The debate about the “Strong Mayor Powers” (SMP) took another turn today. The Mayor of Cobourg issued a statement telling us all that he has issued an edict, read it here, using his SMP to declare that Staff prepare a report about building on the Tannery Lands.

The Tannery Lands are located on Princess St., South of the railway line and West of George St. These lands belong to the Town as a result of previous owners defaulting on taxes. They are polluted due to the industrial uses of the land and are in some stage of remediation. For a better look at the history of this project look at this post written in April 2023 – “Another Zombie arrives from the Dead!”.

But the intriguing question here is “What is going on and why does the Mayor need to use his SMPs for a routine Staff report?” This same result could have been achieved by making a motion at the August 6th Council Meeting.

Our cynical view is that the Mayor needs a ‘win’, to demonstrate his leadership, which has been under attack lately with a petition demanding his resignation – read the story here.

Or has the Mayor been dealing with mysterious developers with big pockets; this land has been waiting for development for fifteen years. The rush for available land to be developed by big Companies rumoured to be friends of the Provincial Government is on. Usually these developments come with rushed and minimised Provincial regulations – MZOs and oodles of money to pay subsidise the developers with public money. A prime example is the development in the East Village area that had sat dormant for years because developers did not want to pay the cost of servicing. Then what? the Provincial “Money Fairy” dropped $25 million into the area. Is the same thing on the horizon here? It shouldn’t be; the Tannery Lands are fully serviced all the developers have to do is follow the rules for planning currently in the Official Plan.

This move may be a prelude to a Developer getting the inside track and avoiding what they deem to be “red tape” when wanting to avoid the usual directions of Cobourg’s Planning and Development regulations such as inconvenient Zoning Bylaws and essential studies.

His edict states: “a. Through this review, staff will consider what model of disposal of surplus lands to support development is most appropriate for recommendation, including the exchange of land for a community benefit.” A most dangerous and insidious clause. Does this mean that he is ready to give the land away to a favoured developer. Just what has been going on the back room?

It is a great pity that the Mayor issued this letter in “media dead zone” a Friday afternoon. A time usually used by Politicians wanting to make statements that are usually unpopular or not easily understood. This kind of a “First” should also be accompanied by a great deal of transparency – a statement from the Mayor explaining the reasoning behind the edit/proclamation. Instead we, the Citizens are left to guess the reasons why and predictably jump to all kinds of speculative conclusions, which does nothing to the reputation or credibility of the Mayor.

This is not the last we will hear about this. I also wonder if anybody on Council has been consulted about this and what will they think about it? Especially when a routine motion from Council could achieve the same thing.

This move is especially galling to those of us who took the Mayor at his word with his election promise to build a team and be collaborative. This action proves the opposite and will just diminish the role of the other six members of Council.