Orangeville Councillor Rob Strang has made another unsuccessful bid to persuade fellow council members to keep some Veterans' Way land designated for employment purposes. His argument has been

that this is the only parcel of land left in town for employment purposes and its use could improve the tax base.

But other members of council such as Deputy Mayor Jim MacGregor have argued that the land has been dormant for 25 years and if the current designation remains the land will continue to be inactive.

In February, council passed a motion in principle to amend the Official Plan to divide the land and have the easterly portion designated for residential development, with the remaining portions west and north kept for employment, although Councillors Strang and Warren Maycock voted against it then and now.

"We do not have any industry knocking on our door asking for unserviced land within our municipality," said the deputy mayor. "I'm quite prepared to

give half of the total amount of unserviced industrial land to get serviced industrial land ... and work toward a regional type of designation throughout the entire county because quite frankly we don't have the money, we've never had sufficient land to meet our needs, and that's a fact, that's a reality, the rest of the county does.We need to be working there, not talking amongst ourselves. We can provide serviced industrial land by moving this project forward."

Councillor Strang rebutted that since the town is part of the Green Belt it can't annex land.

"This is the last industrial land we have," he declared. "What industrial development is going to

use a rail spur that has multi-unit residential on the other side of it?" he asked.

Deputy Mayor MacGregor said he likes to look at the larger picture and the possibility of developing an industrial park to benefit the whole county, which would serve Orangeville taxpayers well and create new jobs.

A motion to keep the land for employment purposed was lost and a motion to divide the land was passed.

Before anything can happen with development of this land the Ontario Municipal Board must rule on appeals related to it and previous decisions.

The other issue with this land is a trail that weaves through town property and private

property that residents are using on a regular basis.

Residents in the neighborhood of Courtney Crescent want the Town to purchase 4.5 hectares to protect the natural trail.

Deputy Mayor MacGregor said there is an opportunity to find ways to traverse through the area without eliminating the Hansen Boulevard extension, which will run above a portion of the Lower Monora Creek located along the trail.

"I can't accept the notion that we will protect this entire region simply because some people have gone up there and used private land for their own enjoyment," he said. "What I recognize is that we need trails." He said a lot of issues

need to be addressed, including the cost of purchasing the land.

He also mentioned the budget process that this year eliminated the "niceto haves" to help alleviate the tax burden, and this would add to it.

He suggested residents try to fundraise as there's a lot of investment that needs to happen before he could endorse it. But the reality was that it's private land and trails need to be in feasible areas.

A report from planning director James Stiver estimates the cost of acquiring 4.5 hectares (about 11 acres) at $14-16 million.

Council, Town staff, some residents and representatives of Humber College will meet to discuss options for preserving a trail.