HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-12-01, Page 1Noting that they were afraid of
the development because they
saw their livelihood threatened,
Swartman said they were acting
the same as any other men would
do under the same cir-
cumstances.
He concluded by saying that
council had listened to them fair-
ly.
In concluding the discussion,
Mitchell noted that the town
would get $20,000 per year in tax
revenue from the shopping cen-
tre. He agreed there was a
legitimate concern by the other
businesses in the community and
said there would be some affect
on them.
"The protection the
municipality gets from the
agreement is more than they'll
get from a court of law," he said
in concluding his remarks.
, LONG SERVICE AWARDS — A number of erhployees of the Ontario
Development Corporation at Huron Park received pins for service of 25
years or more in the Civil Service, From the left are ODC director Of in-
dustrial parks J.C. boss Waddell, Russell Clarke, Al Lobb, Ken Greb,
Bill Smith, Doug Parsons, Bill l=ord, Sam Bowers, Bruce Conn, Borden
Smyth, Ralph Lightfoot and D.M. Rogers, ODC managing director.
A PARADE WINNER — A pair of sheep provided the automation for one of the prize winning floats in
Saturday's Santa Claus parade. Manning the float are children of the Don McIntyre, Dick Hokansson, Bruce
Dykeman, Les Dykeman and Gerald Dearing families. T-A photo
Hay swamp described
as valuable resource
This shopping centre in Bradford could soon be duplicated in Exeter
One Hundred and Fifth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 1, 1977 Price Per Copy 25 Cents
'Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873
• Agreement is signed for shopping centre
`Natural storage areas are
cheaper than man made struc-
tures such as dams for the
storage of water', stated Don
Pearson, resources manager of
the Ausable,-Bayfield Conserva-
tion Authority at the natural en-
vironment and extractive
resources workshop held last
Thursday at the Hay township
hall.
The workshop which was
attended by a small crowd of less
than 30 people is a part of the
public input aspect of the propos-
ed Hay township secondary plan.
George Penfold of the Huron
County Planning Department
gave a brief rundown of the
natural areas within Hay and
stated that approximately 10 per-
cent of the total land area of Hay
is considered to still be in its
natural state. Approximately
7000 acres is unimproved land
with another 2100 acres of
Ausable-Bayfield forest being
considered a natural area.
A Ministry of Natural
Resources survey in 1976 said
that there was not a great poten-
tial for gravel or aggregate
deposits in Hay township, Pen-
fold said.
Throughout the evening
several references were made to
the lack of gravel in the township
and the accompanying high costs
that came with the gravel, which
was trucked in from outside the
township.
In an explanation of the value
of Hay swamp to the township
Pearson said that based strictly
on a cost-benefit relationship,
the swamp was a very signifi-
cant area. Flood water storage
that is available in the swamp
costs approximately $50 per acre
fobt. Flood water storage ac-
quired through the construction
of the Parkhill dam cost $375 per
acre foot.
The town of Exeter should ap-
preciate the value of the swamp
considering the low flow of
characteristics of the Ausable
river in which effluent is
periodically released into the
resources manager said.
Joe Miller stated that there
should be more emphasis placed
on the reclamation of human
wastes for use as fertilizers
rather than attempting to dis-
pose of the wastes. 'The
technology is there if you direct
it in the right areas', Miller
remarked.
Pearson agreed, but said that
there were two major im-
pediments to any :troves in this
direction, 'People have an aver-
Sion to eating food fertilized by
our own wages and its a matter
of economics that causes towns
to favour a sewage lagoon
System.'
Jirri Love was highly critical of
the present condition of Hay
swamp. Liking it to a 'stagnant
frog pond' Love said that the
water table was at least two feet
too high.
Chairman of the meeting
Lionel Wilder said that he
thought that the Water table has
gone up. When asked if the con-
servation authority had con-
ducted any studies on this, Pear.
The two-month debate over the
proposed shopping centre for Ex-
eter came to an end, Thursday,
when Exeter council voted un-
animously to enter into an agree-
ment with Jerry Sprackman of
Hawleaf Developments Limited
for the conditions under which,
that shopping centre will now
proceed.
A final plea by a lawyer acting
on behalf of several downtown
merchants, to have council vote
on whether a permit would be
issued, was denied and in-
dications are that the
businessmen will not proceed
any further in their fight to stop
the development.
Michael Nlitchell, the Stratford
lawyer acting for the town, said
the businessmen could apply for
an injunction if they wished, but
warned that any damages that
may arise would then fall to
them and not the town.
"They have a recourse,"
Mitchell told the businessmen's
lawyer, Jim Dunlop,, adding that
they and not the town should put
up the funds for the legal action
and any damage suits that may
arise from it,
Mitchell also advised that, in
his opinion, a mandamus (a writ
that could be secured by the
developer to force council ,to
provide him with a building per-
mit) would be successful, sub-
ject to some qualifications,
He went on to point out that
any action taken by the town
would be a delaying tactic at
best, and if it was not successful
would leave the town with no
controls over the development of
the land and "the town would be
in a dilemma".
Mitchell opined that of the
arguments presented by the
lawyers representing the
businessmen and the developer,
it was more likely that the one
presented by Edward Sonshine
on behalf of Hawleaf would win
in a court battle than the argu-
ment presented by Dunlop on
behalf of the businessmen.
In his submission, Dunlop said
that council had proceeded "on
the notion" that they had no
alternative but to grant a
building permit. However, he
said that notion was incorrect
and they could have refused a
permit on the grounds that part
of the shopping centre was to be
built on industrially zoned land
and also that the shopping centre
was notin keeping with the aims
outlined in the new official plan
't4o maintain and strengthen the * lowntown core commercial
area.
When the terms of the agree-
ment were outlined to
Sprackman and his associates,
Sonshine said that they were of
the opinion that they were not
required to enter into the agree-
ment in view of the fact their
One of the provisions in the,
agreement signed by council and
the new shopping centre
developer this week was for a
storm sewer to service the
property.
Under the terms of the
agreement, Hawleaf Develop-
ments Limited will be required to
pay $1,250 per acre for the con-
struction of an outlet and $2,600
per acre for the storm sewer
itself across the land being
developed.
Owners of land adjacent to the
shopping centre site will also be
required to pay the same charges
as their land is developed.
While Hawleaf agreed to those'
terms, Len Veri, who owns land
in the adjacent area, indicated he
would "object strongly" to this
provision, noting that nowhere
else in town is council, required
land owners to pay for a storm
sewer outlet.
He said it was "very
discriminatory",
The town's solicitor, Michael
Mitchell, said Veri would "have
his day" to object in that he can
advise the town clerk of his
application for a permit had been
presented before the bylaw had
been passed by council,
"It's costing us a fair bit," he
said in reference to the terms of
the agreement which call for the
developer to provide services
"but we'll enter Into it to meet
the legitimate concerns of the
town".
He said his client was a very
responsible developer and they
appreciated that the town has
proper concerns over the
development and it was not im-
proper that council act to get
some controls.
Mitchell said the agreement
was a "realistic compromise" to
avoid the wasting of money on
lawyers to carry the debate into
the courts.
He added that the agreement is
not any more onerous than the
town would apply tQ anyone
developing in that particular
area of the community. "The
town's approach is fair and
equitable and we have tried to
reflect that in the agreement,"
he added.
Dunlop charged that council
members were "playing os-
trich" by asking the
businessmen to take their
Developer Jerry Sprackman
said Thursday night in an in-
formal discussion with council
and several local businessmen
that his new shopping centre
would not hurt the majority of
businesses in the core area.
However, he predicted the
present food stores would suffer
from the competition of Zehrs
supermarket, "especially if they
don't watch themselves."
During the questioning,
Sprackman said that the
supermarket and a bank were the
only known tenants of the
shopping centre to date. He
suggested there would probably
also be a drug store and possibly
a dry cleaning outlet and a
laundromat,
He said that the new tenants
would not include firms involved
in the fashion industry, such as
clothing stores, shoe stores or
jewellers.
Basically, the tenants will be
those with whom the public deals
on a weekly basis for convenience
goods.
The Toronto developer
predicted most local merchants
would be "pleasantly surprised"
to find-that the new shopping
centre attracts more business to
the community in general. "I
position and appeal the matter to
the Ontario Municipal Board.
Mitchell later said that the
requirement outlined by the town
was a "new posture". He
suggested it was not acceptable
in this day and age that
developers expect such services
to be provided through the•
general tax rate.
"If you're going to develop,
you're going to pay your share,"
he suggested.
Veri also indicated he was not
happy with council's recent
decision to rezone the land north-
east of Highway 4 and 83 as in-
dustrial.
He noted that over a year ago,
he had asked to have the land
zoned as commercial and this
had been approved by council in
principle. Two months ago, the
new. official plan had it
designated as highway com-
mercial and then two weeks ago,
council decided to have it zoned
as industrial.
Veri suggested he should. have
the right to develop and sell his
land for the purpose he deemed
best, indicating he.would object
to the new zoning,
chances in seeking to stop the
development.
"That throws the burden of
council onto the businessmen,"
he suggested.
Sprackman then entered the
debate to point out his firm had
acted properly in their presenta-
tion and had done everything in
the open,
He said they could have asked
for a permit or forced a man-
damus, but rather had chosen to
present their plans to council and
didn't threaten anyone.
"We're not interested in
litigation," he said, and then tur-
ning to Dunlop added "it is you
who is forcing the issue, not us."
He concluded by saying that if
anyone wanted to "come against
us" it should be the businessmen
and not council.
The developer also denounced
the "red herring" that the shop-
ping centre would affect all the
businesses in the downtown area,
Bob Swartman, spokesman for
the dozen businessmen in atten-
dance at the meeting, pointed out
they were concerned and were
only asking council for a fair
audience.
"It's not our intention to get
into a shouting match," he said,
think you'll see more people," he
advised.
After hearing that the existing
food outlets may be adversely
effected, Ron Cottrell of The
Junction asked if that was what
Sprackman would be telling him
in five years if the second phase
of the shopping centre proceeds.
"The first phase doesn't worry
us too much, it's the second phase
that worries us," Cottrell ad-
vised.
Sprackman replied that he was
in "no hurry to build anything big
as an ediface to myself," noting
that the experience in the past
few years has been for most
stores to cut back in size.
He also explained that it was
the consumer who decided which
stores continued to thrive.
"Consumers are not stupid' any
more," he said and suggested
that in many, cases where
shopping centres have forced
existing firms out of business,
those firms deserved to be forced
out.
It was reported that in the 11
communities in which Hawleaf
has built shopping centres, three
grocery stores have gone out of
business, Some of them closed
before Zehrs , arrived. Others
decided to expand their floor
space before the large super-
market competition arrived.
"When do you plan to open?"
Councillor Ken Ottewell asked,
"When are you going to give
me a building permit?" Sprack-
man replied.
He then went on to say that
barring strikes, the shopping
centre would be open six months
after a building permit has been
issued.
Councillor Derry Boyle, noting
that Sprackman had suggested
people in the fashion industry
would not locate in the shopping
centre, asked if such a store
would be included if a tenant
came along. "You wouldn't take
me?" Boyle asked,
The developer said he would
discourage such a tenant. "I
think you'd starve to death," he
told Boyle,
Ron Cottrell asked if Sprack-
man had considered buying
property to build the shopping
centre in the core area.
He was told that assembling
the amount of land required
would be "totally uneconomical"
and it would create a chaotic
traffic situation in the core area.
Sprackman said Exeter's core
area was very viable and at-
tractive and the merchants
should not fear the new com-
petition.
He said customers attracted to
the new supermarket wouldn't
drive 20 miles and then go home.
"They'll go downtown," he
suggested,
Council then went back into a
closed session to make the
necessary amendments to the
agreement and shortly after
resumed their public meeting
when Reeve Si Simmons and
Councillor Ken Ottewell
presented the motion to enter
into the agreement with the
developer.
Before calling the vote, Mayor
Bruce Shaw said people would
son stated that to his knowledge,
no work of this nature has been
carried out.
Questions about the preserva-
tion of woodlots and rows and the
amount of land erosion that has
accompanied the removal of the
tree cover consumed a good
portion of the discussion time.
Lloyd Willert said that he sees
changes in the amount of land
erosion caused by wind on a year
to year basis. Several members
of the audience made mention of
the amount of dust in the air
around Dashwood during periods
3f high winds. According to
Willert '10 years ago it wasn't as
bad as it is now.'
In a question 'about the role
that the individual land owner
plays in the preservation of the
natural environment, Willert
said that the private citizen has
an important part to play. 'The
government wouldn't do
anything unless guys like us
pushed.'
Penfold echoed this sentiment
Please turn to page 3
tomapmasrala:
It was that time again on
Friday at Huron County Council
and three members have
declared their interest in the
warden's chair for 1978, the year
of the International Plowing
Match in Huron.
Gerry Ginn, the reeve of
Goderich Township was the first
on his feet. Ginn, recently named
Forester of the year, announced
his intention much earlier this
year to seek the warden's post in
1918,
Ginn has had 22 years in
Municipal life— nine years Of the
former Goderich District
Collegiate Institute Board, four
on the Advisory Vocational
Committee of Central Huron
Secondary School; four years on
Goderich Township Council as a
councillor; four as deputy-reeve;
and when he finishes this term of
probably not underStand the
rationale behind council's deci-
sion, whatever that decision was
to be, and added that they would
be criticized either way.
"I trust the public will unders-
tand that we are acting in the in-
terest of the public at large," he
commented, noting it was im-
possible to please both sides on
any contentious argument.
The motion to approve the
An interesting report tabled at
Huron County Council Friday
showed that the Town of
Goderich and the 'Fawn of
Seaforth recorded population
losses from 1976 to 1977.
Goderich's population was
decreased by 12 but still remains
Winter hampers
Santa's parade
The weatherman played havoc
with Saturday's Santa Claus
parade through the streets of
Exeter,
Due to blustry wintry weather
including cold temperatures, the
number of parade participants
and spectators was cut con-
siderably,
The only warming influence
came from the hot chocolate and
coffee served to parade marchers
and visitors at the South Huron
Rec. Centre following the parade.
A large number of Exeter and
area youngsters took advantage
of the opportunity of two hours of
free skating at the Rec. Centre,
Two planned features - free
baby sitting at the rec centre and
free bus service to and from the
centre and the main shopping
area were curtailed because of
the weather and 'the lack of
spectators and shoppers.
First prize in the float for
schools went to Exeter Public
School with their entry of
numerous vehicles depicting
"Signs and Symbols of Christ-
mas." Second place went to
Precious Blood Separate School.
The judges chose the sheep
drawn entry as best in the comic
division. Involved were children
of the Don McIntyre, Dick
Hokansson, Bruce Dykeman, Les
Dykeman and Gerald Dearing
families.
The Kids for Christmas entry
was best in the horse drawn
vehicle category.
The house scene entered by
Aiphi Pi Sorority was number one
in the clubs and organization
section with the Exeter Minor
Hockey Association placing
second.
Elder Enterprises took first
prize in the business section and
the prize for the best decorated
car went to Gerry Front.
office, it will be four as reeve.
Bob Lyons of West Wawanosh
Township declared himself a
candidate, He has spent 11 years
on county council, this year as
chairman of the road committee.
He is semi-retired, he told
council, and Will have plenty of
time to devote to the warden's job
if he is elected.
The third candidate is Jack
'rhino, reeve of Hay Township,
He calls himself a "swamp boy"
although more recently be likes
to think of himself as "from the
forest" He has spent 10 years on
municipal couticil, six On county
Council,
The warden will be elected at
the first January meeting of the
1978 county council. He will
replace this year's warden, Doug
McNeil, Colborne Township,
agreement and open the way for
the shopping centre was passed
unanimously, with Deputy-
Reeve Don MacGregor and
Councillor Steve Pfaff being ab-
sent from the meeting.
Council passed a further mo-
tion that the building inspector
be directed 'to issue a permit
when the schedules to be at-
tached to the agreement are
completed.
the largest in any municipality in
the county with 7,324. Seaforth
lost a total of 21 residents making
it the smallest town in the Huron
with 2,025 people.
The total population in Huron is
up however, to 56,032. That's an
increase of 568 over 1976 and is an
encouraging trend.
The fastest growing town is
Exeter with a population in-
crease of 20 bringing the number
of citizens there to 3,519.
Wingham was a close second with
a r6corded growth of 19 bringing
the total population there to 2,861.
Clinton's growth was a respec-
table 14 with a total population
now of 3,124.
The township I of Tuckersmith
had the largest growth of any
municipality in Huron in 1976 to
1977 period at 110. No doubt the
development of Vanastra has had
much to do with this growth but it
is also interesting to see that
Goderich Township grew by 101
during the same period with
neighbouring Colborne Township
growing by 64.
Among the villages, Hayfield
experienced the greatest growth
at 51. Blyth grew by 43 persons
and Hensell grew by 29. Zurich
and Brussels both experienced
modest decline - Zurich 6 and
Brussels 15.
In all, 17 municipalities of the
26 showed an increase in
population \through the 1976-1977
period. The remainder showed a
decrease with the Township of
Howick recording the greatest
decline at 64, Others to lose
ground were Usborne 23; Stanley
48; and McKillop 27.
Injured worker
remains critical
Bryan Finch, the 26-year-old
resident of Huron Park who was
injured in an explosion on
November ,19, remains on the
critical list at Victoria Hospital in
London.
He suffered burns to about 80
per cent of his body in an ex-
plosion at the Dwaine Division of
Dunlop Industrial Limited.
Another worker injured in that
explosion, Harry Plantenga, 25,
was released from Hospital over
the weekend.
The two men Were injured
when the explosion occurred
during the application of the
internal coating of a 16,000 gallon
rail tank car.
Plantenga, who was standing
on top of the car as a safety man,
was knocked to the floor by the
impact. Finch was working in-
side the tank car and all his
clothing was bunted off, He
managed to make his own escape
from the tank,
NAME NEGOTIATOR
The Education Relations
Commission announced Tuesday
the appointment of Barry Lowes
at a third party to assist the
Huron County Board of
Education and its elementary
se hOol teachers in their
negotiations.
Lewes who is presently a
Toronto businessman, has beer[ a
professor at several universities
and has had experience in school
beard negotiations.
Veri objects to
sewer suggestion
Developer claims it
won't hurt core area
'Swamp boy' to run
Exeter now Huron's
fastest growing town