Council Meeting

THAT the February 23, 2026 Regular Council Meeting Agenda BE APPROVED as circulated.

THAT Council ADJOURN its Regular Meeting at 5:02 p.m. and move into a Planning Public Participation Meeting pursuant to the Planning Act, to consider Zoning By-law Amendment Application Z2-26 as listed on the February 23, 2026 Regular Council Agenda.

THAT Application for Zoning By-law Amendment Z2-26 to update the zoning provisions of the site-specific Residential Third Density (R3-16) Zone to align with the approved draft plan of condominium for lands legally described as Part of Lot 15, Concession 3 100.00X147.00 and Rear Land 200.00X440.00 2.36 AC (geographic Township of West Nissouri), Municipality of Thames Centre and municipally known as 233 Upper Queen Street BE APPROVED; AND THAT the implementation by-law, AS AMENDED, be CONSIDERED, as included in the by-law portion of the agenda.

THAT the Planning Public Participation Meeting ADJOURN at 5:09 p.m. in order to sit as Committee of Adjustment under the Planning Act, to consider Minor Variance Application A1-26, as listed on the February 23, 2026 Regular Council Agenda.

THAT Application for Minor Variance A1-2026 filed by Ron Lukings and Vicki Lisowsky-Lukings to permit the expansion of a legal non-conforming use, being a 46.5 m2 addition onto an existing single detached dwelling, for lands legally described as North Part of Lot 14, Concession 4, NRT (geographic Township of North Dorchester), be APPROVED subject to the following condition: 1. That the applicant implements the recommendations of the Technical Environmental Review Letter from Pinchin Ltd. dated December 17, 2025 during the construction of the addition. REASONS  The general intent and purpose of the Official Plan would be maintained;  The general intent and purpose of the Zoning By-law would be maintained;  The effects of the variance are considered minor in nature; and  The variance is desirable for the appropriate use and development of the land.

THAT the Committee of Adjustment ADJOURN at 5:15 p.m. and Council RECONVENE its Regular Meeting.

THAT the minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council, held on February 9, 2026, BE APPROVED as circulated.

THAT Consent Agenda Items 10.1 and 10.2 BE RECEIVED for information.

THAT Report No. CSF-002-26 BE RECEIVED for information; AND THAT Council DIRECTS Staff to submit a grant application for the RBC Barrier Buster Grants Program, in an effort to obtain funds to add a wheelchair swing to the Dorchester Dream Park.

THAT Council DIRECT Staff to APPROVE additional 2026 Community Grants for LDSS for Commencement Awards for $600; AND THAT Council DIRECT Staff to APPROVE the remaining funds of $1,155.00 to be directed towards the funding of the LDSS Robotics Program.

THAT Report CSF-003-26, 2026 Community Grant Applications BE RECEIVED for information; AND THAT Council APPROVE the following 2026 Community Grants:  Boys & Girls Club $5,500.00  Dorchester Soccer Club $3,500.00  North Dorchester Agricultural Society $3,220.00  Robins Hill Cemetery $2,500.00  Thames Centre Minor Soccer $750.00  The Playroom Experiment $4,300.00  Thorndale Agricultural Society $4,750.00  Thorndale Horticultural Society $6,525.00  Thorndale Lions Medical Trust $7,200.00

THAT Council DIRECT Staff to REPORT back with recommended updates to the scoring matrix for the 2027 Community Grant application process.

THAT Report No. CSF-004-26 BE RECEIVED for information.

THAT Report No. PW-008-26, 2025 Drinking Water System Annual Reports for the Dorchester and Thorndale Drinking Water Systems BE RECEIVED for information.

THAT Report No. PW-009-26, Dorchester Pump Station #3 West Sewer Change Order BE RECEIVED for information; AND THAT Council APPROVE the change order in an amount not to exceed $310,000 plus HST, to complete the construction works for the Dorchester Pump Station #3 West Sewer; AND THAT the Director of Public Works be AUTHORIZED to sign the change order for the work on the Dorchester Pump Station #3 West Sewer.

THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee RECOMMEND that Council direct staff to provide updates to this Committee on current and future plans for tree planting initiatives.

THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee RECOMMEND that Council direct staff to investigate light pollution by-laws on private lands from other municipalities.

THAT Reports of Committees Agenda Item 12.1 BE APPROVED as presented.

WHEREAS the Municipality of Thames Centre is a community deeply rooted in agriculture, with a significant portion of our local economy and heritage dependent on the sustainability of farming and food production; AND WHEREAS Ontario is losing an estimated 319 acres of farmland daily to non-agricultural development, posing a significant threat to the province's long-term food security and the viability of the agri-food sector; AND WHEREAS Bill 21, the Protect Our Food Act, 2025, currently before the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, seeks to preserve productive agricultural land by requiring Agricultural Impact Assessments before zoning changes can occur and by establishing a Foodbelt Protection Plan; AND WHEREAS the protection of prime agricultural land is not only a matter of food sovereignty but also of fiscal responsibility, as low-density residential sprawl on farmland frequently incurs higher long-term infrastructure and service costs for municipalities compared to agricultural land use; AND WHEREAS providing certainty regarding the agricultural land base encourages long-term investment by farmers in their operations, soil health, and local businesses, thereby strengthening the rural economy of Thames Centre; AND WHEREAS low-density urban sprawl increases the per-capita cost of municipal infrastructure and service delivery—including roads, water, wastewater, and emergency services—creating a long-term financial burden on the Municipality that often exceeds the tax revenue

THAT By-law 20-2026, AS AMENDED, be read a first, second and third and final time and BE ADOPTED; AND THAT By-laws 21-2026 and 22-2026 be read a first, second and third and final time and BE ADOPTED.

RESOLVED THAT the Regular Council Meeting ADJOURN at 5:51 p.m.