Land deal for new school in northwest London barely clears first political hurdle
An innovative land deal intended to bring a new school to northwest London years sooner than scheduled became the latest flashpoint for city council.
Built in 2017 for 500 students, Sir Arthur Currie Public School currently has an enrollment of almost 1,000 pupils — half relegated to 22 portables.
Auburn Developments has offered to sell a property on the south side of Sunningdale Road to the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) if city hall permits the townhouses intended for the site to instead be constructed on a lot north of Sunningdale.
The TVDSB believes that could accelerate construction of a new school in northwest London by years.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, however, several councillors argued the proposal guts the London Plan’s underlying principal of reducing urban sprawl.
“The faster option, in my view, the school board should initiate a zoning amendment on the lands they want, and they should expropriate those lands,” argued Councillor Jesse Helmer.
“They’re choosing not to because perhaps (expropriation may take) some time, and because of cost,” added Councillor Stephen Turner. “We don’t change our policies to save other people and agencies money.”
But other council members argued the proposal addresses most of the concerns raised by city planners when Auburn Developments failed to get permission to develop the same property north of Sunningdale in May.
“There will be additional steps in this process,” asserted Councillor Shawn Lewis. “That’s when we will get the high level reports back on things like (sewer & water) servicing. That’s when we’ll hold a public participation meeting. That’s when the environmental review will take place.”
Council voted 7-6 to direct staff to prepare the necessary reports for future consideration.
The close vote highlighting the vacant Ward 13 seat once held by MP-elect Arielle Kayabaga— a political ally of Helmer.
If the necessary amendment to The London Plan go forward, Helmer warned it could face appeals from concerned Londoners.
“They’re not just going to sit there and let Official Plan amendments go through that are contrary to the Official Plan. They’re going to appeal, and that process is very slow (and) expensive.
Civic administration will work with the school board and Auburn developments to prepare the necessary documents for consideration at a future meeting of the Planning and Environment Committee.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.