Official Plan amendments, home energy savings, and a controversial Orillia Hall of Fame member are among the topics up for discussions at Monday’s council meeting.
Council will meet at 1 p.m. for a public planning meeting in the council chamber, prior to kicking off its regular meeting of council.
Public planning meeting
City politicians will consider numerous proposed amendments to the city’s Official Plan, and associated housekeeping amendments to the zoning bylaw to apply to all land in the city.
The proposed amendments to the Official Plan include measures to bring the document in line with the province’s More Homes, Built Faster Act (Bill 23), as well as initiatives from the city’s affordable housing action plan.
Regarding Bill 23, some of the proposed amendments include permitting up to two additional dwelling units in a main building, or one additional unit in a main building and one in an accessory structure, as well as clarification that a boathouse may not be converted into a main building or additional dwelling unit.
From the affordable housing action plan, recommended measures include eliminating parking requirements for government/non-profit affordable housing in the downtown area overlay zone, and to reduce requirements by 50 per cent for affordable housing developments located outside this zone, as well as pre-zoning places of worship to allow for a wide range of housing.
Other amendments proposed for the Official Plan include requiring an additional .3 metres of width where parking spaces are adjacent to a garage entrance, with the aim of making garages more accessible for parking, as well as requiring larger snow storage areas near drainage outlets.
Orillia Hall of Fame
Council will consider removing Thomas Gummersall Anderson, a 19th-century fur trader, soldier, and British Indian Department employee, from the Orillia Hall of Fame on the recommendation of the city’s commemorative awards committee.
Following research and consultation with various parties, including Indigenous partners, the committee found Anderson had spent little time in the Orillia area and promoted the idea of “industrial schools” for Indigenous peoples in 1854 — which is seen as a precursor to the residential school system.
In 1836, Anderson was tasked with moving an Indigenous reserve from Coldwater to accommodate white settlers, resulting in Indigenous people settling in the Orillia area and Manitoulin Island.
The committee’s report acknowledges “assessing an historic figure based on today’s standards is challenging and can be controversial,” but it recommended his removal from the Hall of Fame following consultation with relevant parties.
“Historical accounts appear to indicate that Anderson had a positive rapport with Indigenous peoples,” the report states. “However, these accounts seem to largely ignore the opinion of the Indigenous communities involved.”
If council votes for Anderson’s removal, his framed portrait at Orillia City Centre will be taken down, and all references to him will be removed from future Orillia Hall of Fame books.
Home energy savings program
As part of the city’s climate change action plan, staff have proposed exploring numerous initiatives to reduce community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in local buildings.
Following a community efficiency financing feasibility study, carried out by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors last year, it was determined there are significant GHG and energy reduction opportunities for single- and semi-detached homes in Orillia.
The study determined a property assessed clean energy (PACE) program was technically feasible for the city, which would allow property owners to finance the costs of increasing energy efficiency in their homes.
City staff, however, have recommended against this approach, citing concerns about staff capacity to administer a PACE program, and concerns that, as a longer-term strategy, such a program would not help the city reach its interim climate goals.
Instead, staff have recommended using $75,000 previously approved for this program’s design to explore other methods of reducing community GHG emissions.
Some of the proposed methods include looking into rebate incentives for residents who upgrade their homes’ energy efficiency, exploring alternative government financing programs, lobbying the provincial and federal governments to create incentive programs, establishing an energy concierge service for residents, and more.
Council inquiries
City councillors will bring forward three inquiry motions for their peers’ consideration at Monday’s meeting.
Following council’s decision to implement a total ban on backyard fireworks, councillors Janet-Lynne Durnford and Jay Fallis will request a staff report on options to streamline and reduce costs for community groups to apply for special event and fireworks permits.
Currently, permits may be obtained by those who wish to set off fireworks in Couchiching Beach Park, but the existing permit currently requires rental of the entire park and a company to set off the fireworks, at a cost of $2,000.
Fallis and Coun. Jeff Czetwerzuk will request a report on the feasibility of bringing an annual parking permit program to Walter Henry Park, West Ridge Park and Clayt French Park, for overnight use between Nov. 15 and April 15, for consideration during 2025 budget deliberations.
Coun. Luke Leatherdale will seek support for a staff report on options, costs, and potential revenue for leasing vacant space on municipal properties for commercial purposes.
The full council agenda may be found on the City of Orillia website.
