Council not ready to partner on TD project

Clearview council voted 6-3 Monday giving the go-ahead to Creemore Community Foundation to prepare a development plan and design for the village green, which proponents hope will take the place of the TD Bank building on Mill Street.
The plan will then come back for staff review and council consideration with the understanding that the intention is to consolidate the acquired TD Bank property under the ownership of the municipality and that the municipal land occupied by the Hort Park and Station on the Green be included in the design.
A friendly amendment proposed by Councillor Connie Leishman removed from the original motion any mention of a partnership agreement or staff time being allotted for the development plan.
The meeting began with a deputation by Foundation founders Tony Arrell and Stuart Lazier, who were looking to council to direct staff to work with the Foundation to create the appropriate draft agreements, together with a full project review for the new Creemore Village Green.
Also there to speak in support of the project was Greg Young representing Creemore and Area Residents Association, Basil Guinane representing Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society and Laurie Severn representing the BIA.
“We are looking for your support and it is of a critical nature,” said Arrell. “I think in the long run the Foundation will be able to do other things to help Creemore, and by extension Clearview.”
They also outlined the planned contributions of the Foundation and the expected benefits of creating a transformational four-season, multigenerational, multipurpose green space based on community needs.
“The whole community is behind this. That doesn’t mean everybody, but we do have strong support,” said Lazier.
He admitted that the Station on the Green board is on the fence about the proposal. In fact, the board defeated two motions at its May 31 meeting; one to support it and one to oppose it.
It was announced Wednesday that the build team has selected Vancouver-based planning, urban design and landscape architecture firm PFS Studio to design the space.
Lazier said they have a senior partner working on the project to make sure it is special. He said whether or not they keep part of the building is still to be decided, adding it would be difficult to design the space with the building there.
“We are at a point where we are making serious financial commitments and we want to know we can work with staff,” said Lazier.
When it came time for council members to weigh in they wanted assurances that the people hired to do programming and maintenance at the new space wouldn’t be employees of the municipality. Lazier said they would report to a three-person committee that would be appointed to oversee them and they would be paid by the Foundation. Lazier said there isn’t a business plan to show council but they understand the costs and they will be looking to raise a $1 million endowment fund in order to get to a $50,000 annual payout (Severn has been tasked with preparing the job descriptions).
Deputy Mayor Barry Burton spoke once again in opposition to the village green plan saying the township’s own planning reports say more parkland is not needed. He also echoed early comments about the community being divided on the issue.
“I don’t believe tearing down the bank is the answer. We are trading one asset for another. We have been dragged into the middle of this,” he said. “It’s creating dissention, which is a shame.”
“It has split this town in half,” said Councillor John Lamers. “I can’t see this helping out the main street at all.”
Councillor Ed Christie, on the other hand, called it a “jewel of an opportunity” that will result in fewer road closures for events. (He quipped that Clearview will eventually be the owners of the prime downtown location and they will be in charge of future development of the property. They could put up a huge building if they wanted to.)
Councillor Thom Paterson had a different view.
“We don’t split a community when they are engaged. You get better results. Kudos to everyone who has engaged,” he said. “I don’t see a community split. I see a community engaged.
There will be another public input meeting later in the summer.