Owen Sound Council Refuses Rental Development Charge Break, Clears Two Apartment Projects
Council collected development charges on a 128-unit rental, funded a Harrison Park marker tree restoration and passed 11 bylaws at its July 13 meeting.
Owen Sound councillors cleared two apartment projects on 15th and 16th avenues at their July 13 meeting but refused a developer’s request to waive development charges on the larger of them — a 128-unit rental at 1201 15th Avenue East — directing staff instead to collect the roughly $940,000 the project owes under the city’s bylaw.
The three-and-a-half-hour regular meeting also produced an approved $488,167.38 budget increase on a contaminated sewer job, a reversed course on funding to protect a Harrison Park marker tree, endorsements of two provincial-funding resolutions and 11 new bylaws. Here is what council decided.
Two apartment projects on 15th Avenue East cleared to proceed
Council adopted the recommendation in Report CS-26-060 for ZBA No. 58 at 1201 15th Avenue East — an eight-storey, 128-unit rental building (10% of units affordable) on the final block of the East Court Residences subdivision. Council directed staff to bring forward amending bylaws and authorized a conditional building permit agreement. Carried.
Council refused the development charge exemption for that same building
On Report CR-26-064, ANPET Realty had asked Council to exempt the 1201 15th Avenue East development from development charges. Council instead adopted the staff recommendation to collect development charges under the Development Charges Act and the city’s bylaw.
Staff estimated development charge revenue from the project at roughly $940,000, and said extending a full exemption to all purpose-built rentals now in the planning process could approach $8 million. Carried.
Heritage Grove build-out
Council backed Report CS-26-070, authorizing a conditional building permit agreement for the final building at 2125 16th Street East, subject to conditions including an updated traffic impact study, off-site transportation works and an additional $500,000 in security. Carried.
Sanitary sewer cost overrun approved
On Report OP-26-034, Council approved a project budget increase of $488,167.38 (including the non-refundable HST allocation) for the 16th Avenue and 20th Street East sanitary sewer replacement, and authorized change orders to complete the work. Staff attributed the overrun to soil contamination not detected in pre-construction borehole testing; the source remains unconfirmed and the Ministry of the Environment is investigating.
Grey County verbal report received
Deputy Mayor Greig reported on the county road exchange and download taking effect June 1, 2027, a 10-year county transitional-funding envelope of about $42.2 million (roughly $15 million to Owen Sound), and a renewed lease for the ROMP program. Council received the report; no further decision was made.
Consent agenda
Council approved leasing two additional parking spaces on 11th Street West (Report CS-26-066, carried unanimously). It approved the recommendations in Reports CR-26-066 (development charges reduction program update), CS-26-067 (lease of lands west of 612 2nd Avenue East), CR-26-042 (parking enforcement, crossing guard and campground security contract assignments) and CR-26-072 (non-standard procurement of two sidewalk plows).
The Owen Sound Police Service Board minutes (11.g) were pulled after staff advised incorrect attachments had been provided; the item moves to the next agenda.
Two provincial-advocacy resolutions supported
Council endorsed correspondence from the Municipality of South Huron (originating with the Town of Plympton-Wyoming) calling on the province to convert competitive fire-service grants into permanent, stable funding — amended to drop circulation to all Ontario municipalities. Council also supported correspondence from the Town of Penetanguishene on heads-and-beds payments in lieu of taxes and expressed interest in joining discussions with other municipalities. Both carried.
Community Services Committee recommendations
Council adopted the June 24 committee minutes and recommendations, except two items pulled for separate handling.
Adopted items included 2025 heritage property tax relief refunds (CS-26-059), detailed design and tendering for the Kelso Beach at Nawash Park playground and splash pad (CS-26-057), ranked voting on a name for the park at 823 5th Avenue East including an Anishinaabe name submitted by Saugeen Ojibway Nation (CS-26-058), and $20,000 in playground change orders for Owen Heights and Comrade Park from the Parkland Reserve (CS-26-062).
Community Impact Lab postponed
Council postponed a decision on the agreement to pilot a Community Impact Lab with Georgian College and the County of Grey to its first September meeting, pending further information on finances, measurables and outcomes. Carried.
Harrison Park marker tree — funding approved
A motion to receive Report CS-26-063 without approving further funds was defeated 2–7 on a recorded vote (Middlebro’ and Greig in favour; Boddy, Dodd, Farmer, Hamley, Koepke, Kukreja and Merton opposed). Council then approved an additional $16,500 from the Parkland Reserve for ecological restoration and cultural recognition of the marker tree, work requested by Saugeen Ojibway Nation. Carried.
Closed session
Council reported that direction was given to staff on labour relations and employee negotiations (CUPE 1189-00, CUPE 1189-01 and the firefighters’ association), on a proposed land disposition on 23rd Street East, and on a staffing matter.
No direction was given on three other items (litigation affecting a city project, insurance claims, and a solicitor-client-privilege matter on consultation requirements).
Bylaws
Council passed bylaws 2026-078 through 2026-088. These include:
amendments to the encroachment, delegation-of-powers and fees-and-charges bylaws;
a food-concession agreement for the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre;
a Transport Canada licence for derby camping areas;
new procurement policy AF009;
the transfer of 2181, 2207 and 2229 8th Avenue East to the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation;
a 2025–2030 winter maintenance agreement with Grey County;
and the two zoning amendments for 1201 15th Avenue East.
See the full meeting recording on the City of Owen Sound website.
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