City delays Flag Raiders MZO decision
Cambridge council wants paintball company owners to do more consultation and report back
Cambridge councillors are asking the owners of a paintball company to consult with the public and agencies before council will decide whether to endorse a minister’s zoning order for their property on Kossuth Road.
But at Tuesday’s council’s meeting, some politicians wrestled with how to stay within city policy while also moving fast enough to save some of the 2022 paintball season.
“We’re trying to find a way forward that meets all of the policies and procedures that we have within the city and the region and we’re struggling to find a way for this to happen,” Coun. Donna Reid said.
Council put policies in place that require proponents to conduct public consultation and provide a planning justification report before council would consider endorsement of an MZO.
Council voted to ask Corey and Joe Kimpson to circulate their request to the Region of Waterloo, Grand River Conservation Authority, Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and consult those groups as well as neighbours.
Staff will prepare a recommendation for council based on the results of that consultation.
Corey Kimpson, who along with sibling Joe runs Flag Raiders Paintball, appealed to council to support the MZO so she and her brother could get the paintball business up and running, saying the pair already did significant consultation with neighbours, community members, Six Nations, the city and the region.
“We’ve been trying to relocate our business back to Cambridge to property we own since early January 2021,” she said. “Here we are now one year later.”
The Kimpsons have owned the land at 1500 Kossuth Rd. since 1999 and twice received three-year temporary use permits from the city to run the paintball business. The third application was denied after neighbours complained.
The property of about 24 hectares is zoned mostly agricultural land, so without the permit the paintball operation isn’t allowed.
Three residents supported the Kimpsons at council.
Brayden Raymond said if he played hockey or baseball he and his team wouldn’t have to travel to enjoy their sport.
“I would have opportunities to also play in my hometown, but because I’m a paintball player I currently do not,” Raymond said.
The Kimpsons moved the Flag Raiders business to Bingemans in Kitchener for 13 years, but had to leave last year when the property was sold for development.
They applied for a minister’s zoning order in an attempt to salvage what is left of the 2022 season after trying to work with city staff.
Staff said the Kimpsons will have to have the results of their consultation back by either June 15 in time for July 19 council, July 8 in time for Aug. 23 council or Aug. 8 in time for Sept. 13 council.
MZOs are faster than the traditional zoning and planning processes. But they’re controversial.
Residents in Cambridge, Wilmot, Pickering and Stratford have rallied against MZOs due to concerns about public consultation for large-scale projects in their communities.
If the minister of municipal affairs and housing approves an MZO, that decision is not subject to appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal, which decides planning disputes.