Blair warehouse back on track after surprise motion passes at Cambridge council

A fiercely-opposed 100,000 square meter warehouse in Cambridge, Ont., is now back on, after a surprise motion was brought forward at a council meeting on Tuesday. 

Council waived a notice of motion, which is how Coun. Mike Mann and Coun. Shannon Adshade were able to bring the item forward, since it wasn't on the agenda.

Councillors voted six to two in favour of the motion, which approved a transportation impact study and a heritage impact assessment on the warehouse. Approving that motion has effectively restarted the project as the study and assessment were conditions for the MZO that was issued in April of 2021.

"This just seemed that this was the appropriate time and the way to do it," said Coun. Mann of introducing the motion without notice. "And we followed all of the procedures as far as the procedural bylaw was concerned, as to bringing it forward."

Earlier this year, the Broccolini Real Estate Group's plans to build the Cambridge facility appeared to be off the table. Councillors voted not to proceed with the transportation impact study and heritage impact assessment — halting the project. 

Previously paused over public outcry

At that time, Coun. Adshade said he was voting against the project due to overwhelming feedback from the community. 

"We had 50 delegates that spoke against this and not one single delegate came forward in support, so we do really need to listen to what the community wants and I feel very strongly they don't want this in our community and so I can't support this motion," said Ashade in March.

In an interview Thursday, Coun. Mann also referenced the overwhelming negative feedback at the consultations in March, but said he also heard an "outpouring of positive support" from others after that who were for the project, which would create up to 1,400 jobs. 

CBC News asked if allowing the public to speak on the matter would've potentially allowed those who are in favour of the warehouse to express their support on the record. 

"It could have done that," Mann responded, "but it could also bring the same delegates forward again who are opposed to it, and so we did it the way we did."

Coun. Jan Liggett was one of two councillors to vote against Tuesday's motion, saying in an interview she felt "blindsided" by it.

"It was a shocker," she said.

"Normally for something like that, a vote of reconsideration in particular, we would have gotten notice long before the meeting for such a thing to happen."

The warehouse will be built in Ward 1, which Coun. Donna Reid represents. She told CBC she doesn't believe an additional public consultation was necessary prior to the vote. 

"I think if we had had an additional public meeting, it would've been filled with Blair Engaged people, and we've already heard from them for six hours," she said. "I don't think we needed to do that again."