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200915 Development MINThe Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting September 15, 2020 7:30 a.m. Electronic Meeting MINUTES Present: Councillor Deb Gilvesy, Mayor Stephen Molnar, Steve Spanjers, Suzanne Renken (arrived at 7:39 a.m.), Cedric Tomico, Lisa Gilvesy, Andrew Burns, Jeff VanRybroeck, Lindsay Morgan-Jacko Staff: Cephas Panschow, Development Commissioner; Laura Pickersgill, Legislative Services Coordinator; Kyle Pratt, CAO Regrets: Collette Takacs, Randy Thornton Absent: Kirby Heckford Guests: Don Ford, Manager of Water/Wastewater Services and Carolyn King, Manager of Finance; County of Oxford 1. Roll Call 2. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:32 a.m. 3. Adoption of Agenda Resolution #1 Moved by: Cedric Tomico Seconded by: Councillor Gilvesy THAT the Agenda as prepared for the Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting of September 15, 2020, be adopted. Carried 4. Adoption of Previous Minutes Resolution #2 Moved by: Andrew Burns Seconded by: Cedric Tomico THAT the Minutes as prepared for the Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting of August 11, 2020, be adopted. Carried 5. Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest declared. 6. General Business & Reports 6.1 Monthly Projects Update There is an Economic Development Strategic Plan workshop planned for September 17, 2020. The workshop will be held partly in-person and virtually. The tender for preliminary grading at VanNorman Innovation Park has been released and will be awarded shortly. The next step would be to move forward with developing the electrical grid design. It was noted that there are a good amount of leads for interest in industrial properties and potential investment in Tillsonburg. Regarding the 1,101 Highway 3 Surplus Lands notice, Council directed staff to move forward with a notice of the Town’s intent to declare all of the non- industrial lands as surplus. An individual could purchase the private residence property or additional parcels if they are interested There is an informational package that will be circulated to the Committee that will be available to provide clarity in that a party could purchase. 6.1.1 Sale of Norfolk Mall The Norfolk Mall has been sold to E&E McLaughlin. It was noted that the servicing has been designed to service the mall, the two primary properties and the satellite buildings on the property. There were concerns noted regarding the sewage capacity of this property. It was recommended that this concern be noted during a pre-analysis when any evaluations are done on this property. It was mentioned that initially when the water routing was done out to the mall there were properties along Simcoe Street that could be connected in at their own cost and discretion and they were required to pay two times the water and wastewater rates. It was noted that there is more information that could be provided to the committee as background information, such as the Official Plan amendment and extension of the water beyond corporate borders. It was recommended that dialogue should start with the new owners to determine if there was benefit and interest into reviewing a boundary adjustment to adjust the boundaries to acquire this property into the Town of Tillsonburg. Eric indicated that a boundary adjustment proposal would need to be justified in a planning aspect. The Committee had a discussion regarding the development study done in 2019. Eric summarized that there are 174 gross developable supply hectares available in the Town, 1003 residential units potential with approved plans and 20 hectares of developable commercial and industrial land. There is a potential of 66 hectares to be declared as surplus land. Eric indicated that the development map is updated on a yearly basis or as required and is based on building permit data. Based on the study, there is enough developable land available for the foreseeable future. It was noted that more than two-thirds of residentially- designated available land is tied up between two parcels at this time. These lands are available, although they are not officially listed. It was suggested that the 117 acre Victoria Woods property could be severed into smaller lots if desired. If this was proposed, a separate development study (secondary planning study) would need to be done to ensure the various owners of the various smaller parcels are following the same steps and development timelines and guidelines. Lindsay indicated that there may be a demand for larger, estate sized lots for building executive homes in Tillsonburg as the quantity of these types of homes/properties are limited at this time. Laura to put the development map on a future agenda for members to have a discussion of potential areas for boundary adjustments. 6.2 Water and Wastewater Rates Study 2021-2024 Don Ford and Carolyn King joined at 8:01 a.m. Carolyn provided an overview of the water and waste water rates study that is currently underway through Hemson Consulting for the 2021-2024 rates. The study considered growth, new connections, population trends and consumption patterns. It was noted that the current rate structure will expire at the end of 2020 and will be restructured beginning in 2021 for the next 4 years. It was noted that the County is looking at having a sustainable level of rates in the system and to accommodate long term water and wastewater assets. There are two scenarios for proposed rates outlined in the study. Scenario 2 proposes to consolidate the ICI rate of consumption to be consistent across all municipalities in Oxford County which would make that rate competitive. The difference in costs would come from the fixed rates of consumption. The temporary measure of the source water protection charge implemented in 2016 would not be eliminated from the charges. The Tillsonburg sewer levy charge on tax bills will also be eliminated. Overall, there would be an increase of 2.1% over the 2020 rates. There would be 1.9% increase coming from the consolidated ICI rates. It was noted that consumption of water trends are decreasing so therefore some users may not see the full increase in rates. County staff will be bringing a report and by-law to Council in October for consideration. Don noted that there are plans to expand the wastewater treatment plant in Tillsonburg in the near future. There was an opportunity provided for members to ask questions about the study. Don Ford and Carolyn King left the meeting at 8:27 a.m. It was suggested that the rates are already too high. Suzanne indicated that their members have requested that there be no increase in hydro, water and wastewater rates at this time due to the financial constraints inflicted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Jeff VanRybroeck left the meeting at 8:56 a.m. 6.3 ZN 7-20-1 Tillsonburg Zoning By-Law General Update Eric noted that every 5 years the County likes to do an update to the zoning by- law and that this current by-law has not been generally updated since 2012. Eric summarized the proposed amendments to the by-law which includes technical terminology updates, reviewing minor variances that passed simply to reduce minor variances going to Council in the future, adding retirement homes as a permitted use in more zones, allowing for a variety of more permitted uses in various zones, source water protection provisions are to be included, the lot coverage in R1 and R1A zones will be increased by 2%, more provisions included regarding decks, covered decks and interior yards, the minimum dwelling unit size in apartments will be eliminated and regulated under the OBC. Eric noted that the zoning by-law public consultation has been delayed until the fall due to the COVID pandemic. Opportunity was provided to ask questions and make comments. It was suggested that a definition of stacked townhouse units be included. Staff will provide a copy of the report once completed to the Committee for information. It was noted that there is not a separate definition for cannabis retail outlets, they are currently considered to be retail stores that are generally only permitted in the Central Area as per the existing Official Plan policies. 6.3.1 VIP Permitted and Proposed Uses Eric Gilbert provided an overview of the permitted uses in the existing general industrial zone in VanNorman Innovation Park and a list of proposed additional uses was presented. The Committee did not make any specific recommendations for additional permitted uses not included in the presentation. Mayor Molnar left the meeting at 9:16 a.m. 6.4 Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. 6.4.1 Hydro Subcommittee Recommendation It was discussed that the Hydro subcommittee does not feel that THI has adequately addressed their concerns brought forward. The subcommittee does not feel that the Town would remain competitive with the new economic evaluation model being proposed. The Committee agreed that a draft letter in response to the letter received from THI dated July 29, 2020 was appropriate. It was suggested that the letter indicate that more work needs to be done to look into this further. It was also suggested that there be a differentiation in the letter between what requirements the Ontario Energy Board holds and what are only options (not mandatory) that the Ontario Energy Board holds. It was discussed that it may be beneficial for a representative from the Ministry of Energy and a representative from the Ontario Energy Board could present to this Committee, or perhaps a larger audience to attract better buy-in from presenters, to provide information on how hydro works and what requirements surround hydro and its rates. Suzanne noted that she could try and find a contact for representatives from the above mentioned organizations using the Chamber’s contact network. 6.5 Town Hall Task Force The Town Hall Task Force has had two meetings thus far. The Task Force will be hearing a presentation from a Proponent at an upcoming meeting. The group is working on gathering information for the needs and expectations of this project. Laura will send out the amended Terms of Reference to this Committee for review and add this for discussion on the next agenda. 6.6 Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee It was noted that Council adopted a revised version of the Physician Recruitment Matrix that included the addition of a second column for recruitment incentives specifically for speciality physicians, an increase from $5000 to $10,000 in moving expenses reimbursed for out of Province relocation and the timeframe from clinical space reimbursement has been increased from 3 to 6 months. Laura will send this report out with the minutes and add this item as a discussion for the next meeting. Kyle Pratt left at 9:19 a.m. 6.7 Community Strategic Plans There were 12 submissions received as a result of the RFP for the new Strategic Plan. The evaluation committee will be reviewing these submissions as a group and will bring a report to Council for review. 7. Community Organization Updates 7.1 Downtown Business Improvement Association No comments/discussion. 7.2 Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce 7.2.1 COVID Energy Assistance Program No comments/discussion. 7.3 Tillsonburg District Real Estate Board 7.3.1 August 2020 Listings No comments/discussion. 8. Round Table 9. Next Meeting October 13, 2020 at 7:30 a.m. 10. Adjournment Resolution #3 Moved by: Councillor Gilvesy Seconded by: Steve Spanjers THAT the September 15, 2020 Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting be adjourned at 9:33 a.m. Carried