The Saugeen Times

Ripley Square project closer to reality
By Liz Dadson

Huron-Kinloss Council

The old Courtney Feed building would be the first one restored in Ripley

David Brown has already restored this building at the southeast corner of downtown Ripley which houses Dalton Pottery

Developer David Brown is one step closer to turning his vision for Ripley Market Square into a reality.

Monday night (July 27), Huron-Kinloss council, in planning advisory committee, approved the zoning bylaw amendment and Official Plan amendment required for this $10-million project to proceed. About 50 people attended the meeting, held in the Ripley-Huron Community Centre auditorium.

Brown plans to turn Ripley into a culinary destination, rejuvenating the downtown core and creating a village square, complete with restaurants, commercial businesses, hotels and apartments. A courtyard, built below street level, would be bordered by Queen Street, Huron Street, Jessie Street and Melville Lane, with stores on the lower level and residential on the upper two levels of the three-storey buildings. Some stores would remain on the street level facing out from the square.

"I want to bring people into this community to live and work," he said. "I want to turn it into an 1800s-style marketplace and community square with shops below and apartments above. If we do it right, people will come."

A major part of Brown's proposal is restoring the old buildings and making Ripley a viable and thriving business area once more. Also part of the plan is the Thompson Feed Mill property. Brown wants to maintain the old mill building and use the rest for parking required for the market square project. "The feed mill is one of only two of its type left in Ontario," he said. "All of these structures are going to be restored to heritage buildings and become viable once again. I want to put Ripley back on the map."

Having bought several properties in the village over the past five years, Brown said it was the purchase of the feed mill and Joye Hunt's building (The Glass Hummingbird) last fall that prompted him to bring forward this mammoth proposal to revamp downtown Ripley. Initially presented in December, 2008, he was hoping to have work begin this year, but said the project is complicated and requires a lot of reports and approvals. He now believes shovels will be in the ground by next year.

"I want to start with the granary first (Courtney Feed building)," he said. "Then the old hotel and the two new buildings at the south end of the square, Market Suites and Market Terrace."

He plans to split the granary building into three different addresses, providing about 140-150 residential units, hopefully occupied by people who are working at the businesses in the square. One-third of that structure will be used for affordable housing, once Canada Mortgage and Housing funding is obtained. "It would be for seniors on fixed incomes and people working in the service industry," he said.

Brown expects about 50-100 jobs would be created through work at the commercial developments. "I want to make it a culinary destination," he said. "We have great food in Bruce County. We need to showcase it here and get the word out."

Bruce County planner Heather James recommended approval of the amendments to the township's zoning bylaw and Official Plan. She noted that council, through chief building official Matt Farrell, would have plenty of say in the details, thanks to the requirement of site plan control and a site plan agreement between the municipality and the developer.

Farrell agreed, saying the best way to protect the interests of the municipality is through site plan control, ensuring the work is done properly and expediently.

He requested a few changes in the amendments - using the word "storeys" instead of "floors" to refer to different levels in the buildings; allowing only minimal kitchenette facilities in commercial establishments; and placing a "holding" provision on certain aspects of the development until conditions are met.
Bruce County planner Bill Hollo said this is an exciting project and offers great potential to revitalize Ripley in a natural way, bringing jobs and housing to the village. "The site plan agreement will be more comprehensive than any we've done in the county before," he said.

As for the "holding" provision, he said it would be an impediment to commercial development as the business owner may want to have his store in the front and his residence in the back. Farrell said it would encourage business people to find other accommodation to live.

"It's a different philosophy," said Hollo, "allowing the business in the commercial area and living quarters in the back."
Council later agreed with Hollo and discarded the "holding" provision in its approval of the amendments.

During a public question period, Lynn Courtney asked if the drainage is sufficient for this project.

Hollo said an engineering report has recommended on-site storage, oversized pipes and collection points, allowing for controlled drainage. The water would be discharged slowly so there would be no more water on the site than there is now, he said, and that requirement would be added to the site plan agreement.

Keith van der Hoek asked if the sewer system and wastewater system could handle this project.

"We have the capacity," said mayor Mitch Twolan. "Our Certificate of Approval for the lagoons allows us to accept more than we are now. It has been addressed."

Ripley fire chief Doug Martyn said he does not believe Ripley has the fire water protection capability for that site.

Farrell said if it's required, the developer would have to provide reservoirs to meet the fire water needs of the site, similar to what was done for the public school.

He assured the audience that he is responsible for enforcing the site plan agreement, once it's signed, and making sure the developer complies with it. He also noted that the agreement is reviewed by outside agencies, including engineers, solicitors, and the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority before it is signed. And all costs for the site plan agreement are covered by the developer, said Farrell.

Van der Hoek said the developer should remember that there are a lot of farmers in the Ripley community who find it already tough to get their machinery through the village. Plus, there is no gas station in Ripley, he said.

"I want to get the farmers involved, selling produce at the marketplace," said Brown, adding he is no expert in gas stations but, if it's needed, he would look into it.

After the meeting, Twolan said this project is one-of-a-kind for Bruce County. "We're fortunate that David Brown is coming forward with this," he said. "We're excited about it.

"David has a lot of ties to Ripley. He didn't want to see the dilapidation of the buildings - he has a vision to see it all restored."