HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-12-10, Page 1There was satisfaction but little
sense of celebration at the
Dec. 1 meeting of Morris-Turn-
berry council over the munici-
pality’s victory in a recent
Ontario Municipal Board (PMB)
hearing.
Councillors were perhaps sobered
by the cost of the victory: $155,062
in legal, planning and market
research costs that backed up their
argument for zoning land on the
edge of Wingham as highway
commercial, including the provision
for a big box grocery store.
In a decision issued Nov. 16, the
OMB upheld the right of Morris-
Turnberry to designate the Willis
property on the north side of County
Road 86 as highway commercial.
That zoning designation had been
appealed by Loblaw Properties
Limited and the Twp. of North
Huron.
The appeal had argued that the
Wingham area did not need another
grocery store and that one on the
outskirts of town could damage the
town’s business core. The OMB said
it was sympathetic to the idea of
supporting a strong commercial core
in small towns in an effort to keep
them vital but, given that there was
no market study to prove the case,
the board did not hear compelling
evidence against a zoning change
that allowed other uses for the land,
not just a grocery store.
Figures released at the council
meeting showed that the cost of legal
and planning advice (the
municipality hired its own planner
when the Huron County Planning
Department sided with North
Huron) was $115,814. A further
$39,248 was spent on market study
research to support the argument.
While saying he supported the
defense of the municipality’s zoning
of the land, councillor Mark Beaven
also noted the costs.
“The cost suggests it’s unfortunate
that these things can’t be settled,” he
said. “It’s going to take a lot of
taxation (from future commercial
development) for that property to
gain that back.”
Mayor Dorothy Kelly said the
only way to establish the
municipality’s right to zone land as
it sees fit was to defend the case.
Beaven said he hoped the cost of
the argument can be used in the
future to make people aware that
these battles are expensive.
Jim Nelemans, deputy mayor, said
it was important ratepayers know the
expense because they can then be
asked how much they want to spend
to stand up for the municipality’s
rights.
Nancy Michie, administrator
clerk-treasurer suggested perhaps
the county planning department
might also learn from the decision
not to be so rigid in its interpretation
of the planning act.
Blyth’s Happy Baker is off to
France this February, having
captured the Gourman award for
best Canadian dessert cookbook.
Erin Bolger, a makeup artist living
and working in Toronto prior to her
most recent career move, heard the
good news via e-mail. The winners
for each country qualify for the Best
in the World competition. The
awards event to be held Feb. 11 in
Paris will launch the largest
cookbook and wine book trade fair
in the world.
Bolger released The Happy Baker,
A Dater’s Guide to Emotional
Baking last spring. It combines
Bolger’s take on the single life, with
family favourite dessert recipes.
Bolger who has been busily
promoting her book across Canada
was obviously thrilled by the news
and is looking forward to the awards
ceremony.
“I have to go,” she enthuses.
“There will be cookbook publishing
professionals from all over the
world. Who knows what the future
holds for this happy baker.”
ARC hears option C
A visit with St. Nick
The Auburn Lions’ breakfast on Sunday was highlighted by a visit from a special guest when
Santa Claus stopped by to spend some time chatting with youngsters and passing out bags
of treats. With big brothers, Devon, four, and Jordon, five, holding on to the best seats in the
house, Braydon Curran, 18 months, got Santa’s attention out in front. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Bolger off to France
A third proposal that would leave
Brussels Public School open was
presented at the second official
meeting of the Accommodation
Review Committee (ARC) at Grey
Central Public School on Dec. 2.
Jeff Bannerman, councillor for
North Perth presented the proposal,
which he called Option C.
“I wasn’t really happy with the
proposals, so I’ve drafted another.
I’ve looked at Brussels and Grey
from the community aspect of this,”
he said.
Bannerman was applauded for his
foresight and commended by Avon
Maitland District School Board
(AMDSB) staff and trustees for
being courageous enough to draft a
proposal.
Bannerman’s proposal involved
closing Grey Central and having its
students predominantly moving to
Brussels Public School and to not
have any of the Grade 7 and 8
students go to F.E. Madill early.
The inclusion, however, of Grey
Central students to Brussels Public
School would involve an addition,
which Bannerman proposes be built
on the north end of the school,
adding approximately four
classrooms to Brussels Public
School.
Bannerman said the board could
utilize Grey Central’s environmental
learning grounds for many of Huron
and Perth County schools for
educational benefit. There was also
some information regarding a
possible partnership with Huron
East in the construction of its new
library.
Benefits from this proposal,
Bannerman said, would be a
reduction in busing costs, walking
access to the Brussels, Morris and
Grey Community Centre and access
to municipal sewer and water
systems. Bannerman said he hoped
his proposal would help the ARC
take another step in terms of
dialogue on alternative options.
EXTENSION
As he previously discussed with
Huron East council, after the pre-
meeting tour of Brussels Public
School last month, Huron East
deputy-mayor Bernie MacLellan
said the board’s information was not
up to date and that updated
information on Brussels Public
School would be necessary in order
to give it a fair assessment.
MacLellan said several problems
that were listed had since been fixed
and the board had yet to update the
profile information the ARC. With
some significant discrepancies,
MacLellan felt an extension would
be necessary in order to approach
the accommodation review fairly.
“We’ve started on a process and
we weren’t given correct
Morris-Turnberry pays price for OMB victory
CitizenTh
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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009
Volume 25 No. 48NEWS- Pg. 7Facilitator makesdecision on Blyth PS SPECIAL - Pg. 13 Christmas gift guidebeginsBUSINESS- Pg. 2Pie shop opens in BrusselsPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 PAP Registration No. 09244 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK:
By Keith Roulston
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The Citizen
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