Niagara-on-the-Lake town council has delayed a decision on the Shaw Festival’s proposed redesign of the Royal George Theatre to allow more consultation with the theatre company — during a meeting that ended with Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa leaving in frustration.
The meeting on Tuesday featured debate among councillors, comments from residents opposed to the proposal and remarks from Shaw Festival executive director Tim Jennings.
If approved, the zoning changes would have amended the town’s official plan and zoning bylaws, allowing the Shaw’s current design for the new, larger Royal George Theatre to proceed.
Councillors and residents said their issue was not with the theatre’s replacement itself, but with elements of the proposed design. Concerns focused on public washrooms, accessible parking and the overall size of the new venue.
“It’s too big,” said Caroline Polgrabia, who lives near the current theatre. “All negative heritage, infrastructure, environmental, planning and precedent concerns stem from this single fact.”
The Shaw Festival has said that the larger footprint of the new theatre allows for a proper lobby, integrated box office, accessible and increased washrooms, elevators and safe and accessible circulation for those using mobility devices.
Zalepa supported approving the zoning change and grew frustrated with what he called unnecessary debate over details.
“We’re going to risk a $200,000 bathroom for a $75 million theatre,” he said during the meeting.
After council voted against approving the zoning change recommended by staff, members discussed whether that decision would end communication with the Shaw Festival. They then took a break to determine how staff should proceed.
When council reconvened, town clerk Grant Bivol presented a revised motion directing staff to consult with the Shaw Festival on specific design issues.
These included cash-in-lieu for parking, at least three accessible washrooms, maintaining trees at the rear of the property, total square footage and five accessible parking spaces.
Zalepa, who attended first in person and then virtually, objected to the new motion being drafted during the break.
“I’m going to respectfully suggest that you’re offside in the public meeting process,” he said. “We have a motion that has come from nowhere, not in a public format, and all of a sudden we have a drafted motion with items I am not clear on that was somehow made off camera.”
He later exited the meeting, saying he would contact the integrity commissioner and that the Municipal Act was violated.
Coun. Maria Mavridis, who chaired the meeting, asked Bivol if Zalepa’s concern was valid. Bivol said he could not say definitively but noted that council had heard and approved the recommendation.
“I know we have a duly moved and seconded motion,” Bivol said.
Resident Nicholas Colaneri said he wants a new theatre design that complies with local bylaws and regulations.
“This proposal conflicts with over 40 policies,” he said.
He specifically said there were conflicts with six parts of the Planning Act, five with planning professional standards, six with the Niagara Region official plan, 16 with the town’s official plan and the zoning bylaws.
Coun. Wendy Cheropita asked staff to clarify that point. Outgoing community and development services director Kirsten McCauley said the town looked at all the relevant provincial and local policies and made recommendations.
Coun. Erwin Wiens said his two “overwhelming” concerns were the public washrooms and accessible parking. He objected to the distance between the proposed accessible spaces and the entrance.
“(It’s) Rick Hansen gold certified after you get through the door, not before,” he said.
Wiens also made the point about having public washrooms outside at the site.
Cheropita, who supported approving the zoning change, said the plan marked an improvement to the number of handicapped parking spots in that area.
“Right now, there’s none,” she said. “Now, we have five.”
Jennings said the Shaw has already undertaken significant consultation.
“We’ve engaged with over 600 people,” he said. “We’re certainly open to any conversation.”
Coun. Tim Balasiuk said he did not want to stop the project but hoped some issues could still be addressed.
Mavridis said taking “a couple more weeks is worth getting it right,” given the timeline so far.
The Shaw Festival aims to replace the Royal George Theatre, built in 1915. Its latest design, released in August, includes a ghost façade referencing the building’s current face, an indoor accessible ramp and reduced above-ground square footage compared to earlier proposals.
The Shaw Festival declined a request for comment from The Lake Report.
