‘Breach of trust’ – community rallies against development at historic Ontario fairgrounds

The rhetoric surrounding the visioning exercise for the future of the Port Perry Fairgrounds had softened a bit in recent months but all that goodwill went out the window late Thursday with the release of a consultant’s final report, with the Port Perry Agricultural Society – stewards of the lands for 116 years – calling Scugog Township’s recommendation to terminate its lease at the fairgrounds and sell off four acres of the property a “breach of public trust.”

“This report confirms exactly what we feared from the start,” said agricultural society president Paul Puckrin. “The township spent months insisting this was simply a community visioning exercise, while planning all along to take back the property, terminate our lease, and sell part of the fairgrounds for development. We have all been misled.”

For months, Puckrin said, township officials repeatedly dismissed concerns the  visioning exercise being performed by Toronto consulting firm Darwin Pivot was a precursor to development. “Residents were told the land was not for sale. Now, the township’s own report confirms that approximately four acres of the fairgrounds property will be sold for development.”

A staff report on the future of the property declared the township plans to “reimagine” use of the property to “better serve the local community and the township year-round.”

“The Port Perry Agricultural Society can continue with the fair on the site under a no-cost special event permit from 2027 and onward, with reasonable notice provided to end the existing month-to-month lease,” the report read.

The majority of the property – 19 of the 23 acres – will be set aside as a new Township Park with open space/event grounds areas, community use areas, and recreational space/facilities, while the remaining four acres adjacent to the intersection of Old Simcoe Road and Reach Street will be sold “preferably for seniors residential/mixed-use development” to fund improvements to the remainder of the property, the report stated.

A special reserve fund will be created to hold any sale proceeds, grant funding, or donations related to the property, with the revenue only to be used for improvements to the fairgrounds.

The agricultural society will no longer be in charge of managing the property under the new arrangement, with Scugog Township taking over long-term stewardship and possession of the property to “action and manage” an implementation plan that will be brought to council next year.

As well, the Port Perry Agricultural Society be provided with “reasonable notice” when the current month-to-month lease will come to an end and be converted to a no-cost special event permit starting next year to allow the Port Perry Fair to continue on areas of the property “the township may determine” as the plan moves forward.

“Upon taking back possession of the property, the township (will) promote the use of the property to organizations and other users for additional community events throughout the year.”

The report also noted that should the agricultural society determine a new site is needed the township will “assist with locating new lands” for the annual fair.

The Port Perry Agricultural Society has operated the fairgrounds and the Port Perry Fair since 1910 (the same year the township took over ownership) and residents began to get concerned about the fair’s future when the agricultural society’s lease wasn’t automatically renewed last fall, with Port Perry residents making their feelings clear about the park remaining in public hands in a combative Scugog Council meeting in September.

“The most shocking aspect of today’s announcement is the breach of public trust,” Puckrin said. “Residents repeatedly asked staff and elected officials if the ultimate goal for the property was development. Those concerns were brushed aside. The township’s report proves those concerns were justified.”

“We were right to be suspicious of the township’s true motives. The sale of public land was always on the table. The only difference is that now the township has finally admitted it.”

Puckrin is also concerned with what he calls a “waste” of taxpayer dollars.

“The township commissioned a $100,000 visioning exercise and consultant report that appears to have arrived at a conclusion that was predetermined from the start,” he said. “Why spend over $100,000 of taxpayer money on consultants if council and staff already knew what they wanted to do?”

“Residents participated in good faith believing their input would shape the future of the fairgrounds. Instead, they unwittingly took part in a process that appears to have been designed to justify a decision that had already been made.”

Puckrin also rejects Scugog’s characterization of the site as “underutilized,” a conclusion that “ignores both the actual usage of the site and the extraordinary circumstances” of the post-pandemic years.

“Like countless community organizations across Ontario, the Port Perry Agricultural Society was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the cancellation of the fair for two years. Judging the value and activity level of the fairgrounds based on a period that included unprecedented public health restrictions is both unfair and misleading.”

Long before the pandemic the fairgrounds has served as a “vital” community hub that has hosted numerous events besides the annual fair on the Labour Day weekend, Puckrin added. “Rather than working collaboratively with the society to realize that vision, the township chose a path that appears designed to justify taking control of the property for future development.”

“The Port Perry Fair has been held at the fairgrounds since 1886 and been a cornerstone of the community for generations. The agricultural society and its volunteers have invested countless hours maintaining the property, preserving agricultural heritage, and creating events that bring families together. Rather than building on that legacy, the township has chosen to marginalize it.”

Not all are against Darwin Pivot’s recommendations, however. Larry Corrigan, the co-chair of the Entente District 28 Durham Political Advocacy Committee, who spoke at committee meetings on the need for more senior housing in the area, said on his Facebook page the report  “captures the future and immediate needs of the township” with conservation of parkland, the continuance of the Port Perry Fair – the four-acre deficit can be met with the use of the soccer fields for the labor day weekend, he noted – and “most importantly, for seniors long term.”

“We must not fall victim to the tyranny of the dominant perception. The silent majority must have their voice heard.”

The agricultural society is calling on Scugog Council to maintain the society’s lease, reject the recommendation to sell any portion of the fairgrounds, and begin “genuine discussions” about a collaborative future that preserves both the agricultural heritage and community value of the historic property.

As well, Mike Coll, a long-time opponent of development on the site (and a opponent of Scugog Mayor Wilma Wotten in the upcoming municipal election) has written to council on behalf of community group Keep Port Perry Fairgrounds Public to formally state their opposition to the sale of any part of the property, citing a petition with more than 4,600 signatures,

“These petitions represent thousands of residents and supporters who believe the fairgrounds should remain a public park and community asset,” he said, adding that should the matter proceed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, Keep Port Perry Fairgrounds Public will seek party status in those proceedings.

The final report on Scugog Township’s plans for the future of the Port Perry Fairgrounds will be officially presented Monday in what is expected to be a raucous council meeting.

Those wishing to delegate on the matter Monday can still do so up to noon Friday, with those requests included in an addendum to be issued Friday afternoon.