Development plans that include a water park, hotel and more near the Toronto Premium Outlets have taken a small step forward.
Halton Hills councillors have endorsed an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) for the entertainment district at the north-east corner of Steeles Avenue and Eighth Line. The OPA will go before council for final approval on June 19.
The plans from Gilbach Inc. include a proposed water park, hotel, spa, restaurants, convention centre and flying theatre on the 19-hectare section of land.
During their recent meeting, councillors were surprised to see the company is also seeking permission to allow a range of potential industrial uses on the land, such as warehousing.
"It's my sense that two very different business proposals are being discussed here,” said Mayor Ann Lawlor. “One being a water park and hotel and entertainment centre, and the other being warehousing.”
But the industrial concept appears to be, in essence, a backup plan. A staff report to council makes it clear that the entertainment complex is the preferred option.
"However, should market or other economic factors make the water park proposal unviable, the applicant wants to ensure permission for suitable alternative employment uses are also included in the amendment," notes the staff report.
Nick Wood of Corbett Land Strategies, representing developer Gilbach Inc., told council that market conditions were a lot different when the OPA application was first brought forward.
“Those have changed through COVID, (and there have been) economic changes as well," he said. "We’re just trying to maintain as much flexibility for the development of these lands.”
Wood assured council that the developer still has “interest in the water park and entertainment complex.”
Any construction on the property likely won't happen for some time though as an application to rezone the land still has to come at a future date. When that happens, there will be more public consultation.