Wesleyville / OPG Lands Acquisition
This web page provides information about the lands at Wesleyville, current and potential future uses of the land, the process that has been undertaken by staff and Council, information about the purchase agreement, future opportunities for engagement with our communities, and next steps.
Current status
Settlement Reached with Province for Wesleyville Lands Purchase
November 15, 2022
The Municipality of Port Hope and the Province have amicably settled all matters arising out of the termination of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale with respect to the lands located at 2655 Lakeshore Road (Wesleyville) in the Municipality of Port Hope.
“We look forward to having further discussions with the Province related to this property and the potential it has for our community and Northumberland County,” states Bob Sanderson, Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope.
Per the terms of the agreement, the Municipality will not be providing further comment at this time.
Update on the Wesleyville Lands Purchase - April 1, 2022
The Municipality received notification from Ontario Power Generation (OPG) that the province has stopped the sale of the Wesleyville lands in the Municipality of Port Hope from proceeding.
This notification is a last-minute change and was unexpected for Council and staff, who have been preparing for the closing of the sale, which was scheduled for Thursday, March 31, 2022.
In their letter, the province advised that the lands merit assessment by a newly proposed provincial initiative called the Centre of Realty Excellence (CORE).
The CORE program is intended to create consistency across the public sector for prudent management of government property. The program seeks to determine priority underutilized and/or surplus properties aligned with key programs, including affordable housing and long-term care.
To our knowledge, this proposed program does not yet have a governance model, framework, or timeline for implementation.
We have a binding, unconditional purchase and sale agreement with OPG in place, approved by OPG Board of Directors and Port Hope Council.
For the past two years, we followed proper process and due diligence to reach the binding agreement. We negotiated a fair deal in good faith.
Right now, we have a lot of questions. We want to be open and transparent with the community and we are sharing what information we have, which is limited.
We have reached out to the province to understand their concerns and to demonstrate how our strategic plan aligns with the mandate of the CORE program.
We continue to be committed to purchasing the lands and have extended an invitation to the province to work with them through the CORE process. We still believe this is a real opportunity for Port Hope.
We are eager to work with the province to find a way to get back on the path we planned together with OPG – a path that Council supported unanimously and that is best for Port Hope’s future.
“I was very surprised by the abrupt change of plans for this land purchase, since the agreement was approved by both parties,” states Bob Sanderson, Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope. “We followed a proper process, signed a binding agreement, and shared the good news story with our community. We are disappointed with this outcome.”
Read the Staff Report to learn more Review the staff presentation
This purchase is the most significant investment in Port Hope’s history. It will be a long-term project that will take decades to complete, with input from the community on how to use the land.
About the land |
The lands include 1334 acres on what is commonly known as Wesleyville. They include:
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Wesleyville shoreline
Wesleyville agricultural lands
Wesleyville commercial lands
Wesleyville cultural assets
Wesleyville forest and farmlands
The opportunity for Port Hope |
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Buying the land presents a unique opportunity for the Municipality of Port Hope. The land includes four kilometres of Lake Ontario shoreline, which is an unheard-of prospect for any municipality. More than half the lands could be available for parks, recreation, green space and the protection of significant natural and cultural features. More than 600 acres could be developed for residential, commercial and employment lands. The purchase offers something for everyone. The purchase also aligns with community priorities and elements of Port Hope’s Strategic Plan including environmental, recreational, natural heritage protection, intentional growth, and a stronger economy. As well, Port Hope is historic and important to many people. The Wesleyville project will allow us to address growth pressures. The purchase will also supply the Municipality with tax revenue in the future that will help us achieve some of our strategic priorities. |
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Current and potential future land uses |
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Currently, the lands include a mix of zoning: general employment, power generation, and environmental protection. Much of it is untouched, but OPG and other tenants are using a 260-acre developed industrial area. These tenants include Bromley Fabricators Inc. and Peterborough Equipment Ltd. OPG also uses some of the site for fire training. The Site is part of the Williams Treaties area and territory of Mississaugas, a subtribe of the Anishinaabe-speaking First Nations peoples, which includes: Alderville First Nation; Hiawatha First Nation; and Scugog Island First Nation. The Wesleyville Village area has five buildings of historic significance and contain heritage designated properties which fall within Northumberland County’s Official Plan’s Natural Heritage System Plan. One of the province’s largest smokestacks is located on the property. The OPG structure has never been used. Potential uses:The Municipality could use the lands for a variety of purposes. For example, more than half the lands could be used for parks, recreation, green space, and the protection of significant natural and cultural features. Over 600 acres could potentially be developed for residential, commercial, and employment lands. A comprehensive and long-term planning and community consultation process will determine how the lands will be used in the future. |
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Process to date |
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A land purchase of this type is complex and involves many steps and negotiations between levels of government. It takes time to get it right. It is normal and important that land acquisition discussions are kept confidential until an agreement is reached. Confidential meetings protect both the seller and purchaser. They also ensure the Municipality can negotiate and get fair value for taxpayers’ dollars. For Port Hope, the negotiations and due diligence mitigates risks and ensures, if a sale were to proceed, that the purchase will be in the best interest of the community. The Province and OPG support this purchase.
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About the purchase agreement |
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As with any property sale, the agreement details not only the cost to buy the lands, but also the conditions of the sale. Agreement highlights include:
On February 15, Council determined that the agreement and its terms are reasonable and to be a good value and investment for Port Hope, given the amount of waterfront lands and the many opportunities the property presents for the environment and for the community. |
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Hearing from the community |
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The Municipality will need the community’s help to shape the vision for how the land will be used. It will be a long-term process over decades, and the Municipality intends to seek thoughtful input from Port Hope residents, businesses, landowners, Indigenous communities, and community groups along the way. A public engagement plan will be developed. First engagement is not likely to start until 2023. |
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Next steps |
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Staff are now preparing more detailed plans related to master planning next steps, public engagement, a long-term financial management plan, and revenue projections to ensure all work continues to align with the Strategic Plan and our vision for the future. |
Questions?
We have compiled a list of questions that you may have about this land acquisition. We may not have anticipated all of your questions, but we will continue to add to this list when additional frequently asked questions arise.
FAQ's |
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The table below will be updated as the project progresses to include and address questions and comments from the public and media.
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