Township of Scugog activists campaigning against the land use visioning exercise related to Port Perry Fairgrounds, yesterday urged the Auditor General of Ontario to review the process.
They fear that part of the lands may be used for development, citing a similar exercises in Collingwood which led to the addition of 2,200 units of housing on their site. “There is a fear amongst many members of the community the same fate will befall the local fairgrounds,” said the statement from the activists, who have started a petition against the council move. It had garnered 3,316 signatures as of 6:30 pm last evening. Organizers said the population of Port Perry is 10,000.
Since 1910 the Port Perry Fairgrounds have been leased to the Port Perry Agricultural Society (PPAS). It’s one of the largest assets the township owns. That lease renewal was discussed in camera on April 28. An extension was given for the parties to work out an agreement.
On July 9, township council again went in- camera to discuss a lease for about 1 hour and 27 minutes. What they came out with was a land use planning visioning exercise. The vote, staff report and terms and conditions are shielded from the public, the petition organizers allege.
Matter Before Ontario Ombudsman
According to them, The Request for Proposal (RFP) is requesting consultants create the “final vision”. The minutes do not reflect a vision exercise, a vote, or an update on the lease. The public has zero input into this RFP before it was posted. This matter is before the Ontario Ombudsman, said a statement from the activists.
It said this visioning exercise appears to run parallel to Scugog bylaw 77-19 and many of the aspects in the Planning Act. Bylaw 77-19 provides an independent financial assessment, which petitioners don’t believe has been done based on public input.
Can Township Sell the Property?
On April 28 a Scugog councillor questioned whether the township even had the authority to sell this property. Bylaw 77-19 requires notice, proper consultation and does not require the property to be sold as part of the process. It is protection for those who wish to keep the property and also those who wish to sell the property, said the statement.
It added that there is also a matter of heritage. In October 2024, council referred the matter of Heritage Designation with consultation to staff to be considered as part of the Official Plan. This has not happened yet. Later that month council also voted on a Tree Plan for this site, which has mysteriously disappeared.
There is also the matter of three different requests for information. None have been granted yet, the statement said.