Future use of 51 Dunlop Street

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Consultation has concluded

In early 2021, the Town of Penetanguishene purchased 51 Dunlop Street – a 13-acre property that housed the former Penetanguishene Secondary School.

The Town is ready to plan for the future of 51 Dunlop Street. The vacant site offers good road access and is close to existing residential areas as well as land where future residential and commercial development is expected. There are many possibilities for future use that can meet the community’s needs now and in the future.

Public input will play a key role in determining next steps for the vacant land, helping to inform Council’s decision on how to move forward.

We have a lot of existing work to help guide our decision. Plans for 51 Dunlop Street should align with the Town’s Strategic Plan and Official Plan. Both plans were developed with public input.

In early 2021, the Town of Penetanguishene purchased 51 Dunlop Street – a 13-acre property that housed the former Penetanguishene Secondary School.

The Town is ready to plan for the future of 51 Dunlop Street. The vacant site offers good road access and is close to existing residential areas as well as land where future residential and commercial development is expected. There are many possibilities for future use that can meet the community’s needs now and in the future.

Public input will play a key role in determining next steps for the vacant land, helping to inform Council’s decision on how to move forward.

We have a lot of existing work to help guide our decision. Plans for 51 Dunlop Street should align with the Town’s Strategic Plan and Official Plan. Both plans were developed with public input.

Consultation has concluded

  • Public Consultation

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    We want to hear from you! Public Consultation on the Future of 51 Dunlop Street

    In early 2021, the Town of Penetanguishene purchased 51 Dunlop Street – a 13-acre property that housed the former Penetanguishene Secondary School. The property is now vacant, and the Town is ready to plan for the future. There are many potential uses for this land.

    Public input will play a key role in determining next steps for 51 Dunlop Street, helping to inform Council’s decision on how to move forward.

    Community members are invited to attend an in-person meeting on August 10, 2022, to learn more about the options for future use, and provide feedback and ideas on how best to use this large, centrally located property to support existing plans for growth and meet the community’s needs.

    We have a lot of existing work to guide this decision, including the Town’s Official Plan, Strategic Plan, and other studies that were developed with public input to help shape our community’s growth. The future use of 51 Dunlop Street should align with these plans.

    Details for the consultation are outlined below:

    Public Consultation

    Date: August 10, 2022

    Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM

    Location: Town Hall, 10 Robert Street W, Penetanguishene.

    Community members are also encouraged to fill out the “Future use of 51 Dunlop” survey, to select their preferred option out of the 6 options presented. The survey will close on August 15, 2022.


  • Things to consider

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    Multi-Use Recreation Centre

    Things to consider

    • Public input gathered during the Arena and Recreation Study demonstrated that people preferred building a new multi-use recreation centre over other options.
    • The Arena Study identified 51 Dunlop Street as a preferred location for a new multi-use recreation centre due to its proximity to existing residential areas and land where future development is expected.
    • Building a new recreation centre will help replace aging facilities and expand recreational programs and activities for the community.

    Housing Development

    Things to consider

    • One of the Town’s top priorities is to encourage more attainable housing, including attractive rental housing.
    • 51 Dunlop Street is designated as a Neighbourhood Area which permits low and medium residential development. If high density residential development is considered, the site may need to be re-zoned, and other development approvals may also be required.
    • The County of Simcoe is responsible to plan, fund and manage the County’s social housing system. This limits the Town of Penetanguishene’s ability to ensure appropriate and affordable housing is developed on the site.
    • Any housing at the site would need to be compatible with the future employment lands next to the property.

    Health and Community Facilities

    Things to consider

    • Health and community facilities could include health clinics, treatment facilities, government facilities, childcare centres, museums, or other cultural facilities that can meet our community’s needs.
    • Depending on the scale of what is proposed, the site might need to be re-zoned to accommodate this kind of development.
    • The site is large enough to consider a variety of health and community facilities. It’s close to an existing residential area and future development.
    • The site is outside of the downtown core area where businesses and services are located.

    Future School Site

    Things to consider

    • The Town could partner with a local school board for potential combination use of this property.
    • 51 Dunlop Street is the site of the former Penetanguishene Secondary School. The site is large, vacant and serviced for use as a school.
    • A future school site is permitted under the Official Plan and would not require changes to zoning.
    • Some community members have expressed interest in the Town partnering with a local school board to build a new school site.

    Combination of Uses

    Things to consider

    • The Town could opt for a combination of different uses. While this would enable a more creative approach, the Town would need to decide how to divide land use, and then determine the best process for development approvals.

    Retain for Future Use

    Things to consider

    • Under this option, the Town would retain the property and make a future decision on its use as other municipal needs are identified.
    • The land would sit vacant, with no services or benefit to the community and will not generate tax revenue.