HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1974-12-18, Page 12contrast dislike the prospect of
additional cottages and, a larger
summer population, and prefer
private beaches ;and access. Both
would pram:- new cottages to
follow the present pattern of strip
rather, than cluster development.
"As a final comment, it may be
said that the sample interviewed
Santa
(Continued from Page 1)
of Parliament, Murray Gaunt
MPP and R. E. McKinley also
took part.
The parade proceeded from the
CN Station, along main street to
the Nursing Home corner, then to
Victoria Park to the skirl of the
pipes and drums of the Legion
Band. The Wingham Baton
Twirlers added color with their
bright red costumes and their
adept baton twirling.
In the parade were a number of
decorated floats, acrobatic car,
antique car, clowns and a good
number of various amusing cos-
tumes. ,
One float carried the recently
chosen Snow Queen, Miss
Maxine Watts and her attendants
Misses Dianne Willis and
Michelle McCutcheon.
Last, but by no means least,
came Santa Claus to the delight of
the kiddies who' followed him to
the Legion Hall to receive their
treat and enjoy a film.
SANTA CLAUS PARADE
PRIZE WINNERS
Class 1: Best Float - 1st
Optimist Club; 2nd. Brownies and
Guides; 3rd. Minor Hockey.
Class 2: Best Comic Float: 1st.
Don McNeil, DAvid Wheeler and
Jim Bosman. (No 2nd. — 3rd.)
Class 3: Best Float (Prepared
by group or organization), - 1st.
Brussels Young People.
Class 4: No entries
To the
Voters of Brussels
Thank you for your support at the
polls on December 2nd.
HAROLD BRIDGE
I wish one and all a Merry Christmf
and a
Happy New Year.
Buchanan
Cleaners HACKBART'S
PHONE 887.6904
SPECIAL SAL
on
Ladies' Evenir
Gowns
20% OFF
Regular Price
Also new shipment of
Sleeveless Pullovers it
OPEN EVENINGS U
CHRISTMAS
for this study demo
existence of an infor
public opinion where
land use issues in H
are concerned, and
well a reasonable w
consider the sort of
use regulations whit
may require,
Claus
Class 5: BEST Cl
Jim McNeil Jr. and ti
2nd. Kendra Fischer
Knight.
Class 6: Best Origh
-1st. Julie McCall;
McWhirter; 3rd. Ark
Class 7: No entries
Class 8: Best Mo
Vehicle on Wheels -
and Helens.
Class 9: Best Decor
- Charlie Buck.
Class 10: 'Best
Wheelbarrow C arl.
SIGN
LUNI
GRIPPE
USE
CHRISTI
SEAL
It's a matter of life, a
Land should be saved for agriculture
(Continued from
main objective: "To resolve
conflicts between competing land
uses in a rural area requires the
setting of land use priorities just
like priorities are set for an urban
area. Portions of the urban
environment for example are
designated as residential areas.
Within these areas the residence
has top priority and only suppor-
tive or complementary uses are
permitted. Other areas are
designated industrial with a
different set of use restrictions.
Cases of conflict are resolved in availability of good productive
favor of the priority land use and farmland in the area. The
long range goals." decision to protect agricultural
Whether or not Huron County land was thought by most to be
farmers are ready for this type of one which, municipal or possibly
land use planning in rural areas county government should make,
has yet to be determined. There though present county land use
was some argument at Thurs- regulations, and government
day's meeting which would policies in general, were already
indicate that while farmers say perceived to be helpftil.
they want to protect and preserve "Farmers, whether located in
agricultural land, they wish to primarily agridultural areas, in
retain the "right to make their own areas where towns and
decisions about their own agriculture are adjacent, or in
property without any planning areas where agriculture and
restrictions to hamper them.^ cottages arc adjacent, are very
Reeve Deb Shewfelt called it receptive to the general notion of
being "strangled". He was restrictions on the sale of
referring in the first place to the farmland which limit - it4 to
feeling of some urban centres that agriculture or agriculture related
they are being "strangled"' use. They seem open to the
from further growth because of possibility that housing for non-
the desire to save prime farmers, retired farmers, and
agriculture land for, food even hired men might be tied to
production while in the second existing towns, villages and
place rural dwellers feel hamlets.
"strangled" because urban • "They oppose unrestricted
development is encroaching on development along highways and
prime farmland arc unsympathetic to the hydro's
• Fringe Areas need for rural property, but
But while the Countryside support the need for conservation
Planning report brought before of water and' forestry resources.
the meeting clearly showed that "Farmers differ markedly
the fringe areas around the five from townspeople and cottagcrs
towns would have some farmland in the degree of their opposition
slated for urban deVelopment in to the sale of farmland to
the future, fear was soon non-farmers, though they arc
expressed by some prepared to see pockets of poor
representatives at- the meeting land, such as ravines, sold to such
that farmland within that individuals.
designated fringe area would "A latent problem in rural land
immediately become m ore use planning was revealed by the
valuable thqn the same type of conflicting value positionS taken
farmland outside that fringe by many respondents in this
area. survey. There is general support
What are the attitudes of for some form of protection for
Huron County residents towards farmland, and for the notion that
the major issues underlying the once such land is sold little can be
proposed methodology of land done to control its use or resale;
use planning? but on the other hand many
Dr. Hadwen's study team people still balk at the thought
talked to 400 persons all across that landowners might be faced
the county - 80 citizens in urban by regulations telling them what
areas, 80 cottagers, 80 farmers in they could and could not do with
a recreation-type area, 80 farmers their property.
adjacent to urban areas, and 80 Conflict
farmers in strictly rural areas. "This conflict appeared, not so
According to Dr. Hadwen the much in response to questions
findings showed that in general regarding specific land use
the public is informed abou t the issues, but when general attitude
need for land use planning in questions were asked, which
rural areas and is "pretty willing suggests that planners should be
to think about it". aware of a contradictory
"The average Huron County emotional field underlying the
citizen is not mired in the past," apparent willingness of the public
said Dr. Hadwen. "People here to entertain more in the way of
are not resistant to change but land use regulations.
want it to be consistent with the "Cottagers may be typical of
best of the past." people coming to Huron County
"On the whole people of Huron from elsewhere, in that they are
County have pretty common not so supportive of protection for
agreement about major issues," farmland, but are willing to
Dr. Hadwen told the meeting. entertain restrictions on the use
"On most issues where planning of land. They may want to be able
is concerned, you are not going to to buy land, but appear to dislike
find really gross differences the notion that the character of
amongst and between the people the surrounding countryside
of the county," might change in a way
Dr. Hadwen also alluded to a unattractive to them.
study he has been doing "When the whole issue of
concerning attitudes of Huron non-farmers moving into the
County citizens toward municipal countryside was explored,
government here: farmers, wherever located ; fixed
"They have enormous the acceptable proportion of
confidence in municipal non-farm residents in a rural area
government in this area," he told at between five and ten'percent
the meeting, he promised to have but tended towards the lower
a More detailed summary of his figure, It is interesting that
findings to present to county townspeople in Huron County
council early in the new year, would set this figure slightly
following are the 'higher, but still in the vicinity of
conclusions found by Dr. Hadwen ten percent:
in his study into the attitudes, of "Both town speople and
BRU8SEL8' POST • DECEMBER -IL 1974
cottagers doubted that non-
farmers were very different kind
of people from farmers, nor were
farmers much concerned on this
point, though those close to towns
or the lakeshore were more
conscious of differences.
"There were, however, several
potential conflicts of interst
mentioned, usually more often by
farmers than by other
respondents, such as the effect
non-farmers can have on the price
of land and the likelihood of their
complaining about farm odours.
(While farmers thought any kind
of farming should be allowed
within 3 miles of a town or 1/2
mile of the lakeshore highway,
some of the townspeople and
cottagers did wish hog and
poultry operations farther away.)
"Farmers near the lakeshore
were concerned that an increase
of non-farmers might create a
traffic problem, While the
townspeople and, cottagers were
even more conscious than the
farmers that non-farmers
trespassing with snowmobiles
might create dissension.
"This survey revealed a good
deal of public interest in planning
the future of Huron County, but
little demand for more than
moderate growth. Most
respondents were anxious to see
something like ten year ' plans
developed for the towns and for
the lakeshore, but only in the case
of townspeople was this because
their personal property plans
were- thought to be affected.
"There was no general support
for encouraging population
, growth, though a minority
thought it desirable. There was a
belief that more employment is
needed, and that therefore
industry should be assigned the'
second land use priority behind
agriculture, though farmers in
primarily agricultural areas and
cottagers had mixed feelings
about the latter.
"County land use regulations
are presently thought to be some
help to industrial development,
while government policies in
general are seen as discouraging,
with townspeople the group most
pessimistic in this area.
Residential land use was also
seen by most respondents as
somewhat aided by county
regulations but discouraged by
government policies.
Residential Use
"Only farmers living close to
towns differed in their belief that
existing policies have encouraged
the residential ,use of rural land.
This same group of farmers
wished to see most forms of
development, including industry,
held within the present limits of
their nearby towns, while
townspeople were willing to see
small industries located as far as
1/2 mile out of town.
"There was substantial
agreement amongst all those
interviewed that county towns
and villages should avoid
enlargement if that involves
additions like trailer parks, which
should instead be placed some
distance away.
"Recreational land use in the
county was seen as well
supported by county regulations
and government policies but was
assigned the lowest priority by
most respondents, behind
agriculture, industry and
housing: However, farmers in
predominantly agricultural areas
and cottagers had very mixed
opinions as to the importance of
recreational land Use, and
farmers living near the lakeshore
did appear as one group which
felt new recreation areas should
be added.
"On the whole farmers near
the lake see growth along the
shoreline as a healthy
development, especially if'- it
ineludes, public beaches and
access, while the cottagers by
Huron residents concerning laud
use planning.
Conclusions
"Without repeating the
detailed analysis contained in the
preceding sections, it seems
appropriate at this point to sum
up some of the major findings of
the study.
"There was general agreement
amongst all the types of
respondents interviewed that
agriculture must • remain the
principal use of rural land in
Huron County because of the