HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-10-09, Page 16A portion of potentialdevelopment property in Goderichhas been put on hold until anenvironmental assessment iscompleted.
County councillors at their Oct. 1
meeting passed a motion to modify
the town’s official plans with four
changes. Among these was to defer
the land use designation on the area
described as Part 4, Plan 22R-5535
until an EA is completed for theextension of Parsons Court. In July, council received a letterfrom concerned ratepayers askingthat this area be included as naturalenvironment. In a letter in the Oct. 1 agenda, K.John Hazlitt, an Ontario certified
hike leader, wrote, “I am simply
requesting that this sensitive wetland
Carolinian area be protected now. I
am not asking to create anything
new. This area has been here for
hundreds of years and without
protection can be destroyed in aninstant.”Objections have been put inwriting, through researcheddocumentation and with up-to-dateaerial photos from the countyplanning department, he said. Goderich has been working on
development of Parsons Court, said
county planner Scott Tousaw. “If
you vote deferring the actual
designation of this wooded area it
will come back at some point.”
The timeline for completion of an
environmental assessment couldtake up to 17 months if there areappeals, council was told. Asked what could happen with theproperty if council defers it, Tousawsaid that the property has beendesignated industrial and with thepassing of the official plan that
designation would survive.
“The assessment is underway. I
don’t believe Goderich council’s
intent is to do anything until that is
done,” said Tousaw.
Goderich councillor Deb Shewfelt
noted that’s the way it has to be.“Without the environmentalassessment we can’t put sewers in.”However, he explained, they aregoing ahead with the design andsoldthe last acre last year.Referring to the Sept. 30announcement that Volvo,
Goderich’s biggest employer was
closing in 2010, Shewfelt added, “I
think you all realize after yesterday
that it’s important. We’re getting a
lot of small industries. We believe
there’s safety in numbers.”
PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2008.
Huron East unhappy about boundary bridge transfer
Environmental assessment holds up development
The transfer of boundary bridges
to lower tier municipalities has
begun and Huron East councillors
are less than pleased.
At the Oct. 1 meeting of county
council, recommendations passing
the ownership of a boundary bridge
on Hensall Road to Huron East and
one on Rogerville Road to Huron
East and South Huron carried.
Prior to the vote, councillor Joe
Seili of Huron East, where the
majority of boundary bridges are
located, expressed his outrage. “If
you’re going to be dumping
inventory there better be
compensation with it. I say this is
downloading.
South Huron’s Ken Oke, however,
said he would vote because this is
the approved method.
At the June 6 meeting of council, a
policy was adopted for the removal
of all boundary bridges from the
county highway system. To transfer
ownership to the lower-tiers the
bridge had to either be remediated to
county standards on there would
have to be an agreement for a one-
time cash payment from the county.
In July, it was confirmed that
deficiencies at both bridges had been
repaired.
Seili said that he hoped that those
voting in favour remembered that
when it was their turn to have a
“million dollar bridge” dumped on
them.
Acting director of public works
Dave Laurie shared Seili’s view. “I
may be going out on a limb here, but
I have to say I’ve never agreed with
the transfer of these bridges. I don’t
believe lower tiers have the
resources and competency of staff to
handle them. I really have been
against this from the get-go.”
Councillor Ben Van Diepenbeek
of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh did
not share the concerns. “If that’s the
case then we have a lot of bridges
we’d like to give the county. These
bridges we’re talking about aren’t
even on county roads. I have to
disagree with Dave. We said when
the bridge was brought to standards
then they were going to the lower
tiers.”
Warden John Bezaire of Central
Huron agreed that it was time to
move on. “We have had this debate
numerous times. If council wishes to
have broad discussion to debate
what we’ve already debated ad
nauseum fine. But we aren’t going to
do this for specific bridges.”
A colourful walk
The Wawanosh Nature Centre hosted its annual colour
tour, which was very well-attended this year. Those in
attendance were escorted around the centre on a people-
mover and walked at times as the leaves begin to change
colour, making for a lovely walk. (Vicky Bremner photo)
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By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen