Council heard a presentation on the Highway 11 Corridor Study Council, approved the sale of part of the old Nobleton Public School, and authorized staff to negotiate for naming rights of the new Township Wide Recreation Centre.
You can watch the video for the meeting here but remember it will only be live for two weeks.
Quick Links
Mayor's Comments
• It was an honour to host the Prime Minister and Premier in King for the announcement of a $3.1 billion partnership in healthcare.
• It’s Nonprofit Sector Appreciation Week is supported by the Government of Ontario. King is providing certificates with our MPP partners to extend our deepest gratitude to these unsung heroes for their invaluable contributions to fostering our vibrant communities.
• Family Day is coming up on Monday February 19th. The Trisan Centre will be open from 8am – 4pm.
• Find Your New Best Friend at an adoption day held by the Vaughan Animal Services. Saturday February 17th from 10am – 3pm, no appointments needed.
• Outdoor snowshoeing and cross-country skiing plus many other trails and activities at Cold Creek Conservation.
• Tickets are on sale for the Cold Creek Maple Syrup Fest on March 9th 10am – 2pm. Pancake breakfast, guided hikes to the sugar bush, tree tapping demonstrations, and a variety of local artisans and vendor market.
• King Food Truck & Drink Fest – King is inviting the best food and beverages vendors in the area to participate in the event on Saturday June 8th from 12pm -9pm at Memorial Park in King City.
• Women’s Day Art Exhibition is on now at the King Heritage Centre. This year’s theme is Food for Thought and features 18 Canadian women and explores our relationship with food and culture. The exhibit is on until March 29th.
• Accessibility Advisory Committee Vacancy - King is looking to fill a vacancy. If you want to participate in this dynamic committee apply online until Friday, February 23, 2024.
• Volunteer Appreciation Award Nominations - Nominations for the 2024 Volunteer Recognition Awards are now open. The nomination categories for King citizens are:
> Citizen of the Year - An award given to a citizen to recognize and honour outstanding contributions to the Township.
> Special Recognition Award: Resident & Non-Resident - An award given to one or more citizens or an organization for a special contribution made to the community in whole or in part.
> Senior Citizen Award of Merit - An award given to a Senior Citizen to recognize and honour special contributions to the seniors population.
> Lifetime Achievement - An award to recognize outstanding citizenship within the community, with many years of dedicated service and devotion to the residents of King.
> Youth Award of Merit - An award given to a younger citizen to highlight special contributions.
• Mayor's Gala – This year’s theme is “An Equestrian Affair” on Thursday February 29th. King partners with Art Society King (ASK) and all proceeds go to either ASK or the Heritage Committee. If you are interested in attending or supporting the event find out more here.
• Seasonal Jobs for Students - Great four month jobs for kids 16+ to be a summer camp councillor, cut grass, be a lifeguard lots of options. Email a resume by March 15th to resume@king.ca or visit king.ca/employment for more information.
Agenda Highlights
Highway 11 Corridor Study
This study that focuses on a section of highway 11 that is less than 2km long in the north end of King and sandwiched between Bradford and East Gwillimbury. This is a high volume traffic area that is ripe for commercial development which would help grow employment and business opportunities in the township.
The corridor was historically designated and developed as a highway commercial area and already has several commercial and light industrial businesses including inns, car sales, restaurants and storage facilities. However, the corridor is located in the Greenbelt, subject to the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and is outside of a settlement area, so any further development has to abide by these policies.
The purpose of the study is to provide guidance for future land uses, development, and expansion of existing uses. The challenge will be in identifying a good variety of rural economic business options while balancing the protection of the natural environment and adhering to Provincial, Regional and Municipal policies, including the Greenbelt Plan.
There have already been a few well attended public information sessions where the project team has been able to gather a good amount of feedback. In this interim report, the team notes that there has been broad interest among landowners in revitalizing the corridor to increase economic opportunities while acknowledging that traffic volume and safety are a concern. In addition, the area does not have municipal water or wastewater services which constraints development options. The project team are actively looking at options for how this challenge can be addressed.
The team has identified that King’s Official Plan and Countryside zoning by-laws may need to be update to include site specific amendments that better reflect the conditions of the area. Their suggested draft amendments will be presented to council this spring.
Disposition and Acquisition of Property in Nobleton
In 2019, the town acquired 8.4 acres of land when it purchased the old Nobleton Public School from the Ministry of Education for $5.5 million. To fund the purchase, the town borrowed the money from its Parkland Reserve Fund and Land Acquisition Reserve Fund. The town is now selling 2.4 acres of the original purchase while simultaneously acquiring five lots on highway 27 (0.9 acres). The net proceeds from this transaction is $5.25 million which will replenish the town’s reserve funds from the original purchase. While there is a $250,000 shortfall to the Parkland Reserve Fund, the town has retained 6.9 acres for its parkland which is considerably more valuable and a great benefit to the town.
Note: The future of the Nobleton Community Hall will be discussed at the next council meeting on February 26th.
Naming Rights to the new Township Wide Recreation Centre
To ensure fair market value was received for the naming rights, staff engaged with a firm to provide a valuation on all of the elements within the facility. To date, four proponents have expressed interest in negotiating the naming rights at the TWRC, with one major area still vacant. The details are as follows:
New Business
Ward 4 – Great Backyard Bird Count is on Saturday February 16th at 9am at the Dufferin Marsh in Schomberg.