Sustainable Community Plan for the Town of Collingwood

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TOWN OF COLLINGWOOD SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLAN For this plan, the Nottawasaga Region includes Collingwood and the three municipalities of: • The Township of Clearview: One of the southernmost municipalities in the Georgian Triangle, was established on January 1, 1994, by the amalgamation of the four municipalities of the Town of Stayner, The Village of Creemore and the Townships of Nottawasaga and Sunnidale; • Town of Wasaga Beach: Nestled on the Southern shores of Georgian Bay and boasts the longest fresh water beach in the world, the region has become the major recreation area for the southern part of the province; and • Town of The Blue Mountains: Formed in 1998, the new Town is an amalgamation of the former Town of Thornbury and the former Township of Collingwood. 3 For planning purposes, it is important to also note that the towns included in the Nottawasaga Region are in different counties. The County of Simcoe includes (among others) Collingwood, Clearview and Wasaga Beach and The Town of The Blue Mountains is in the County of Grey. 1.4 Why Develop a Sustainable Community Plan? Despite being a stable and progressive community, there are changes and growth pressures that have led to the need to develop a SCP, including: • Growing population; • Economic transitions; • Recreation and tourism demands; • Vibrant and changing downtown core and commercial environment; and • Global forces of change. Each of the drivers are presented in more detail below. Growing Population During the fifteen years between 1991 and 2006, Collingwood’s population grew by more than 20% to 17,290 (Statistics Canada 1991 and 2006). This growth in population is expected to continue in the coming decades. Currently, there are over 6,000 proposed dwelling units under review and development by Collingwood’s Planning Department. Population projections for the Town range from 21,152 in the year 2021 4 to a 2031 population within a range between 24,800 5 and 28,422. 6 Growth can be projected at close to 30,000 people over the next 10 years, which represents a 30% increase from the estimated 2006 total of 23,000. 7 Census data and other municipal projections also show that population in the region around Collingwood is also growing (Township of Clearview, Town of The Blue Mountains and the Town of Wasaga Beach). In addition to increasing population numbers, Statistics Canada projects an increase in the percentage of residents over the age of 60 in the region (above the provincial average). The Town will continue to attract an aging population. In 2006, about 34% of the population was over 55 3 Source: NottawasagaQuest Engagement Plan, 2007 4 Source: Town of Collingwood’s Official Plan, 2004 5 Source: Simcoe County Growth Management Directions Report, 2007 6 Source: Intergovernmental Action Plan, 2006 7 Source: Town of Collingwood Leisure Services Master Plan, Final Report January 2008. 4
TOWN OF COLLINGWOOD SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLAN years old (an increase from around 30% in 2001) 8 . The average age in Collingwood in 2006 was 44 years old compared to 39 years old in Ontario. The demographic shifts in Collingwood will have direct impacts on future planning for service delivery, especially housing types and location. A growing (and aging) population will have varied housing, infrastructure, cultural and recreational needs. Also, while it is not possible to completely and accurately quantify the numbers of seasonal and recreational residents, fluctuations in population will directly impact the Town’s infrastructure, service delivery and community character. Economic Transition Collingwood is currently a community in transition, as they maintain and grow their employment sectors such as manufacturing, knowledge based, medical, commercial and tourism. The community’s largest employers include Pilkington Glass of Canada, Goodall Trelleborg Rubber Ltd., Collingwood General & Marine Hospital, and VOAC Inc. Collingwood is home to Canadian Mist Whiskey and a newly developed ethanol plant. The municipality has created an Economic Stability and Development Services Board with the intention of addressing economic and employment issues with the mission statement: “To build upon the economic capacity of Collingwood and, to improve our economic future and the quality of life for all, a process by which public, business and governmental sector partners work collectively to create better conditions for economic growth and employment generation.” Based on 2006 Statistics Canada information and 2007 Business Plan Data 9 , Collingwood imports 37% of its labour force from outside of its boundaries. Additionally, they export another 19% to other communities. Although Collingwood experienced a number of industrial closures over the past 5 years (2001 – 2006), strong economic indicators within the labour force sector, allowed for the participation rate to remain unchanged at 62%. 10 Recreation and Tourism Demands The Town has become a major recreation area for the southern part of the province. This trend is expected to continue over the course of the Plan’s implementation. Collingwood is increasingly becoming a home for well established urban families as indicated by the rise of family median incomes (for both couples and single-parent families), as well as an increase in owner occupied dwellings since 1996 and a decrease in rented dwellings during this same time period. 11 The aging but still active population, will be looking for more passive social, recreational and cultural activities. Vibrant Downtown Core Residents and visitors to Collingwood appreciate the historic importance, employment aspects, living centre, housing options and aesthetic appeal of the Town’s downtown core. The Business Improvement Association (BIA) has been in place for more than 20 years and works to enhance aesthetics and marketing for its members in the downtown core. It is proactively marketing itself as being unique compared to the shopping that is experienced in the Regional Commercial 8 Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2006 9 Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 10 Source: Collingwood Economic Development Services 11 Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 5
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APPENDIX D: LIST OF INTERVIEWEES
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APPENDIX E: NOTTAWASAGAQUEST WORKSH
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Pretty River Academy Students - Nov
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Town of Wasaga Beach - January 17th
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What Does Sustainability Mean to Yo
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Reducing our Urban Footprint (Land
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Improving How We Get Around (Transp
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Minimizing Resource Use What are So
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Strengthening Our Economy What are
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Enhancing Our Arts, Cultural, Herit
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APPENDIX G: COPIES OF COMMUNICATION
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Sustainable Community Plan for the Town of Collingwood

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