Council Meeting Summary: June 1, 2026

The following is a brief summary of the matters that Council covered at the Regular Council Meeting held on June 1, 2026. A video recording of the meeting is also available at www.youtube.com/EssexOntario. 

These highlights are not official minutes of the meeting and are meant solely for the purpose of general communications. The approved minutes provide the only official record of Council Proceedings and decisions.  

Highlights

June is Recreation and Parks Month

• Council proclaimed June as Recreation and Parks Month for the Town of Essex.
• View the proclamation and the activity calendar.

Annual Drainage Report

• Council received Drainage Report 2026-12 entitled Annual Drainage Report for information.
• The report outlines the construction and maintenance costs and activities from 2024 to 2026. Billing is up-to date for all completed projects. Several construction projects are expected to be completed and built, and the Town applied for grants for the 2025 calendar year for maintenance. 

Telecommunications Facility

• Council received Planning Report 2026-08 entitled Municipal Concurrence Request for Proposed Telecommunications Facility at 2060 Ferriss Road, Harrow
• Council directed Administration to issue a letter of non-concurrence.

Part Lot Control Exemption

• Council received Planning Report 2026-03 entitled Extension of Part Lot Control  Exemption for Phase 1 of Greenleaf Trails Residential Subdivision.
• Council provisionally adopted By-Law Number 2537 being a By-Law to Provide Part Lot Control Exemption (PLCE) for certain lands within Registered Plan 12M-558 for two readings. 

Low Density Residential Parking

• Council received Development Services Report 2026-07 entitled Low Density Residential Parking Review.
• Council directed administration to initiate the Zoning By-Law Amendment process to increase the requirement to two (2) parking spaces for the main dwelling unit for low density residential uses, to improve garage space dimensions, and to discontinue allowing garage spaces to be used towards meeting parking requirements. 

Zoning By-Law Amendment

• Council received Development Services Report 2026-11 entitled Site Specific Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA-02-26) – 80 County Road 50 (Colchester Ward 3)
• Council provisionally adopted By-Law By-Law 2541 being a By-Law to Amend By-Law 1037, the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law for the Town of Essex, to permit a Motel and Combined Use Building and Site Specific Building Regulations for the lands municipally known as 80 County Road 50 for two readings.

Beach Road Upgrades

• Council received Infrastructure Services Report 2026-03 entitled Beach Road Upgrades.
• The report was prepared in response to a resolution made at the Regular Meeting of Council on August 11, 2025. The report outlines the current process and policy for upgrading municipally owned but unassumed roads, with a focus on roads located in the Colchester area.

Sweeper Truck Tender

• Council received Report 2026-04 entitled Results of Request for Tender-Vacuum Sweeper Truck and Results of Request for Tender-Vacuum Sweeper Truck to Epoke North America in the amount of $559,817.38 including non-refundable HST.

Sanitary Servicing Allocation

• Council received Environmental Services Report 2026-02 entitled Sanitary Servicing Allocation for Former Peavey Mart and
• Council authorized administration to allocate sanitary servicing capacity necessary to facilitate the private development proposal described within the report.
• Directed administration to draft a Servicing Agreement, satisfactory to the Clerk and Chief Administrative Officer, with the owner of 401 Talbot Street North (former Peavey Mart) and the Municipality of Lakeshore, and bring said agreement back to Council that sets the terms and conditions for providing servicing capacity to the property.

Special Events Resource Team Update

• Council received Community Services Report 2026-10 entitled Special Event Resources Team (SERT) Update – June 2026 for information. View the event listings.  

Notice of Motion

• Councillor McGuire-Blais made the motion for Council to direct Administration to evaluate existing and potential time limitations for on-street parking within the Essex Centre and Harrow downtown cores. 
  
  • The notice of motion was supported by Council.

By-Laws

By-Laws that were tabled:

• By-Law 2499 Being a By-Law to Provide for the Licensing and Regulation of Transient Vendors in the Town of Essex.

By-Laws that received a third and final reading:

• By-Law 2536 Being a By-Law to Temporarily Delegate Certain Authorities during a "Lame Duck" Council Period.
• By-Law 2539 Being a By-Law to Amend the Official Plan for the Town of Essex for the Lands Municipally known as 47 Wilson Avenue.
• By-Law 2540 Being a By-Law to Amend By-Law Number 1037 The Comprehensive Zoning By-Law for the Town of Essex for the Lands Municipally known as 47 Wilson Avenue.

By-Laws that received a first, second, and third and final reading:

• By-Law 2545 Being a By-Law to provide for the issuance of a debenture in the amount of $39,049.68 for works completed on the Little Drain Bridge Replacement.
• By-Law 2544 Being a By-Law to regulate the use of election signs within the geographical boundaries of the Town of Essex.