A sit down with Woodstock’s mayor – Part 2

Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione is excited about Streetscape which will kick off phase one in April. He is confident the garbage problem in the core will improve. (Lee Griffi Photo)

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In the last edition of the Echo, we focused primarily on the troubling issues of homelessness, mental health and addictions and how they are affecting Woodstock during a chat with Mayor Jerry Acchione. This week, we look ahead to 2025 and upcoming developments including Streetscape and a new industrial park the city is hoping will take off in the near future.

At a recent Oxford County Council meeting a motion was passed to amend the county’s official plan meaning 89 acres of land can be developed into an industrial subdivision not far from the Toyota assembly plant. The land is currently mainly agricultural with some woodland and wetland areas.

The land is on the north side of Highway 2 and the east side of Highway 401 and is beside 136 hectares of city-owned property. Acchione said he declared a conflict of interest on the issue as the property is right behind his home. He added wasn’t involved in any conversations or voting but could talk to factual information.

“The city property has been owned since maybe 2008. It all needs to be serviced from underneath the 401 so it's quite the undertaking to get it to that point but we are getting there. The city is looking to make a deal with the province to allow the services to get through.”

Acchione added the sky is the limit as to what could come on that land. The next question is can the city support more housing along with the industrial opportunities.

“Our advantage here is we have the 401 and 403. We have fairly easy access to millions of people all the way around us that potential businesses look at. A 30-minute to an hour commute is within normal for a lot of these manufacturing jobs. We are on the radar for a lot of businesses.”

The mayor has made it abundantly clear the city is looking to acquire land at its northern end for further development, land in East Zorra-Tavistock Township. EZT has said it would enter into a conversation with the city once its Secondary Plan has been completed, but that has been delayed by the province. Acchione said he would like to work with the neighbour to the north.

“There has to be a growth and growth also helps EZT residents. There is so much going on in the north end of Woodstock. I’d love to see a grocery store and not just homes, but a good commercial piece of those lands which would benefit everyone.”

He explained it isn’t a secret that many businesses have expressed interest in setting up shop on those EZT lands.

“They are keeping an eye on that area but they won’t put anything in because there is no serviced land. They aren’t going to do it with a septic system and well water so if the city can expand across the street on County Road 17 and across from County Road 11, I would see in the future the possibility of development.”

A new daycare is being constructed just off Juliana Drive and several other developments are in the process of being built but nothing has been made public yet as to what retailers are moving in. A hotel/convention centre is also being built behind the current Holiday Inn during a busy construction year in the city.

The first phase of the Streetscape project is scheduled to start in April with a tender to be tentatively sent out for phase two at some point in 2025, depending on legal advice obtained by the city regarding Coun. Kate Leatherbarrow’s recent conflict of interest declaration and if it has any effect on phase one.

“We are waiting on the integrity commissioner report and a report from our lawyers to see what the best way is forward.”

Acchione has not made it a secret he is in full support of Streetscape but wants to make sure it is done properly and democratically.

“I’m not worried, but I have been on council long enough to know I am only one vote, just like anybody else. Do I get everything I want? Absolutely not. This is a difficult situation for the city to be in. I think it was an innocent error (by Coun. Leatherbarrow) that has brought us to this point.”

He added the last thing he wants the city to do is complete one section of the project and not the rest. He said the city is spending taxpayer dollars on sidewalk repairs now.

“Improved accessibility is important, the lighting is important, even simple garbage cans and benches are going to promote the downtown.”

The Echo challenged Acchione on the garbage situation in the core as anyone who spends time there regularly sees overflowing containers and bags left on the sidewalk without the required bag tags. Much of the garbage is visible for days at a time.

“There are tenants, and it’s difficult to trace the source of that garbage down. They take advantage of it and that is one of the biggest reasons I want to change the garbage cans and get rid of the open-top containers. The cans that have been ordered have smaller slits and there many downtowns have the same containers. You can’t put an entire garbage in.”

There is often garbage across the sidewalk at the vacant and former Good Time Charlies but the Echo has seen the owner of Dino’s restaurant sweeping debris from in front of his establishment. Acchione said a cleaner downtown will come with the pride of Streetscape.

“Any time anybody gets anything new, you are going to keep it clean and keep it tidy. You want to naturally keep it looking good and that is part of human nature. They will. Will it prevent everything, no. But between the garbage cans and designs with more containers so they can be picked up off the ground, it will help.”

Acchione said he’s excited about 2025 in part because of the new homeless shelter coming with the $2 million given to Oxford County from the city’s Building Faster Fund award.

“This is the first time a real partnership is happening between the City of Woodstock and the County of Oxford. We are going to see real change in whatever that system looks like. We have to get rid of the barriers, we have to get more people off the streets and willing to use our shelter system for them to move up, move on, and have a better life.”