Orillia’s waterfront could look dramatically different five years from now.
This week, city council received an update on how things are progressing on the ambitious redevelopment project that was endorsed, in principle, by the municipal government in December.
“We had a meeting in December where we approved the concept for development down there and this meeting (this week) was to move the conceptual to the practical,” explained Tim Lauer, chair of the Waterfront Working Group and one of the champions of the project.
In December, council approved a plan that would see the construction of approximately 12 live/work units, 55 townhomes, 17 single-detached homes and more than 54,000 square feet of residential condominiums on city-owned land at the waterfront.
To pave the way for that development, an environmental assessment of the lands is ongoing. In addition, council plans to realign Centennial Drive, extend Coldwater Street to Centennial Drive and beautify Front Street by reducing the current four-lane configuration to three lanes so that a boulevard, trees and other “pedestrian-friendly” elements can be included.
This week’s meeting included a closed session related to “land and legal” issues tied to 70 Front Street, the address of the Metro plaza the city purchased in 2016. As part of that purchase, the city was able to acquire adjacent land that, when added to the old railway lands the city owns, creates the space for the development the city envisions. In addition, the city plans to demolish part of the mall and punch Coldwater Road through to Centennial Drive.
In that closed session, it was decided to earmark $30,000 for legal costs related to 70 Front Street. “I can’t give out too much detail there only to say that we are landowners and we own the plaza, so there’s leases, there’s arrangements,” Lauer told OrilliaMatters. “All that requires legal oversight. That’s about all I can say.”
No other decisions were made at this week’s meeting. “It was really just an update for council,” said Lauer, who noted several city departments provided progress reports about how they are working individually and collectively to ensure the development can proceed. “It’s good process and a good way for council to get a full grasp of just how complex this whole plan is.”
He said city staff meet formally every two weeks to review progress, while the working group, typically, meets monthly. “Every department is really focused on this and meet to make sure everyone is on the same page.”
While Lauer believes the project will be “transformational”, he cautioned of potential speed bumps along the way. He said the biggest obstacle could be environmental issues.
“Until you get the results of the environmental testing, it’s hard to speculate,” said Lauer, who noted results are expected in late May or early June. “That will be (vital) information. We are doing testing now to establish what kind of strategy is required to deal with any contaminants that might be in the ground.”
He said it’s impossible to predict those results, but he noted the site was once home to a wood-processing factory (Canada Wood). “If things are not good, then you’re into a risk assessment and a couple of years of that process.”
Lauer said that process has improved and has become more streamlined since the city went through a similar process in advance of building the recreation centre at 255 West St. “I’m sure many Orillians still have a bad taste in their mouth when they hear ‘risk assessment’ or any of that stuff, but the ministry has certainly refined the process. (But) it’s a brownfield and we’re probably the only ones who are going to attack it and deal with it. It has to be done.”
Even if a risk assessment is required, that doesn’t mean the project will become stalled, Lauer said. He said that “while you’re dealing with environmental things and (potentially) waiting a couple of years, that’s when you’re rebuilding Front Street and doing these other things. Front Street has to be done, the trunk sewer has to be done any way … so it will just be about staging the process.”
Lauer conceded he is “a bit surprised” that the most controversial element of the entire plan seems to be reducing Front Street to three lanes.
“We’ve heard more about three lanes than buying the Metro plaza,” he said. “I do understand people’s concerns: It is four lanes now and it’s a fairly busy street. But traffic is like water, it will take the easiest route.”
He said there was a similar level of angst when the council of the day opted to take a similar approach to West Street. “Everyone seemed sure the world was going to end if West Street wasn’t four lanes and I think West Street works well. And I don’t think there’s any problem with Coldwater Road. When all the accesses are there and (Front Street is) complete, I think the level of service will be fairly similar. But the upside is we get a whole lot more boulevard, so we can enhance that street and make it a treelined entrance into the city.”
Coun. Mason Ainsworth, who was not in favour of allocating $30,000 toward legal matters, said he hopes the city is able to sell the Metro property as soon as possible. “I wasn’t in support of buying the plaza in the first place,” said Ainsworth. “I think we’ve had it for far too long and we need to get it into production.”
Despite that, he said the update council received on the waterfront development was positive. “I think it’s going in the right direction,” he said, noting staff will continue to update council about options and decisions down the road. “There might be some significant decisions before the election, but it’s likely two months before they arrive at the council table.”
Council’s plan is to lay the groundwork for the development – but not to be involved in the ultimate construction. It is council’s intention to issue a Request for Proposals to find a qualified developer that would adhere to the spirit of their plan.
