Tillsonburg council briefs from Nov. 10 meeting

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Draft plan of subdivision extended

Tillsonburg council supported a two-year extension of draft approval of a subdivision planned for North Street West.

The request for the extension came from Southside Construction Management Ltd. for a subdivision on the corner of Quarter Town Line and North Street West. The first phase of the 103-lot subdivision was approved in 2023, and consisted of 37 lots. This application for an extension was in regards to the remaining 66 lots.

The approval for the second phase would have lapsed in February 2026.

Another four-way stop?

Tillsonburg council directed staff to look at the feasibility of a four-way stop at the intersection of Sanders Street and Hardy Ave. The action followed a recommendation from the town’s Traffic Advisory Committee.

Free pickleball for students

A suggestion from the town’s Recreation and Sports Advisory Committee to allow Glendale physical education classes to use the town’s pickleball courts at no charge was accepted by council. The fee removal only applies for physical education classes.

Home construction slowing

While residential building activity in Tillsonburg slowed as of the end of the third quarter, industrial and commercial building increased.

Total permits issued for residential were $22.4 million in 2025 for the first nine months, which compares to $63 million for 2024, and $92 million in 2021. Looking at the statistics by single-family dwellings, the number was up slightly from last year with 22 as compared to 16 in 2024. That still pales in comparison to the 63 permits issued for single dwellings in 2023 and 156 in 2021. Permits issued for townhomes were 32 in 2025, and 82 in 2024. Total permits issued for new dwellings were 62 in 2025, and 239 last year.

The value of industrial building permits issued in 2025 was $50.7 million, up from the $35.6 million in 2026, which was the highest value in the last five years.

Otter Lane declared surplus

Otter Lane, a small street off Parkwood Drive, was declared surplus by Tillsonburg council at the Nov. 10 meeting.

The process was started after the town received a request from an adjacent property owner interested in purchasing the property. The right-of-way was never improved and no objections were raised by town staff.

An appraisal will be done on the property. It can’t be built on due to a municipal drain traversing it.

And the survey says

A recent survey conducted by Oxford County in preparation for coming county and town budgets showed most people feel the overall value they receive for their tax dollars is fair to good.

The number of the respondents more than doubled from last year’s 150 to 322.

Respondents ranked various town services if the level of service should be improved, maintained or reduced. Roads and bridges led the improve category with 30.2 per cent of respondents asking for improvements, while 62.4 per cent wanted to see the level of service maintained. Bylaw enforcement was on top of the level of service most respondents wanted to see reduced at 33.9 per cent. While 51.3 per cent desired maintaining bylaw’s level of service, only 13.1 per cent wanted to see it improved.

The results were extrapolated to be accurate for 95 per cent of town residents, and will be considered when preparing the town budget.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres used the survey to provide a little education about residential taxes, saying only 57 cents of the dollar on tax bills received by residents goes to the town. The majority of the remainder goes to Oxford County and a small portion for education.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy, the town’s representative on Oxford County council, commented that the county did a fantastic job laying out the responsibilities of county and town services in the survey.

Wildlife feeding restrictions

Tillsonburg council amended its animal control bylaw to provide more flexibility to restrict the number of birds feeders if it reaches the point of attracting vermin.

A report on the matter stemmed from a resident’s complaint that a neighbour had an excessive number of feeders, which were attracting rats. While the suggested amendment wasn’t meant to control the number of feeders, it did provide bylaw enforcement personnel with some teeth in situations where feeding wildlife was creating a nuisance.

Park bench donation

Town council gave a green light to a planned donation of a park bench for the Glendale Park.

The bench will be donated by the Ellenberger family and the Sooley family will provide labour for installation.