Letter from Mayor Cleveland addresses the health and safety of the property, lack of maintenance and adherence to community standards.

Cobourg, ON (April 29, 2024) – The Town of Cobourg has submitted a letter to the Province of Ontario and Infrastructure Ontario, requesting that they take the necessary steps to become compliant with all municipal by-laws and regulations within the jurisdiction of the Town of Cobourg for the property at 390 King Street East, the former Brookside Youth Centre Property.

Property owners that own property within the jurisdiction of the Town of Cobourg have legislated responsibility for the people that enter their property and the activities that occur on their property. However, no provincial Act or regulation binds the province of Ontario unless the Act itself expressly states the province’s intention to be bound by the Act. Because the Brookside property is owned by the province this means that some legislation and municipal by-laws apply to the property and other legislation and by-laws do not. The Town of Cobourg Municipal Law Enforcement Department has therefore been unable to act on Municipal By-laws since the inception of the encampment in September of 2023.

“As the Mayor of Cobourg, and Cobourg Council, we believe that the Province and IO should be making health and safety of the property a priority, including being a responsible property owner and a good neighbour to those surrounding homeowners and all Cobourg residents and Ontario taxpayers,” says Mayor Cleveland.

The Town of Cobourg Mayor and Council, Senior Staff, and the Municipal Law Enforcement Department, continue to receive calls regarding the use and condition of the property at 390 King St. E. related to compliance with Zoning, Property Standards, Lot Maintenance, Fire and Life Safety, Nuisance and most recently the arrival of automobiles, boats and trailers being parked on the grassed areas of the property.

On Monday, April 29, 2024, Mayor Cleveland on behalf of Cobourg Municipal Council submitted a letter to the Premier of Ontario, Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and representatives of Infrastructure Ontario, requesting that the Province and IO work collaboratively with the Town of Cobourg in order to adhere to and comply with any orders or notices issued by the Town on the property.

Additionally, the Town of Cobourg has forwarded the significant concerns regarding the damming of the creek that runs through the property to the appropriate authorities for their urgent response.

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