committee, the presenter noted that retrofits for
           existing buildings are currently outside the scope of this particular project but
           could be considered in the future as opportunities arise.

In response to a question from Committee, the presenter noted that the program
           is currently being soft-launched for applications and that it will be fully launched
           and promoted in the fall.

In response to a question from Committee, the presenter clarified that no formal
           Council direction is required at this time in order for the City to participate in the
           program.
     5.c   Presentation from the Art Gallery Director and Chief Curator Re: Tourism Update

The Director and Chief Curator provided a PowerPoint presentation on the
           Tourism update, highlighting current initiatives and upcoming seasonal events.

In response to a question from Committee, the Director and Chief Curator noted
           that there is a manageable amount of previous inventory to be sold to make room
           for the new merchandise and added that tourism staff will bring this inventory to
           various events as an effort to liquidate it and sell it off.

In response to a question from Committee, the Director and Chief Curator noted
           that the River District Coordinator and Tourism and Marketing Coordinator are
           working together to find business owners in the downtown core that can be
           ambassadors for the City, who could then be provided with applicable resources
           and training.
           In response to a question from Committee, the Director and Chief Curator noted
           that a presentation on the ambassador program could be made to a future
           meeting of the River District Board.
6.   PUBLIC FORUM
     There were no questions or comments from the public.
7.   CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED FOR WHICH DIRECTION IS REQUIRED
     There were no correspondence items presented for consideration.
8.   REPORTS OF CITY STAFF
     Having declared a conflict of interest with item 8.a.1, Member Thomson left the Council
     Chambers.

8.a   External Relations and Investment Attraction

8.a.1 Report CM-26-023 from the Senior Advisor, External Relations and
            Investment Attraction Re: Agreement to Pilot a Community Impact Lab

The Senior Advisor, External Relations and Investment Attraction,
            provided a PowerPoint presentation on the agreement to pilot a
            Community Impact Lab.
            In response to questions from Committee, the Senior Advisor noted that:

   The Social Innovator in Residence will ideally be a person who is
                    local to the community and able to be present in the Owen Sound
                    space.

   A successful pilot period could be represented as a space that is
                    regularly used with positive feedback from user groups.

   The Committee could direct staff to choose to advance one of the
                    options as outlined in the report and presentation as the topic for
                    the initial Scan Club.

   The Committee could expect a report back from the Social
                    Innovator in Residence approximately every 4 months. The Senior
                    Advisor added that the Scan Club would analyze trends and that
                    the topics are intentionally vague as to capture a wide range of
                    information.

   Future Scan Clubs will not always be led by the City and this one is
                    as it is funded by the City's startup money, and if the research grant
                    funding is received, Georgian College will be leading future topics
                    as well.

   There is no additional financial commitment required other than the
                    payment for the social innovation fellow's time, which is funded
                    from the startup money that was previously approved.
            In response to a question from Committee, the Director of Community
            Services noted that the River District Action Plan is currently underway
            and added that the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan contains
            information on possible topics that could benefit from the scan.

CS-260624-002
            Moved by Councillor Dodd

"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CM-26-023 respecting the
            Agreement to Pilot a Community Impact Lab™, the Community
            Services Committee recommends that City Council direct staff to:

1. Bring forward a by-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to
                  execute an Agreement to Pilot a Community Impact Lab™ in
                  collaboration with Georgian College and the County of Grey;
                  and

2. Select a subject matter for a 6-week Scan Club based on one
                  of the five areas of improvement as outlined in the Community
                  Safety and Well-being Plan and in consultation with the
                  Community Safety and Well-being planning group."
                                                                            Carried.
            Member Thomson returned to the Council Chambers.
            The Director of Community Services left the Council Chambers.
8.b   Planning and Heritage

8.b.1 Report CS-26-059 from the Senior Planner Re: Heritage Property Tax
            Relief Program - 2025 Tax Refund Applications
            The Senior Planner provided an overview of the report.

CS-260624-003
            Moved by Councillor Kukreja

"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CS-26-059 respecting
            applications to the Heritage Property Tax Relief Program for the 2025
            tax year, the Community Services Committee recommends that City
            Council direct staff to:

1. Process refunds for those eligible applicants outlined in
                  Schedule ‘A’ of the report, in accordance with the Heritage
                  Property Tax Relief Program of the City’s Community
                  Improvement Plan and the City’s Heritage Property Tax Relief
                  By-law No. 2009-148; and
               2. Issue notice to the County of Grey of the heritage property tax
                  rebates for the 2025 tax year and request that the County pass
                  a by-law to authorize a 20 per cent (20%) refund of taxes levied
                  for upper-tier purposes for those properties outlined in
                  Schedule ‘A’ of the report."
                                                                            Carried.
            The Director of Community Services returned to the Council Chambers.
8.c   Parks and Open Space

8.c.1 Report CS-26-057 from the Director of Community Services Re: Kelso
            Beach at Nawash Park - Playground and Splash Pad Concept Design

The Manager of Parks and Open Space provided an overview of the
              report.

In response to a question from Committee, the Manager noted that the
              existing wooden play equipment doesn't have a useful repurposing
              function due to its current age and condition.
              CS-260624-004
              Moved by Councillor Dodd

"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CS-26-057 respecting the final
              design concept for the Kelso Beach at Nawash Park playground
              replacement and splash pad revitalization, the Community Services
              Committee recommends that City Council direct staff to proceed with
              the detailed design and tendering of the recommended final concept
              design as outlined in the report."
                                                                              Carried.

8.c.2 Report CS-26-058 from the Director of Community Services Re: Park
            Naming - 823 5th Avenue East - Report 2
              The Director of Community Services provided an overview of the report.

CS-260624-005
              Moved by Councillor Dodd

"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CS-26-058 respecting the
              submitted names for the park naming at 823 5th Avenue East, the
              Community Services Committee recommends that City Council
              direct staff to proceed with Option 2 as outlined in the report, to
              move forward with ranked voting including the provided Anishinaabe
              name."
                                                                              Carried.
8.d   Arena Operations
      None.
8.e   Building
      None.
8.f   Facility Bookings and Community Programs
      None.
8.g   Tourism, Culture and Events
      None.

9.    MATTERS POSTPONED
      There were no matters postponed.
10.   MOTIONS FOR WHICH NOTICE WAS PREVIOUSLY GIVEN

There were no motions for which notice was previously given.
11.   CORRESPONDENCE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION

11.a   Memorandum from the Chief Building Official and Manager of Planning and
             Heritage Re: Development Update

The Manager of Planning and Heritage provided a brief overview of the May
             Development Update, highlighting permits issued and building fees collected.
      11.b   Site Plan DA-26-005 - 1730 27th Ave E

The Manager of Planning and Heritage provided a brief overview of the Site Plan
             for 1730 27th Avenue East.

CS-260624-006
             Moved by Member Thurston

"THAT in consideration of correspondence provided for information
             purposes listed on the June 24, 2026 Community Services Committee
             agenda, the Community Services Committee recommends that City Council
             receive Items 11.a and 11.b for information purposes."
                                                                                     Carried.
12.   DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

CS-260624-007
      Moved by Councillor Kukreja
      "THAT the Community Services Committee waive the notice of motion
      requirement in the City's Procedural By-law in order to discuss:

1. Report CS-26-062 respecting the 2026 Capital Project Updates for Owen
            Heights and Comm-R-Ette Park Playgrounds; and
         2. Report CS-26-063 respecting the Harrison Park Marker Tree Update."
                                                                        Carried by a 2/3 vote.

12.a   Report CS-26-062 Re: 2026 Capital Project Updates for Owen Heights and
             Comm-R-Ette Park Playgrounds
             The Manager of Parks and Open Space provided an overview of the report.
             In response to a question from Committee, the Manager of Parks and Open
             Space noted that there was some concrete work completed in late 2025 and the

weather did not facilitate adequate concrete curing, and that there were other
             quality issues as well.

CS-260624-008
             Moved by Councillor Kukreja

"THAT in consideration of Staff Report CS-26-062 respecting the Owen
             Heights and Comme-R-ette Park Playgrounds Project Update, City Council
             directs staff to approve the Contemplated Change Order submitted by Park
             N Play Design Co. Ltd. for $20,000 from the Parkland Reserve, including the
             non-refundable allocation of HST."
                                                                                        Carried.

12.b   Report CS-26-063 Re: Harrison Park Marker Tree Update - Ecological
             Restoration and Cultural Recognition
             The Director of Community Services provided an overview of the report.

In response to a question from Committee, the Director noted that if the
             recommendation as presented is not approved, the area would not undergo the
             planned ecological restoration.

In response to a question from Committee, the Manager of Parks and Open
             Space noted that the tree is located very close to the current roadway and could
             be damaged from roadway use and the goal is to preserve the tree as much as
             possible.

In response to a question from Committee, the Director noted that there are
             efficiencies to be had by completing the work all at once, instead of phasing it
             over multiple years.

CS-260624-009
             Moved by Member Kemick
             "THAT in consideration of Staff Report CS-26-063 respecting Update
             Regarding Harrison Park Marker Tree – Request for Ecological Restoration
             and Cultural Recognition, the Community Services Committee
             recommends that City Council approve an allocation of an additional
             $16,500 to this project from the Parkland Reserve Fund."
                                                                                        Carried.
13.   NOTICES OF MOTION
      There were no notices of motion.
14.   ADJOURNMENT

The business contained on the agenda having been completed, Vice Chair Koepke
      adjourned the meeting at 7:39 p.m.

Final approvals issued for the following Business Licences:
Minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on June
24, 2026
MATTERS POSTPONED
There are no postponed matters.

14 MOTIONS FOR WHICH NOTICE WAS PREVIOUSLY GIVEN There are no motions for which notice was previously given.

MOTIONS FOR WHICH NOTICE WAS PREVIOUSLY GIVEN
There are no motions for which notice was previously given.

15 DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

16 MOTION THAT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RISE AND REPORT FORMAL SESSION

MOTION THAT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RISE AND REPORT
FORMAL SESSION

17 MOTION TO ADOPT PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOTION TO ADOPT PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

18 NOTICES OF MOTION

NOTICES OF MOTION

19 MOTION TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION "THAT City Council now move into 'Closed Session' to consider:

MOTION TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION
"THAT City Council now move into 'Closed Session' to consider:

20 REPORTING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION

REPORTING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION

21 BY-LAWS

BY-LAWS
21.a
By-law No. 2026-078
"A By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Regular Meeting of the
Council of The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound held on the 13th
day of July, 2026"
21.b
By-law No. 2026-079
"A By-law to amend Encroachment By-law No. 2020-100 to include
provisions for the refurbishment of approved encroachments"
21.c
By-law No. 2026-080
"A By-law to amend Delegation of Powers and Duties By-law No. 2014109 respecting the approval authority for encroachment agreements
and citations for purchasing delegations"
21.d
By-law No. 2026-081
"A By-law to amend Fees and Charges By-law No. 2026-067 to
establish fees for encroachment refurbishments"
21.e
By-law No. 2026-082
"A By-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute an agreement
with The Ice Box St. Thomas Ltd., respecting the operation of a food
concession at the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre in
accordance with RFT-26-002"
21.f
By-law No. 2026-083
"A By-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute Licence
C0319076 with His Majesty the King in right of Canada as represented
by the Minister of Transport respecting derby camping areas"
21.g
By-law No. 2026-084
"A By-law to adopt Procurement Policy AF009 and repeal By-law No.
2020-002, respecting the procurement of goods and services"
21.h
By-law No. 2026-085
"A By-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute all documents
necessary to complete the transfer of land located at 2181, 2207 and
2229 8th Avenue East to the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit
Housing Corporation"
21.i
By-law No. 2026-086
"A By-law to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute an agreement
with The Corporation of the County of Grey, respecting winter
maintenance (2025-2030)"
21.j
By-law No. 2026-087
"A By-law to amend Zoning By-law No. 2010-078, respecting lands
located at 1201 15th Avenue East (ZBA No. 58)"
21.k
By-law No. 2026-088
"A By-law to amend Zoning By-law No. 2010-078, respecting lands
located at 1201 15th Avenue East following the coming into force of
City By-law No. 2026-030 (ZBA No. 58)"

22 ADJOURNMENT

ADJOURNMENT