A proposed townhouse development, a review of local climate action, the new Downtown Tomorrow plan, and more are slated to be discussed at Monday’s city council meeting, which kicks off with a public planning meeting at 12:30 p.m. Click here to read the 217-page agenda.
Public planning meeting
City council will consider zoning bylaw amendments for a proposed townhouse development at 50 Westmount Dr. N., between John Street and Mary Street.
The 1.08 hectare property was formerly home to Mount Slaven Public School, which was demolished in 2020. The proposed development includes plans for six three-storey townhouse buildings, for a total of 114 residential units.
The requested amendments include permitting a 12.2-metre building height, where 11 metres is currently permitted, permitting six residential buildings on a single lot, and reductions in parking requirements from 1.5 spaces per unit to 1.25 spaces per unit, among other requests.
Also on the docket at the public planning meeting are proposed "housekeeping amendments" to a city zoning bylaw, following input from the Simcoe County District School Board.
The school board has requested amendments relating to waste storage, requirements for electric vehicle parking as they relate to schools, and allowing parking to be located on a separate lot, with 150 metres, among others.
Empower Simcoe
Officials from social service agency, Empower Simcoe, will give a presentation on the services it offers in Orillia, as well as highlighting some of the challenges the organization is facing.
The organization provides housing support, housing accommodations for people with intellectual disabilities, family services and youth programs, among many other services in the region.
However, the organization’s presentation highlights a stark gap between available services and demand in the area. For example, there are 14 currently available group home accommodations against 1,370 requests.
Year in review on climate action
City staff will present a year in review of actions taken to meet the goals laid out in its climate change action plan and climate change adaptation strategy.
LED street lights, electric vehicles and charging stations for the city fleet, and energy audits for city facilities are among the numerous actions taken by the city this year as it looks to abate and adapt to climate change.
Staff will present actions both taken and underway on the city’s three “big moves” — renewable energy, transportation, and buildings and lighting — as well as progress made in waste management, numerous climate-related studies, and more.
Downtown Tomorrow plan
The final update on the city’s Downtown Tomorrow plan — meant to guide priorities in the city’s core over 20 years — will be presented for council’s consideration on Monday.
The new plan serves as an update to its 2012 predecessor and outlines seven goals and 31 strategic initiatives to carry out, such as offering a full range of housing options, acknowledging Orillia’s Indigenous history, enhancing safety, promoting the city as a year-round destination, and more.
Since the last update in June, 2017 residents completed an online survey garnering feedback on their top priorities for the downtown.
Among 15 identified top initiatives, developing downtown affordable housing, facilitating infill development, and working with the hospital and province to use the OSMH site for “mixed-use development” — while maintaining health services — came out as the top three.
City staff recommend that council endorse the new Downtown Tomorrow plan in principle on Monday.
Resident petitions
Two parking-related resident petitions submitted by Ellen Wolper are on Monday’s agenda.
The first, garnering 35 signatures, calls on the city to reinstate its free holiday parking program in city lots over the winter holidays, with Wolper writing she has “not met one” downtown merchant who does not want the program reinstated.
With an eye towards homelessness and the housing crisis, the second petition, with 129 signatures, calls on the city to allow tiny homes and “car living” to be allowed on municipal lots 15 and 6.
Staff recommend that council receives both petitions as information.
Policing priorities
At the request of the Couchiching OPP Detachment Board, council will decide on three local policing priorities it would like to see the board address in its 2025 Local Action Plan.
The board has sent similar requests to its other member municipalities, including Oro-Medonte, Ramara, and Severn.
