Council Meeting Summary: August 12, 2025

The following is a brief recap of the main issues and matters that Council dealt with at the meeting held on August 12, 2025. A video recording of the meeting will also be posted at Lakeshore.ca/TV

These highlights are not official minutes of the meeting and are meant solely for the purpose of general communications. The approved minutes provide the only official record of Council Proceedings and decisions.  

Council: 

  • Approved Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZBA-04-2025 (Zoning By-law 2-2012, as amended), to rezone the lands known legally as, Part of Lot 16, Concession 1, Tilbury, designated as Part 2 on Plan 12R30167; Lakeshore, being part of the Property Identifier Number 75074-0044(LT), and known municipally as 16325 Lakeshore Road 301, from “Agriculture (A)” to “Agriculture Zone Exception 1 (A-1)” zone and adopted By-law 54-2025. 

  • Approved the 2025 Lakeshore Community Improvement Plan for Housing and Main Streets and Rural Economic Development pursuant to subsection 28(4) of the Planning Act and adopted By-laws 56-2025 and 57-2025;directed Administration to transfer $400,000 from the Economic Development Reserve to the Community Improvement Plan reserve to support the Main Street and Rural Economic Development programs; directed Administration to report back to Council in February 2026 with an analysis of effectiveness of the incentives during an initial pilot phase and with any proposed process improvements, and to bring forward an opportunity to allocate a reasonable funding amount for the Belle River BIA district for CIP implementation at the time of the update report. 

  • Considered the Industrial and Commercial Land Market Study and directed Administration to: 

    • inform the County of Essex of the recommendations in the Industrial and Commercial Market Study (Watson & Associates Economists Limited Final Report) regarding Lakeshore’s commercial and employment land needs, to discuss the long-term vision for employment land in Lakeshore and to discuss next steps to determine options for long-term employment area needs;  

    • report back with the results of the discussions to consider for future employment areas; 

    • contact the impacted landowners in the Patillo Road/Advance Secondary Plan area to initiate a secondary plan process in 2026 to consider redesignating the 54 net hectares (133 net acres) in the Patillo Road area from Urban Reserve to Industrial in the Lakeshore Official Plan; and 

    • transfer a total of $23,202 ($6,602+$16,600) from the Plans and Studies Reserve to fund the budget variance for the Industrial and Commercial Market Study. 

  • Awarded the Tender for the Comber Sideroad Watermain Replacement (Phase 1) to Amico Infrastructures Inc. in the amount of $5,748,930.18, including applicable HST; and delegated authority to the Corporate Leader – Operations to enter into contract approvals to a maximum amount of $600,000.00 pertaining to On-site Engineering and Contract Administration and Contingency Allowance, as presented at the August 12, 2025 Council Meeting; and further, directed Administration to proceed to detailed design for Phase 2 in 2025. 

  • Awarded the Professional Services for the 2026 Bridge Rehabilitation Program to RC Spencer Associated for at total cost of $217,898.69, including applicable HST; and delegated authority to the Corporate Leader – Operations to enter into contract approvals to a maximum amount of $105,000.00 pertaining to Geotechnical Investigation, Materials Testing and Excess Soils as well as the required Permitting Approval Costs for a total project cost of $322,898.69. 

  • Adopted the following by-laws: 

    • By-law 33-2025, Being a By-law to Authorize an Agreement with Enbridge Gas Inc. 

    • By-law 53-2025, Being a By-law to Authorize the Use of Optical Scan Vote Tabulators and Accessible Voting Equipment for the 2026 Municipal Election 

    • By-law 58-2025, Being a By-law to Confirm the Proceedings of the July 8, 2025 Council Meeting 

  • Due to the sale of ELK Energy, directed Administration to send a letter to ENWIN requesting that the mayor or designate be appointed a seat on the new board