Grimsby Council considered the final draft of the Envision Grimsby Official Plan (OP) on Monday night (July 13th), following public delegations, a presentation from Planning Staff and an extensive debate over future growth, building heights, infrastructure and environmental protection.
The new Official Plan is intended to guide land use and development in Grimsby through 2051. Growth will not require expansion of the settlement boundary and be concentrated primarily in designated centres, nodes and corridors, including the protected major transit station area surrounding the future Grimsby GO station.
Public delegations
Bruce Mackenzie: Local resident and award-winning environmentalist, supported protecting the Grimsby Wetlands and emphasized their environmental, recreational and community value.
Speaking for the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, Mackenzie described the former sewage lagoons as a significant natural area that has benefited from years of volunteer work, habitat restoration and partnerships with community organizations and government agencies.
Annette Gibbons: Local resident, asked Council to defer adoption until outstanding concerns and public submissions were more clearly addressed.
Gibbons requested a consultation-traceability report showing what issues had been raised, what changes were made, what was not changed and why. Her concerns included tree-canopy targets, biodiversity, growth projections, infrastructure costs, the Grimsby Beach Secondary Plan and long-term monitoring.
Several written delegations from residents and the development industry were also received into the public record.
Staff Presentation
Planning Staff recommended adoption of the OP, stating that the plan provides an updated framework that can continue to be refined through future studies and amendments.
Among the changes presented to Council were reduced building heights in portions of downtown, new floor-space-index provisions around the future GO station and policies incorporating elements of existing secondary plans.
Council Debate
Mayor Jordan: Chaired the debate, recognized the work completed and managed the deferral and final adoption motions.
Councillor DiFlavio: Favoured deferral and objected to proposed heights of up to 28 storeys near Casablanca Boulevard and the future GO station. DiFlavio argued that the station’s location south of the railway tracks and within the Greenbelt differs significantly from the assumptions used when lower heights were previously considered. He also said Councillors and the public had not been given enough time to review the final changes.
Councillor Howe: Supported stronger stormwater-management and servicing policies to reduce flooding risks as development continues. Howe emphasized that additional paving and development must be accompanied by sufficient stormwater capacity.
Councillor Davoli: Supported moving forward while asking staff to clearly identify the studies and implementation work that would follow adoption. Davoli described the Official Plan as a high-level framework and said more detailed policies would be developed through future studies. She also noted that Grimsby’s limited land between the escarpment and Lake Ontario makes some intensification unavoidable.
Councillor Charrois: Supported deferral to obtain clearer answers on Grimsby Beach, tree-canopy targets, development capacity and hazard lands. Charrois asked for additional information concerning whether changes to the Grimsby Beach Secondary Plan were provincially required, how tree-canopy objectives would be measured and how climate-related hazards and long-term public costs would be addressed.
Councillor Vardy: Sought stronger sustainability, tree-canopy and building-height protections and suggested more intensification at Main and Bartlett. Vardy questioned whether green building practices could be required rather than merely encouraged and whether the town could defend maximum building heights against future appeals.
Councillor Korstanje: Supported the reduced downtown heights but requested clarification about mixed-use redevelopment west of Murray Street. Korstanje questioned whether the former Central School property and the nearby commercial plaza were being redesignated to permit mixed residential and commercial development.
Councillor Baradziej: Asked what consequences could result from delaying the plan before deciding whether deferral was warranted. Staff responded that substantial consultation and documentation had already occurred and said it was important for Grimsby to establish an updated Official Plan.
Councillor Freake: Opposed further delay and argued that the plan was sufficiently complete to be adopted. Freake said no Official Plan would satisfy everyone and warned that another deferral could delay the process for an additional six or seven months.
Deferral motion
Council considered a motion put forward by Councillor Charrois to defer adoption of the Official Plan for one month, to allow additional review and clarification of outstanding concerns.
Yeas to Deferral: Councillors Charrois, DiFlavio and Korstanje
Nays to Deferral: Councillors Baradziej, Davoli, Freake, Howe, Vardy and Mayor Jordan
The deferral motion was defeated, so proceedings returned to the original motion to approve (or not) the new Official Plan.
How They Voted?
So, how did the vote go on the new Official Plan?
Yeas to Adopting the OP: Councillors Baradziej, Charrois, Davoli, Freake, Howe, Vardy and Mayor Jordan
Nays to Adopting the OP: Councillors DiFlavio and Korstanje
The motion was carried and the new OP is now officially adopted by the Town, but will not take effect immediately.
Next Steps
Following Council’s adoption, Town Staff will compile the formal planning record and submit the Official Plan to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for Ministerial approval.
The plan will be posted through the province’s Environmental Registry process, allowing for further public comment before the Minister makes a final decision. The Minister may approve the plan as adopted, approve it with modifications or require additional changes.