Housing proposal in Port Perry should be deferred or denied, says candidate for mayor

A long-time council watcher and candidate for mayor in October’s municipal election wants Scugog Township to either turn down an ambitious development on Reach Street on Port Perry’s west side or refer the application to the Official Plan review process.

“Council can and should say no to development that does not fit the character, scale, and long-term vision of our community,” said Mike Coll, who will be taking on Mayor Wilma Wotten in the upcoming election. “What concerns many residents is not simply the size of this proposal, but the inconsistency in how major planning decisions are being handled.”

The proposal, submitted by Malone Givens Parsons on behalf of Richard Wannop, was debated at Monday’s Planning Committee meeting, with the council chamber filled with residents wanting to learn more about the proposed development that would bring nearly 1,400 new units to town.

Fifteen public delegates spoke at the meeting.

Coll believes now is the time to say no to the plan.

“When the Heritage Advisory Committee sought heritage designation for the Fairgrounds, they were told to wait for the Official Plan review. When Myrtle Market requested diversified uses, they were told to wait for the North Durham planning process. Yet a proposal for up to 1,355 residential units and buildings up to eight storeys is advancing while Scugog is undertaking its most significant growth planning exercise in decades.”

“Residents deserve to understand why some applications must wait for broader planning policies while others proceed ahead of them.”

The lands in question at 1520, 1540 and 1580 Reach Street are currently agricultural and rural residential that is located within the urban area boundary, with one-third of the lands reserved for employment uses and plans for a mix of low-density housing and condominium townhomes. A long-term care home is also in the future mix.

Two-thirds of the site’s 27 hectares do not conform to the current Official Plan and Coll believes more of the land should be devoted to employment uses.

Mayoralty candidate Mike Coll

“The subject lands are designated employment lands that the township, Durham Region and the province have all identified as important to retain. Once employment lands are lost, they are extremely difficult to replace.”

Coll said the proposal also raises questions that extend “beyond housing numbers,” such as doctor shortages, how schools would accommodate the expected new students and transit requirements.

“Nor does it explain how existing infrastructure challenges, including roads reported as 63 percent in poor condition, will be affected by significant growth.”

Coll said he doesn’t blame the property owners but said the situation Scugog Council is facing was “preventable.”

“Council has a responsibility to provide clear direction regarding what is appropriate, acceptable, and consistent with the community’s vision,” he said. “This property has been owned by the same family for decades. There should be little uncertainty about municipal expectations, the scale of development that fits the community, or the types of proposals residents are likely to support. Good planning requires clear guidance before significant resources are invested.”

Coll is also concerned that considering a proposal of this scale before the Official Plan review is completed risks “predetermining the outcome” of that process.

“Residents are currently being asked where growth should occur, what should be protected, and what Scugog should look like in the coming decades. Making major growth decisions before that work is complete undermines confidence in the consultation process and raises legitimate questions about whether the outcome has already been decided.”

“The Official Plan should guide development. Development applications should not determine the Official Plan.”

Wotten said the public meeting Monday simply outlined the proposal and the progress made thus far and represented “the next step in the planning process.”

A recommendation report on the proposal will be brought forward at a future Council meeting, once all comments have been fully considered by township staff, she added.