Lakeshore Councillors held off on debate over a potential new Greenhouse Business Park, at least while its official plan is under review.
The park would provide a centralized location for large-scale greenhouses in Lakeshore.
Councillors also requested more changes to the Official Plan, which is still under review. The changes include an annual review of trends in the greenhouse industry, demand for greenhouses and an analysis of the future impact of water main extensions.
"We recognized that we are limited in our power to reject greenhouses altogether. However, we will continue to step up and make sure that our residents' concerns are heard," vowed Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey.
Right now, there's not a lot of demand for greenhouses in Lakeshore. There's not enough water capacity, electricity, and natural gas. However, the changes to the Official Plan will ensure if there is an uptick in demand, Lakeshore will be ready to handle it.
"As is the case with housing growth, developing any type of industrial land use will continue to be dictated by where our infrastructure will allow it," said Bailey.
Lakeshore recently agreed to allow fourplexes to meet housing demand, but only in areas where the infrastructure can handle increased use.
