In a significant response to community pressure, the Town of Lakeshore has officially terminated its controversial proposal to develop housing on a portion of Oakwood Park. The council's unanimous decision on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, marks a decisive victory for local residents who fiercely opposed the construction of townhouses on the cherished green space.
A Proposal Meets Fierce Resistance
The council withdrew the original motion, which was itself approved unanimously on June 24, that had sought expressions of interest for developing housing units within the park. The proposal for the 0.43-acre park at the corner of Oakwood Avenue and East Puce Road ignited immediate public outrage when the municipality issued its expression of interest document earlier in November.
Opposition quickly organized, culminating in an online petition that amassed more than 2,200 signatures. The depth of community sentiment was made overwhelmingly clear during an information meeting with project officials on Thursday at the Atlas Tube Centre. The event was cut short due to the strong objections voiced by residents, signaling the project's untenable future.
Mayor's Leadership and a New Direction
The motion to withdraw was introduced by Mayor Tracey Bailey, who acknowledged a misstep in the process. "Part of transparency and building trust is acknowledging when mistakes are made and when to pursue a different path," Bailey stated on Tuesday. "And in this case, we have heard clearly that the process did not align with … our values or the community."
The withdrawal motion also included a crucial forward-looking component. It instructed the municipal administration, with support from Lakeshore Horizons—a development planning partnership with the University of Windsor Law – Centre for Cities—to create a new municipal land policy. This policy will aim to protect and preserve parkland and ensure transparency and community input for any future decisions. Oakwood Park had been selected from a review of 179 municipally owned properties.
The Underlying Housing and Infrastructure Crisis
While responding to residents' concerns, Mayor Bailey emphasized that the need for more housing in Lakeshore remains critical and "is not optional." Like the rest of Ontario, the municipality is under pressure to increase its housing supply. However, this goal is complicated by inadequate local infrastructure.
Bailey highlighted a dire situation, stating, "We have a crisis on our hands and a crisis in our community for existing sanitary capacity and conveyance. Basements flooded, toilets could not flush." Building more housing is strategically linked to unlocking federal and provincial funding for essential infrastructure projects.
To address these systemic issues, Lakeshore is already undertaking a $55-million expansion of its main sewage treatment plant, which is expected to increase capacity by 70 percent. A further $32-million sewer expansion is planned for County Road 22, representing major investments in the community's foundational services.
