Woolwich Township provides status update following the A Better Tent City (ABTC) presentation

Woolwich, ON – Woolwich Township would like to provide a status update following the A Better Tent City (ABTC) presentation to Council on the evening of Tuesday, June 1^st, 2021.

While there was only sufficient time to hear the ABTC presentation, residents, and other interested individuals from across the region; Council was able to consider all verbal and written delegations and the related information and feedback provided. 

Council has asked that at the next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, June 8^th, that the ABTC representatives come prepared to respond to the significant number of questions and concerns related to their proposed move to the Spitzig Road property. 

There will also be an opportunity for residents or other individuals/groups to delegate before Council and outline any new information and questions.  Township staff has also been asked to provide a memo outlining planning, building, fire, and any other technical issues for Council’s information and consideration. 

While the ABTC representatives asked - on the basis of compassionate grounds - for a waiver of due process, it was highlighted to the group both prior to and at the meeting Tuesday night, that due process via an appropriate planning application is the preferred course. There is no official planning application before Council at this time and based on the length of time needed for a planning application process, it was recommended to the group that they need to find an interim site if they wish to pursue due process in Woolwich. 

In summary, no decision of any type was made by Council on Tuesday evening, it was simply the first opportunity to hear the group’s proposal. It is expected that Council will provide direction to the ABTC representatives next week regarding the next steps that the municipality sees them having to take as part of the process for submitting a complete planning application for consideration.

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Media contacts:

Rae Ann Bauman, Corporate Communications – rbauman@woolwich.ca