in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
February 10, 2022
Protesters outside Grey Highlands municipal offices on February 2, 2022.
BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — On February 2, Grey Highlands Council unanimously approved a bylaw paving the way for the final sale of the municipally-owned lands in the Beaver Valley to Westway Capital Inc. (Westway). As such, Westway says they are looking forward to working with the Municipality of Grey Highlands and Grey County in building on the collective vision to revitalize the former Talisman Resort lands. But the hunger for more information continues to fester within the community.
In response to Council's decision, Protecting Talisman Lands (ProtectTalisman) made an emergency court filing to the Superior Court immediately following the February 2 decision of Council. The case against the municipality was heard on February 9. The group requested that the Court order that the sale would not be finalized until the end of the 180 day closing period. This would presumably give time for the group to argue the merits of their case before the Court in a proper hearing, before the sale was closed. The group also hopes that the by-law could be reversed on the basis that Council did not follow their own policies. According to ProtectTalisman, the judge has his reserved opinion and the results of this request won't be known for two to three weeks.
ProtectTalisman says this is only the first in a many-pronged, strategic approach to fight the sale to Westway that will be taken through the courts and planning processes. This could mean that a cloud of controversy may hang over the deal for quite some time.
In addition to the emergency court filing, a Freedom of Information Request was made by the group last Fall, prior to the finalization of the sale, to forcibly reveal the minutes of at least seven closed-session Grey Highlands Council meetings identified by the group as having relevant discussions about the properties. This has also produced no such results.
When asked if minutes from the closed sessions on the sale of lands would be made public now that the sale is complete, Grey Highlands CAO Karen Govan responded, "All negotiations that took part in closed session are not public information and will remain confidential." She added, "This is to ensure that the municipality's negotiation strategies remain confidential and to protect any future negotiations."
However, some details about the marketing process were revealed by Govan who played two roles in the sales process as both spokesperson for thinkCOMPASS, the marketing company tasked with finding buyers, and as CAO, signatory to the municipality's sale agreement. "Between December 2020 and June 2021, there were 23 inquiries about the properties," said Govan. "thinkCOMPASS maintained a tracking list of all inquiries and shared this list with the Municipality throughout the process."
"We have an extraordinary opportunity to create a world class development and recreational area" said Martin Simone, President of Westway. In a February 5 media release, he tried to assure the community that they would respect the importance of working with local stakeholders and the sensitivity of these lands. "Westway has assembled a group of award winning consultants and technical experts who will assist in the evaluation and design of the Project while the design, land use planning, and public consultation will be led by The Planning Partnership." Simone added, "Working with government agencies and environmental stakeholders is paramount in realizing the municipal and community vision for these lands."
According to Govan, "Westway has already met with Niagara Escarpment Commission, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority and The Bruce Trail Conservancy."
Simone also backed up his group's commitment with this statement, "The Westway team and its investors have decades of experience in complex land development projects including recreation and resort projects. Westway has successfully financed multiple real estate and investment projects throughout the province of Ontario and assembled best in class consultants, accredited financial partners and builders, all of whom are excited about this project and working to achieve the vision set out for these properties." But Simone stopped short of providing names and examples, when asked for more information.
On March 2, 2021, the Municipality had entered into a one-year Joint Venture Agreement with the owners of the Talisman Springs Inn property (2420124 Ontario Inc.), to promote and market the collective properties that once comprised the former Talisman Resort lands. While each of the parties in the Joint Venture Agreement retained ownership of their own respective lands, the Agreement committed the parties to collaborate and coordinate their efforts to evaluate, appraise, prepare, market, solicit offers and ideally, sell the lands as a single development opportunity.
When asked if Westway is seeking more investors, or looking to purchase the Talisman Springs Inn property from Brian Ellis' numbered company, to form a single connected development, Simone declined to respond. Govan iterated, "Development can occur on any of the three parcels (the recently-purchased Westway lands, as well as the middle parcel containing Talisman Springs Inn) providing it complies with all regulations under the Planning Act, including but not limited to the Provincial Policy Statement, Grey County and Grey Highlands official plan, Niagara Escarpment Commission and Grey Sauble Conservation Authority." She assured, "There is a lot of oversight on these lands to ensure that any development is respectful and in compliance."
Imploring their supporters to not lose hope, ProtectTalisman continues to fundraise for their cause. At the time of publication, the group had raised over $17,000 of their current $25,000 goal on GoFundMe.
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