Based on a request from Perth resident and entrepreneur Toby Shannan, Town planning staff investigated the possibility of rezoning Algonquin College’s Perth campus site for ‘Private School Only’ use.
Toby is interested in buying the property and operating it as a non-for-profit trades school. His belief was that the move would stop Algonquin from selling the property to a developer for other uses.
Staff agreed that a municipality has the authority to rezone private land without the owner’s permission, but typically it’s done only for major public interests like safety, land-use conflicts, or broad planning updates.
They added that starting a site-specific rezoning for a private proposal—especially when ownership hasn’t changed and the use is already permitted—is uncommon and carries planning and legal risks.
They also noted it wouldn’t stop a future owner (other than Toby) from buying the land and buildings and then applying for a new and appropriate zoning which would likely be granted by the Ontario Land Tribunal if the Town opposed such a move.
Council voted to receive staff’s report and to provide due-diligence information to interested buyers and work with the eventual owner through the standard planning process.
This, in staff’s opinion would keep future options open, reduce legal risk, and ensure any redevelopment is properly studied, reviewed, and publicly consulted.
Story by Brian Turner