Meaford council has given approval to a zoning amendment request submitted by the owners of the former Georgian Bay Secondary School property on St. Vincent Street, who plan to turn the facility into a private college.
The former school property was purchased in the summer of 2023, and the new owners said at the time that they planned to establish a trade school, named the Toronto Excellence College, including on-site dormitories with 79 units on the property. The proposal has been cause for debate, particularly among those who live near the property. Meaford’s council chamber had an overflowing gallery after a number of residents attended a public planning meeting held on Monday, May 4 to share their concerns about a zoning amendment request. The primary concerns expressed by residents focused on the suitability of a private college in an established residential neighbourhood, the potential for increased traffic, as well as noise from the proposed dormitory buildings.
In their report to council presented at the June 22 meeting, staff addressed the proposed dormitory buildings for students and faculty.
“The proposed development includes a private post-secondary educational institution with approximately 200 students per semester and three new residential buildings comprising 79 dwelling units accommodating up to 239 residents. As there are a variety of institutional uses proposed as part of the re-zoning, staff have identified concerns with the long-term use of the site. Specifically, should the college transition into a different permitted use, what would be the impact on the staff and student housing. Staff were concerned that the number of housing units represented an overbuilding of the site, given the available parking and size of the school,” staff advised in their report. “Staff recommended reducing the residential component and limiting the residential uses to the Block 1A area, fronting Aiken Street. Staff recommend that these residential lands be severed off from the institutional lands prior to development to ensure that any housing associated with the college could be sold and used independently should the college use be discontinued. Should the applicant not move forward with the staff and student housing, the lands could remain with the over all use.”
Staff also advised that should the proponent wish to proceed with residential units on the site, they will need to return to council for permissions.
“Staff have also included a Holding provision on the residential portion of the lands that shall prevent the construction of the residential units until such time that the holding symbol is removed. This is to ensure that specific matters of parking, layout and so on, are addressed as part of a future site plan agreement. It also allows for the residential block to be separated from the institutional lands to ensure parking for this use is maintained. Staff have prepared an amending zoning by-law and schedule for Council consideration,” staff advised in their report to council.
Members of council were pleased that the residential component of the proposal would be addressed separately.
“The building of the apartments is a separate issue, and now that I know that has to come back (to council) as a separate entity, I am more comfortable. I wasn’t comfortable if it was going to give them the green light to do that,” Councillor Tony Bell said during council’s discussion.
Staff also noted a number of revisions that have been made to the original proposal including:
- improves compatibility with the surrounding residential neighbourhood;
- provides independent access to the residential units should the college use be discontinued;
- closes the Aiken Street entrance to the site, which will reduce potential traffic hazards;
- allows for the future severance and separate ownership of the residential component;
- allows for adequate parking on site by reducing the number of residential units;
- maintains flexibility for the long-term reuse of the main institutional building; and
- reduces the risk of creating embedded residential uses that constrain future site planning.
Council also sought to reduce the number of permitted uses on the site, ultimately supporting an amendment to remove hospital, library, and museum from the list of permitted uses on the property.
Council voted 4 -1 in favour of the amended motion, with Councillor Harley Greenfield voting against. Mayor Ross Kentner and Councillor Brandon Forder were both absent from Monday’s meeting.
