Public engagement sessions in February will give residents a chance to have their say on Midland Bay Landing.
The board overseeing the development and Georgian Communities, the council-approved developer, have set aside two days in February to “inform the public about the MBL master plan and the concept plans proposed by Georgian Communities and to listen to public input on those plans.”
The issue of what to do with Midland Bay Landing loomed large in the recent municipal election with many of those elected, including incoming Mayor Bill Gordon and Deputy Mayor Jack Contin, favouring a pause to give residents time to learn more about the plan and offer their critiques.
Prior to the election, the Midland Bay Landing Development Corporation board and town initially planned to hold meetings after it had a signed agreement with the developer.
MidlandToday asked board chair Bill Kernohan several questions, including why the board now favours public engagement prior to the signed agreement rather than after as had been previously planned?”
Kernohan responded via email to say that “I believe the Media Release answers each of your questions, which we tried to anticipate in the Release.”
In the release, the board says that “these early sessions have been organized in response to the community’s expressed desire to better understand the plans for the redevelopment of Midland Bay Landing and have an opportunity to provide their input and ideas into those redevelopment plans.”
The move also follows a shift in the board dynamic with Gordon and Contin replacing former mayor Stewart Strathearn and former deputy mayor Mike Ross on the board.
Gordon said his and Contin's arrival as board members went a long way in ensuring the meetings would take place before any agreement is signed.
“There’s no alternative so let’s do this,” Gordon said of the board's decision to now opt for holding public meetings beforehand.
Gordon said the first meeting slated for Saturday, February 4 will allow Kernohan and Georgian Communities an opportunity to “extoll the virtues of the current plan.”
The second one, a week later, will focus on listening to public input and suggestions about the plan.
“Some of the suggestions might align with the developers,” Gordon said, adding he expects the plan presented on February 4 might look a little different from the one currently on display at Midland Bay Landing.
The meetings might also alleviate public concerns about the current plan, something addressed by a MidlandToday columnist prior to the election who wrote: “A paltry 25% is intended to quench the public’s thirst for a bigger slice of land overlooking majestic Georgian Bay.”
Gordon also suggested two possible alternatives exist that could keep more land in the public realm. One would involve doing nothing with the land while another could see the town remediate part the land itself without a developer.
Gordon said he’s hoping for a large turnout at both meetings since residents have voiced their feelings about the current plan and some of the changes they’d like to see.
“The key is we need to get people out to these meetings,” Gordon said, adding while a venue hasn’t been selected, he’d like to see the meetings occur at the Midland Cultural Centre.
