The Rural Voice, 1990-04, Page 33focussed on the number of severances
being granted by local authorities — is
the most controversial issue to arise in
the county since the farm survivalist
era. Established in 1852, Grey County
covers 1,112,960 acres, more than half
of which are the property of census
farms. The population of the county
in 1987 was 53,581. The landscape
supports a mix of farming, industry,
tourism, and cottage country.
Say "severance" in the area and
the battlelines form. Earlier this year,
three public meetings were held under
the aegis of the Environmental Asses-
sment Advisory Committee, asked by
the province's Minister of the Envir-
onment, Jim Bradley, to step in to
decide whether full environmental
assessment hearings should be held.
At the intersection of the issue is
a proposal for a 25 -hectare subdivision
near Rockford in Sydenham Town-
ship. Township reeve Bill Murdoch,
initially a partner in the project, has
since withdrawn, but the floodgates
have opened with charges that the
development would contaminate sur-
rounding wetlands with sewage run-
off, destroy a wildlife habitat, com-
promise the unique flora and fauna of
the area, and eliminate a valuable
woodlot.
Environmental groups and others
also say that preferential treatment is
accorded to some who apply for sev-
erances and that the county's official
plan is not used fairly by all. These
citizens are calling for an overhaul,
or at least a general review, of the
county's planning practices.
Others charge that the issue is a
power struggle between the Ministry
of the Environment (MOE), the On-
tario Municipal Board (OMB), the
Ministry of Municipal Affairs, the
Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR),
and the Ontario Ministry of Agricul-
ture and Food, and that Grey County
is caught amid all these forces.
Last November, the Grey Asso-
ciation for Better Planning (GABP)
was formed by citizens concerned that
planning practices were not being
evenly applied. GABP is calling for
a review of the Grey -Owen Sound
Official Plan.
George McLean, a well-known
wildlife artist from Sydenham Town-
ship, agrees with GABP's position.
With reference to the proposed "Syd-
enham Mills" subdivision, the group
stresses the cost of servicing the lots,
the pollution of area wells, and the
fact that "development is out of con-
trol and the province has done nothing
about it" (George McLean, quoted in
the Owen Sound Sun Times, January
12, 1990).
GABP members are also critical
of the fact that the same county
officials serve on several committees,
authorities, and boards. Bill Murdoch
is one example (see the following
feature).
A subdivision proposed for Sydenham
Township has been a sore point — and a
rallying point —for people concerned
about unsustainable development in
Grey County (photo by Cathy Laird).
A petition signed by more than 50
ratepayers brought the Environmental
Assessment Advisory Committee in
on the issue. The committee is "made
up of members of the public that are
appointed to provide advice to the
Minister of the Environment on des-
ignating or exempting projects, or on
other matters concerning the (Envir-
onmental Assessment) Act ... Often,
a public meeting is held. The Com-
mittee submits a report to the Minister
which is made available to the public
after the Minister has made a decision
on the exemption or designation
request" (from "A Citizen's Guide to
Environmental Assessment").
The first public meeting was held
in Owen Sound on January 11, 1990.
The Environmental Assessment Ad-
visory Committee heard briefs dealing
mainly with the Sydenham Mills
subdivision near Rockford. Twenty-
two people made presentations: seven
speakers were in favour of a full en-
vironmental hearing, twelve speakers
were opposed, and three speakers took
a compromise position — 300 people
attended the first meeting. The main
topic was the involvement of Syden-
ham Township reeve Bill Murdoch in
the project.
The second public meeting held by
the committee, on January 22, drew a
crowd of more than 500. Develop-
ment in Grey County was given a
large show of support: 22 speakers
presented briefs — 16 showed support
for development as well as present
planning practices and county offi-
cials; 6 were opposed.
"We have faith in our democrat-
ically elected officials now," stated
Norman Seabrook, a Grey County
property rights advocate. "I have a
petition here with 600 names on it.
I'm announcing the formation of a
new group in Grey County — the
Grey Association for Development
and Growth." His statement was
greeted with applause and cheers
from the crowd.
Several farmers spoke of the right
of a landowner to decide what to do
with farm land. Shirley Reckewitz
from Osprey Township suggested that
the schools might educate people
about how to live in rural areas.
"We welcome people who want
to move in and live with the people
here," she said. "Yes, good agricul-
tural land should be preserved, but the
farmer paid for the land and he should
have the right to do with it what he
wants. When you build my house,
when you pay for building my house,
then you can tell me what it should
look like." She received a standing
ovation. Many speakers echoed the
feelings expressed at the height of the
Niagara Escarpment controversy.
The six people who spoke in
opposition to current planning policy
represented different groups and were
generally in favour of tougher plan -
APRIL 1990 29