In its June 23 virtual meeting, Innisfil Town Council received an update on the Mobility Orbit Transit-Oriented Community - a new “sustainable, balanced and future-focused” community planned around a new GO train station on lands owned by Cortel Group, on Line 6.
Council was told that work is ongoing, developing the Orbit ‘vision’ and a preliminary design for the GO station, but there is still a level of uncertainty: there is as yet no development agreement signed with Cortel Group, and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has yet to respond to the town’s request for a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) to fast-track development of the lands, which lie outside of the Alcona settlement boundary.
Right now, councillors were told, a number of planning steps are taking place concurrently.
The Master Concept Site Plan, establishing the land uses, intensification, and built form within the Transit-Oriented Community Zone (a circle within 225 metres of the new GO station) is under development by the Orbit Technical Design Review team, consisting of town and agency staff, and shared consultants - at the same time as a review of the GO Station preliminary design.
The preliminary design is expected to be completed as early as the first week in July; a complete site plan submission is expected in the 3rd quarter of 2021, and construction of the GO Train Station is set to begin in 2022 “pending other approvals.”
A Request for Proposals (RFP) for an Orbit Potential and Innovation Plan (OPIP), spelling out means of reducing carbon emissions “from design to construction to living,” incorporating Smart technology and developing affordability, walkability, and a sense of place in the Orbit, will go out this month. The work of translating the Orbit Vision into policies through the OPIP should begin this September, with completion scheduled early in 2023.
The update, presented by Orbit Director Tim Cane, also introduced a “Sustainability Checklist,” to be achieved through the site plan review process and development agreements. The checklist includes protection of water resources, building culture and “community wellness,” creating a resilient community, focusing on sustainable management of resources, and reducing carbon use.
Third-party verification, through LEED Certification or other programs, is identified as necessary for environmental quality control, “while at the same time providing the flexibility for developers to achieve these targets,” the report stated.
The process calls for a development agreement with Cortel Group to be in place prior to the design of the GO station, however, due to the complexities of the situation “no agreement has been reached to date,” council was advised.
As well, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has yet to respond to the town’s request for a Ministerial Zoning Order that would fast-track the Mobility Orbit.
The report noted, “The council endorsed draft MZO, if approved by the Ministry, requires the developer to proceed through a Site Plan Control Process and associated agreements to secure future development on the Orbit lands consistent with the Orbit vision.”
Staff suggested that the town further ask the Minister for clarification on “how sustainability matters will be addressed through the Site Plan process,” and ask his support for the Sustainability Checklist.
One of the proposals presented in the report calls for consideration of a District Energy System for the Orbit, to provide shared thermal heating and cooling from a central source.
The DES would eliminate the need for individual buildings to have their own boilers, chillers, and cooling systems, and could facilitate a switch to non-carbon sources in the future – including redirected waste heat from the nearby Wastewater Treatment Plant, and geothermal energy
The shared system could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 372 tonnes per year, once fully implemented – but it comes with a high price tag. The report suggested a cost of $74 million to implement the system in the compact inner core of the Orbit and the GO station in Phase 1 and $170 million for the full 425 hectares of the Orbit.
The report acknowledged that there would be no positive return on the investment until 2038, and recommended that staff look into the possibility of grants.
Questioned about the details of a District Energy System, Cane explained that a detailed design would look at the thermal load of each of the buildings within Phase 1, to balance the heating and air conditioning needs.
Coun. Ken Fowler also asked if the use of thermal waste from the wastewater treatment plant would reduce the heat pollution of Lake Simcoe.
“Yes,” said Cane; the system would “siphon off” the heat produced by treated effluent. He also acknowledged that the DES would, at least initially, rely on carbon-based fuels like natural gas.
“Yes, we’re starting off a little more carbon-intensive than we’d like to,” Cane said, but the system could be converted to an alternative energy source in the future, he said.
“I was quite impressed with the report,” said Mayor Lynn Dollin, when council unanimously voted to receive the information, support the idea of a District Energy System for the Orbit, adopt the Sustainability Checklist, and ask the Minister to include the checklist in an MZO.
“It begins to feel real to me,” Dollin said, although she warned, “The Minister may choose to do nothing.”
Currently, information on the Mobility Orbit is available at www.innisfil.ca/orbit and www.getinvolvedinnisfil.ca/go. A new dedicated website will consolidate the information.
