Norfolk County Council will consider delaying the return of the land secured as a potential site for the ALL Norfolk Community Centre to give staff time to propose alternate uses for the property.
In a report being considered at this week’s council-in-committee meeting, staff indicate the land could have strategic value for other priority initiatives, such as the development of affordable housing or industrial development, or could be sold to a third party to improve the County’s financial situation.
Staff note in their report to Council that the property at 682 Ireland Road was appraised at more than $6M, but was purchased for $3.2M.
Council may also choose to sell the land back to the original owners at the same price it was purchased at.
If staff recommendations are accepted, staff would have until March to present alternative uses for the land. If no alternative uses are found, Council would have until June to exercise the option to sell the land back.
In 2019, Norfolk secured land (as recommended by the members of the Recreational Facilities Advisory Board) at the corner of Simcoe’s Ireland Road and DeCou Road, on condition that the ALL Norfolk project receive provincial and federal infrastructure funding.
The County was informed in August that its application for funding was not successful.
The property is designated “Urban Residential” in the Norfolk County Official Plan, but has a “General Industrial (MG)” zoning with a holding provision.
The site is adjacent to institutional/industrial uses to the north, a residential subdivision and future development to the west, and agricultural and large lot residential to the east and south. Learn more about the ALL Norfolk Community Centre project – including the criteria used to select the proposed site – here.
