It was a long Special Meeting of Council on Tuesday night starting at 5PM. After some debate back and forth on the new Procedural By-Law (governing how Town meetings are to be carried out), Council took up the main course… a reconsideration of a settlement agreement for Century Condos downtown.

Debate went back and forth on issues of parking, the restaurant and the laneway… if you want to watch the whole matter, you can watch the proceedings at https://vimeo.com/456746391 .

Many valid issues were raised and some remained unaddressed, but in the end you might be wondering… “How They Voted?”

The Motion:

“Moved by Councillor Freake; Seconded by Councillor Vardy

Now, therefore it be resolved that the Town directs their legal counsel, Gowling WLG, to enter into the following settlement agreement:

1. Master Settlement Agreement;
2. Court Minutes of Settlement;
3. Brons Settlement Agreement; and
4. LPAT Minutes of Settlement.

Including amending the settlement agreements and enclosures thereto as may be required to the satisfaction of legal counsel as well as the Chief Administrative Officer and/or the Director of Planning, Building and By-Law:

1. To address the absence of Irene Brons’ consent, and continue to negotiate with Irene Brons to obtain her consent, failing which to obtain the court orders contemplated, pursuant to the Master Settlement Agreement and the Court Minutes of Settlement:

2. To extend the date for the Town to pass a By-Law or resolution confirming or approving the agreements from August 31, 2020 to October 30, 2020;

3. To address the following changes to the revised scheme proposed by Homes by DeSantis (Downtown) Inc. as set forth in Schedule ‘A’ attached hereto.

And that the Town directs the Mayor and the Clerk to enter in the following documents:

1. Acknowledgement and direction with respect to the easements and land titles;
2. Document general to register the court order vesting title to Parts 1 & 2 of the laneway in the Town; and
3. Option agreement.

And that the Town directs the Mayor to swear and sign the following documents:

1. Land transfer tax affidavit with respect to the option agreement;
2. Land transfer tax affidavit with respect to the easement in registry; and
3. Land transfer tax affidavit with respect to vesting title to Parts 1 & 2 of the laneway in the Town.”

Transcribed from live stream
YEAS - SUPPORTED THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

Councillor
Bothwell
Ward 4
Councillor
Dunstall
Ward 3

Councillor
Freake
Ward 1

Councillor
Kadwell
Ward 2
Councillor
Ritchie
Ward 1
Councillor
Sharpe
Ward 4

Councillor
Vaine
Ward 3
Councillor
Vardy
Ward 2
Mayor
Jordan

The decision was unanimous. It seems everybody was generally happy with whatever the details of the agreement are… an agreement which they stated will be available to the public.

It’s been a long and tiring road for this project and the two Councils who have had to make decisions on it along the way. In hindsight it was probably the best of two difficult options… start the revitalization of downtown now or go through the courts and add months, if not years to any such revitalization.

When the ink finally dries on the multitude of documents that this agreement entails, lets hope that the final product will eclipse all residents expectations and sets a gold-standard precedent for the “re-visioning” of Downtown.