Meaford is going to consider swapping land with the Bluewater District School Board (BWDSB) today.
Council will look at approving the swap of a portion of Ryerson Street for the corner of St. Vincent Street and Aiken Street during its meeting.
This comes after the track lands at the former Georgian Bay Community School were declared surplus by the board.
While council had declined a previous chance to purchase the lands, they proposed a land exchange between Meaford and the BWDSB.
In early December, the board held a meeting to discuss the land swap proposal, where they voted to sell the track lands to the town.
The board currently owns the north and south parcels of the track lands, while the municipality owns the road in between.
BWDSB General Manager of Purchasing and Transportation Brian Hayman had previously indicated by swapping land, it would allow the board to sell almost 8.5 acres of connected land.
A report from interim CAO Matt Smith says, “staff believe that the proposed land exchange is beneficial to both the municipality and the community at large. The exchange will create a municipality controlled parcel at the corner of Aiken Street and St. Vincent Street, which can be developed as green space, while also creating one unencumbered parcel of land owned by the school board which can be used for development.”
If council approves the exchange, a by-law will come back in the near future to finalize the exchange. Staff also plan to bring forward a proposal with what to do with the track lands, including a community garden.
Council will consider this land swap during its meeting on Jan. 15 at 1 p.m.
