HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-01-14, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016.
Huron East man hopes to develop Mait-Side property
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Huron East landowner Dave
Rapson has plans to build multi -
occupancy dwellings just outside of
Brussels and sought Morris-
Turnberry Council's approval, in
principle, of the plan at Council's
Jan. 5 meeting.
Rapson, who purchased the Mait-
Side Orchard property in Brussels
(according to reports, the sale will be
finalized on March 1), has plans to
change the northern parts of the
property into multi -unit dwellings,
citing their lesser building cost per
family.
"There is a large population of
Mennonites in the area," he said.
"They have been renting the
Brussels Public School to school
their children... They are planning to
stay. This kind of multi -unit building
of affordable housing would be good
for them."
Rapson, who owns a demolition
company in Brussels, said that he
feels the village's real estate market
has plateaued, making single
dwellings difficult to produce.
"It's difficult to build new houses
at [$200,000]," he said. "But multi-
unit dwellings that house, say, 10
families, are less expensive and
could work. People of all the same
faith being in a space like that might
work well."
While Mait-Side Orchard is in
Huron East, Rapson's draft plans
included an entry -way from a
Morris-Turnberry property to the
north end of the site as well as the
potential for cottages to be built
upon the river at the north end of
other properties that front onto
Morris Road just west of Brussels.
Entry ways from several existing
roads are under consideration,
Rapson said, but he hopes that the
lot, which he claims has plans for
subdivision already, is only part of a
major development that could occur
along the river which could include
residential properties as well as
properties zoned for small industrial
development and commercial
development.
Council was made aware by
Morris-Turnberry Administrative
Clerk -Treasurer Nancy Michie that
this plan was in its earliest stage at
this point, however council members
were excited for the project.
"I think this is exactly what the
municipality needs to happen,"
Councillor John Smuck said. "We
need to support this in principle.
There will be a lot of work to do
with [the Huron County Planning
Department] but I definitely don't
see any problem with the project."
Rapson said he was happy to hear
that, and felt development was a
good thing for both Huron East and
Morris-Turnberry since his company
demolishes several farm houses in
Morris-Turnberry every year, which
reduces the tax base for the
municipality.
Mayor Paul Gowing said that
council is very aware of how the
demolition of farm houses affects its
tax base and agreed that
development is a great idea. He did
state, however, that having
OFA set priorities
for coming year
Continued from page 13
rates and reliability, land use
planning and farmland preservation
have been on the OFA's advocacy
agenda over the years and remain in
high priority.
The OFA has always kept a close
eye on the farm assessment and
appeals process to make sure it's fair.
This year marks another farm
assessment year for Ontario farms.
The OFA is taking the results of a
recent member survey on the farm
property assessment appeals process
to government to ensure the process
is effective. Farm businesses are
subject to a variety of taxes. The
OFA continues to be involved in any
policy discussions related to
farmland and farm business taxation,
ensuring the voices of the farm
business tax payer are heard and
receive services for taxes paid.
Energy needs and reliability have
grown tremendously over the
decades. Today, Ontario farmers are
dealing with one of the highest
electricity rates in North America.
These expenses are driving up the
cost of doing business, making it
harder for Ontario farmers and farm
processors to compete on a national
and international scale. The OFA
will continue working with the
government this year to secure a
competitive industrial/farm
electricity rate. Natural gas and
access to this lower cost energy
source are also on the OFA's list of
energy issues. The OFA believes
natural gas expansion to farms and
rural Ontario communities should be
our provincial and federal
government's first priority when it
comes to investing in infrastructure
in rural Ontario. Natural gas will
boost business opportunities by
significantly lowering energy costs,
and the OFA continues to push for
better infrastructure across rural
Ontario. Natural gas infrastructure is
an investment for the future as
powering the farm fleet could be
possible with biogas supplied from
farms as a renewable source.
Farmland preservation is always a
top priority. The OFA position on
this important resource hasn't
changed over the years — farmland
preservation is critical. The OFA
will be participating in consultations
this year, reviewing the recently
released land use planning
recommendations for the Greater
Golden Horseshoe area and continue
advocating for the overall
preservation of Ontario's farmland.
Society demands greater
accountability from farmers. From
2015, the concepts and issues
associated with sustainability, social
license, algal blooms due to
agriculture phosphorous use,
greenhouse gas emissions, declining
biodiversity and others will need to
be defined and addressed in 2016
with cohesive policy. Ontario
farmers are the stewards of the land,
who have to be able to integrate all
of society's needs, into a farming
business returning profitability not
just for the fanner doing it, but
supporting the number one industry
in Ontario with environmental
integrity and societal value.
In 80 years of advocacy, the OFA
has tackled countless issues
impacting Ontario farmers
advocating to all three levels of
government, policy makers and
related industries. We are proud to
be the largest and longest serving
farm organization in Canada. The
OFA is proud to serve our members
in the number one industry of the
province.
residential lots mixed in with
other uses like industrial might
not be the best idea.
Councillor Sharen Zinn said the
idea was great, but was concerned
about water supplies.
Rapson said that there were wells
in the area that the development
might be able to tap into and stated
that, as far as he knew, the municipal
water and wastewater services in
Brussels extended to just in front of
Mait-Side Orchard on Morris Line.
Council members said that they
felt that wells might not work
because subdivisions, upon reaching
a certain number of buildings,
require dedicated water services.
Gowing said servicing is one of a
number of issues that would need to
be hammered out for the project to
move ahead, including rezoning and
road entrances and other services.
Council supported the plan in
principle, which Rapson claimed
Huron East had already done for a
previous owner of the land, however
Huron East staff says that no such
motion is recorded in recent history.
"There was nothing that got to
council for approval," Huron East
Chief Administrative Officer Brad
Knight said. "Council doesn't know
anything about it. It is designated
urban and future development, so
the potential is there."
Fans of Mait-Side Orchard,
however, shouldn't be concerned
about potentially losing the apples or
cider the site has become famous
for.
"We're going to keep the orchard
as long as possible," Rapson
explained to council. "It will
probably be 20 years before that
space is needed for lots, assuming
the river front and river view lots sell
first."
Years of service
When the Huron 4-H Leaders' Association presented its awards late last year, Kim Higgins,
right, was one of those honoured for her 20 years of service to the organization. In thanks for
serving as the group's livestock co-ordinator for two decades, Huron 4-H President Darrell
Bergsma presented her with this framed print. (Photo submitted)
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