$20 million Wesleyville land agreement unanimously approved my council
By Felicia Massey
In one of the most significant land deals in Northumberland County’s history, Port Hope council has unanimously agreed to purchase over 1,000 acres of Wesleyville land for $18.6 million.
This land, previously owned by the Ontario Power Generation, includes 1,334 acres in the Wesleyville area.
Mayor Bob Sanderson approached Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in 2019 regarding this land deal.
“This is quite a significant undertaking,” said Mayor Sanderson after the trade was approved.
“The purchase of the lands in Wesleyville brings long term multigenerational opportunities for the Municipality.”
Four kilometers, or 18 acres, stretch the Lake Ontario shoreline. This is said to make up 20 percent of the Port Hope waterfront. 700 acres, or 53%, of this land has been deemed environmentally protected and can be used for parks or green spaces.
Also included in this agreement is hundreds of acres of land that can be used for future commercial or residential development. For the 634 acres available for development, Council says there are no plans yet as to how this land will be used. A public engagement process to hear opinions and plan for the future of this land is set to begin in 2023 and will continue as developments unfold.
The agreement includes all infrastructure and buildings on the land, with the exception of the Wesleyville Church.
A $20 million low interest loan from Infrastructure Ontario’s funding programs ensures the $18.6 million land purchase and any land transfer taxes or extra costs will be covered.
The sale will officially close on the 31st of March.
