Lambton County Council has given staff the green light to negotiate a one-year lease agreement with the Western Sarnia Lambton Research Park.
The county wants to move its court services department to the site, at Modeland Road and Wellington Street, while renovations are carried out at the Bayside Centre.
General Manager of Finance, Facilities and Court Services, Larry Palarchio, said they have to make sure there's adequate access to the temporary facility.
"We did take a look at the whole transportation service to the facility and there is transit service to the research park," said Palarchio. "Accessibilitiy is one of our top priorities and we're doing the best we can in order to make sure the public service is still delivered."
The department has been operating its provincial offences court office out of the Lambton Shared Services Centre at Bayside Mall since 2001.
The office is responsible for processing fine payments, enforcement of unpaid fines, setting trials, recording and commencing court proceedings.
It's also responsible for processing charges laid by various enforcement agencies within Lambton County.
In his report to council, Palarchio said the county agreed to relocate the department temporarily when a new lease agreement was signed with Seasons Retirement Communities in July 2020.
The Oakville-based company has begun work on a major redevelopment of Bayside Mall.
The lease for the temporary court services office is to be for a term of 12 months with the option to extend for an additional year.