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After Norwich Township politicians voted to slash how much land it would cede to Woodstock in a boundary adjustment, the latter’s city council is on board – with one caveat.
Woodstock politicians voted 6-1 in favour of Norwich’s alternative boundary adjustment proposal that would see the city swallow 43 hectares of its neighbour’s land, down from the city’s bid for 395 hectares.
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But the township’s recommendation of cross-border services was rebuked by Woodstock council at its Thursday debate because it’s against the official plan of Oxford County, where both municipalities are located.
This week, township council unanimously backed the slimmed-down option after receiving scores of letters and a 400-signature petition strongly opposing the 395-hectare plan.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s not being considered as part of the City of Woodstock, but I certainly understand the concerns of the farmers and the residents of the Township of Norwich,” Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione said. “We certainly want to protect as much farmland as we can.”
Other conditions recommended by Norwich Township included that Woodstock pay all legal fees pertaining to the boundary adjustment, joint prosperity, tax mitigation and public consultation before the township signs off.
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The main aim of the proposed boundary adjustment is to allow realignment of Patullo Avenue to intersect Highway 59 farther from Highway 401 on- and off-ramps, a Transportation Ministry requirement to permit industrial development on the road’s north side. The new boundary would put the road in Woodstock.
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Speaking at Norwich Township’s council meeting earlier this week, resident Ben Kungl questioned why 395 hectares was needed for roadwork.
“If a new road access is all that’s needed, then why is a sizeable increase to the 900-plus acres being proposed?” Kungl asked councillors.
Another reason Woodstock is eyeing more land on its southern border is the city’s long-term need for future development land.
“It’s an exercise of looking at any space that makes sense for a city when they’re looking at extending any type of borders,” Acchione said. “Just along the road was a natural spot of easy growth because of the work we’ve been doing (nearby).”
The lone holdout on Woodstock council was Bernia Martin, who said she voted against the proposed boundary adjustment over concerns about the long-term need to mitigate loss of prime farmland in Oxford County and across Ontario.
“It was that big-picture lens that led to my vote,” she said. “Not necessarily today and not necessarily tomorrow, but if we continue to take land out of production, we eventually might put ourselves into a food-insecure situation in Ontario.”
Norwich Township, Woodstock, and Oxford County councils must all agree before any boundary adjustment proposal goes to Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs for final approval.
The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada
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