Owen Sound is moving ahead with a process to consider the potential sale of parklands in the city's northeast end.
City council approved a recommendation at its meeting Monday to allow staff proceed with seven steps remaining in the process as outlined in the Recreation, Parks and Facilities Master Plan concerning the possible disposition of a 0.518 hectare portion of Timber McArthur Park — a property located on the north side of 23rd Street East beside Saint-Dominque-Savio School.
This was an affirmation of a previous resolution, as council had already endorsed moving ahead with the process in November 2019.
The new report to council outlined the steps to be taken to repurpose the parklands, including community consultation such as a survey of residents within 500 metres and future public meetings.
The actual land sale process, in compliance with the city's land sale bylaw, would only happen following a council decision at the end of the steps.
The land sale would be an additional process which includes an appraisal, an additional public meeting and a by-law to declare the lands surplus.
The portion of Timber McArthur Park being considered for sale is mostly an open field. There is a trail that runs through it, but a staff background report explains it would not be removed and continue to provide a linkage through the area.
Coun.Scott Greig says there are lots of citizens who are — rightfully — pretty protective of the park land the city has.
“We're trying to find a balance between retaining what we have for park land against what is already available, developable land,” Greig explains. “We've been eager to see backhoes and shovels in the ground to start constructing some much needed housing for several years.”
Coun. Carol Merton wants consideration to be given to using the sale of parkland to address concerns of attainable and affordable housing in Owen Sound.
“(Park land) is a valuable asset. We want to use it for our community,” Merton says. “If we're going to change the functionality, consider addressing what is a issue in our community.”
Coulter notes the design of the lands, if sold by the city, would be done by the purchaser in the future.
The potential land sale started in November 2019 when council approved starting the process for repurposing park lands, after a request from Barry's Construction.
According to a staff report, the company currently has a pre-consultation application with the city for the development of the remainder of lots in the Ridgecrest Subdivision on the south side on 23rd Street East. Ridgecrest received draft site plan approval in the late 1980s.
The report explains the developer, Barry's Construction, has presented options to develop the remaining 68 lots as originally approved, or to do them at a higher density to feature 81 lots.