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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-12-05, Page 2Page 2—Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, December S, 1979 Arcl Ashfield farmers want *from page 1 cottage owners left the impression that rather than locking horns with each other the lan- downers locked horns with council. Problems cottage owners felt the plan created for them were problems they claimed were created by council. Farmers indicated several changes were needed in the plan to prevent further harassment of the agriculture' industry but those changes did not affect urban areas. Clete Dalton, a director for Ashfield, on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, came to the public meeting .armed with a resolution from last week's OFA con- vention in. Toronto. Dalton told council the OFA was prevailing upon the provincial . govern- ment to change the Code of Practice because the legislation ''failed Ontario farmers": He said the code only ' dealt with new barns, homes and " agricultural developments and did nothing for established farms. He said the result was that farmers already operating in ' an area could be penalized by an. urban development established in the future: He said the township official plan could do end up penalizing farmers if it was allowed to pass as it was written. He said the plan designated land around hamlets iii 'the township as urban which in the future could penalize farming ac- tivities around those hamlets. He said the plan called for a 2,000 foot buffer zone around the hamlets where restricted agriculture was• enforced which was ,unfair to existing farming units in those areas. He said the results of the, secondary plan were "very serious" and needed a lot of "study". He said the plan could be unfair to farmers adding; the agricultural coin- munity "does not need more harassment". Daltonaid the Code of Practice, was meant to be a guideline for in- tegrating farming and housing but has become an "unwritten law". He said the code and secondary plans were written by "people who want all the rules down in a little book to _ keep, farmers under control". Cottagers aired similar concerns but made no attempt to blame far- mers for their dilemna: Mike Gar -Vey, a .Toronto lawyer, told council the plan showed little con- cern for landowners in the township. Garvey said he owned 60 parcels of land along the lakeshore all of which were zoned seasonal residential prior to the township's secondary plan. He said the plan zoned his land natural environment which meant that before he can develop any of it he must get, zoning approvals from the township, the county and possibly the Ontario •Municipal Board. Garvey made no at- tempt to hide his displeasure over the zoning change. He told council the new zoning was, "morally wrong and I suggest legally wrong" adding it amounts to a freeze on his land. He said the change "smacks of someone from Queen's Park coming to Ashfield township and saying here's : what I want done with the township with no regard for the concerns and the rights of the people here". Davidson said the natural environment zoning did not necessarily make it as difficult to develop the lakeshore property as Garvey in- dicated. He, said all a property owner had to do was get approval, from the county health unit for a septic tankand clearance from the Maitland Valley Con- servation onservation Authority that development of the land would not create erosion problems and council will rezone the land seasonal residential:: He said by making the area natural en- vironment council was forcing all seasonal residential development to be compatible with the area and with the law. He said if the lots could not meet the requirements for septic tank in- stallation and erosion control council did not want them developed. Garvey argued that with the zoning change proposed in the draft of the secondary plan his development was open to objection even if it did meet the requirements. He asked Davidson if. council could guarantee there would be no ob- jections to cottage - development and if it would be as easy as the planner indicated. Davidson conceded that someone could ob- ject to the development but suggested the ob- jection may not hold up with the OMB if all requirements were met. "Unless you're suggesting council take steps to allow the lots to be used despite the fact they could endanger public health or create erosion problems," said Davidson. George Brophy, a Lucknow lawyer, said all ratepayers wanted was for . council to keep an open mind when writing the. plan. He said council. could treat each parcel of land on its own merit realizing that adeveloper has spent money on the land to develop it and now finds the plan makes the land worthless. Brophy said he represented an owner who proposed a recreational develop- ment qn a parcel of land away from the lake and faced the same dilemna. The land was now zoned natural environment and the developer . required rezoning to go ahead with his plans. He .reminded council that a recreational development need not take land out bf natural environment. Davidson . told the lan changes... owners that preserving natural environment was a great, problem in planning. He said a very small percentage of land in Ashfield was natural environment and it was important to. preserve what resource was left. He said everyone wants natural environment "but on someone else's land". He pointed out that once natural en- vironment is lost it does not come back. Brophy did not agree with council's version of protecting natural en- vironment calling it "expropriation withour representation". Dalton, who con- tinuously urged farmers to air opinions on the plan, suggested that council hold 'another meeting for farmers only. He said the first meeting was devoted to 'Port Albert, the second session dealt with problems .of cottagers and a third could be for fanners. He told . council the farmers may be reluctant to get up and speak at this meeting and may . be more relaxed at a session for farmers only. He asked if council • could consider such:a meeting. Ashfield reeve Warren Zinn said if farmershad something to say _ about the plan they have to say it in public session. He said council has provided every opportunity for farmers to speak and must make a decision on the plan soon. Davidson said another. meeting may not resolve much because there will always be problems. between agriculture and urban development. He said council must decide which it wants to protect when it writes the plan. "That's the problem with planning in a rural township," he said. "Do you restrict the hamlet or restrict the farmer?" He said council will be looking at a number of ways that perhaps could put as little restriction as possible on both. County council approves 1O% increases Huron County Council op- County Council. proved 10 per cent increases A car allowance of $60 plus in their committee and ses- 11 cents per kilometre or sion pay and the warden's alternately 14 cents per kilo- honorarium at their meeting, metre was approved. November 29. The council_ also approved a county optical plan increas- • The warden's honorarium ing benefits from $40 to $75 will be increased to $3,300 every 24 months. from $3,000. County council` „County Clerk -Treasurer members will receive $55 per Bill Hanly moved from level day or. $35 per half day for 3 to level 4, increasing his attending committee meet- salary from .$29,588to ings and sessions of Huron $30,784. Suggestions Filing Cabinets - Filing Boxes - Desk Trays - Pens - Pencil Crayons School Supplies Staplers - Desk Calendars - Telephone List Finders Playing Cards Boxed Stationery Guest Books :it's the freezin' season but Hot WANT ADS.. thaw sales aut '12CYS ofsmaller businesses... weprovide: * Financial affatance. * _Management counselling (CASE) * Management training * Information ongovernment frogramsf rbuszners Can we hel/pyou? Special Prices on Christmas Gift Wrap Story - Colouring & Christmas Cards Sticker - Bible Story See our Representative Bob FUrtney at: The Bedford Hotel, Goderlch EVERY TUESDAY on: ' Next Visit: December 11 LUCKNOW 528.2919 'FEDERAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK (Branch Office Address) For prior information call 271-5650 [collectl or write 1036 Ontario St. Stratford