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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-12-08, Page 13Brussels calls fees 'Absurd' "Absurd!" That's the reaction of Brussels village councillors to the new fee structure for planning applications adopted last week by Huron County. The reaction was spoken by Councillor Dave Hastings after Donna White, clerk-treasurer, pointed out the cost of a minor variance will go from $175 ($125 if the person filled out the application by himself) to $510 with the county rate. "There should have been a lot of reeves stand up and protest. "There are a lot of times you can do it (approve a minor variance) and not bring him (a planner from the county department) down here." Mrs. White complained about how quickly the fees had been approved. "The first we (the munic- ipal clerks) heard of it was on Mon- day, Nov. 29. Reeve Gordon Workman said he voted against the fees and tried to convince other councillors to do so but the motion went through quick- ly because the committee structure was going to change after the December meeting of county coun- cil. Councillor Hastings pointed to one case in Brussels where a home- owner needed a minor variance because they were eight inches over the regulation distance from a lot line. "It would have cost $510 for eight inches." And, he warned, the amount of the fees would likely increase. Mrs. White agreed, saying the initial fee structure covers only 50 per cent of the supposed costs of processing planning applications. In 1996 the fees will increase to 63 per cent of costs and in 1998 they will increase to 75 per cent. Council must pass a bylaw to change the rates. If council doesn't change its fee structure it still must pay the county its share of the fees ($174 in the case of a minor vari- ance), Mrs. White said. Still, coun- cil decided to hold off any amendment until the January meet- ing. SNELL FEED & SUPPLIES LTD. is pleased to introduce their newest expansion DAN'S AUTO REPAIR Dan Snell Licensed Automobile Technician • tune-ups • brakes - turn drums & rotors • exhaust * headlight aiming * tires - sales, repairs, computerized wheel balancing service & winterize • oil changes • battery sales - testing & service • vehicle inspection station Wingham •I + # 0 8 Westfield 1 Road ,—.- am Auburn +E Phone 523-9501 for an appointment Open Mon. - Fri. 8:00 - 5:30 Located on Westfield Road elgrave lyth THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1993. PAGE 13. County adopts fees for application A Great Christmas Gift Over the objections of some Huron County councillors, a new schedule of fees for planning changes was approved by council at its Dec. 2 meeting. Councillors approved the fees, included in an executive committee report, after first defeating a motior- A proposal to discuss the setting up of a Boundary Study Committee with the Ministry of Municipal brought controversy to the Huron County council meeting Dec. 2. The Ministry's proposal that one option in a boundary committee could include county politicians and staff set off warning bells for some politicians, led by Lossy Fuller, deputy-reeve of Exeter. "We think local municipalities must take part as equal partners," Fuller said in explaining Exeter's position. If CAS Continued from page 1 ing feature. The CAS is an autonomous body over which the county has no control. Several times the CAS has run a deficit meaning the county must pick up the overrun. The county has in the past requested a review of the oper- ations of the CAS because of the overruns. The CAS also used to occupy a Gloucester Terrace building owned by the county. In October 1987 the CAS board passed a motion saying that building was inadequate and setting a goal of owning its own building. In August of the follow- ing year the Society received a $25,000 provincial grant to conduct a feasibility study. But in March 1992 county coun- cil passed a motion recommending to the Ministry of Consumer and Social Services that it "should not move ahead with the major capital project for this CAS in view of the possibility that the CAS will have its efforts integrated with other ser- vice agencies." In September 1992 the CAS building committee concluded "there is reason to believe that there may be very little if any support, either financial or otherwise, forth- coming from the county for the proposed CAS/multi-use facility". A public fundraising effort is try- ing to make up the remainder of the money needed to pay for the build- ing. The CAS says $120,000 has been raised to date with $190,000 required. by Lionel Wilder of Hay Township that the issue be deferred until municipal councils had a chance to comment. The new fees were worked out by a committee of councillors with representation from clerks and planning staff of municipalities and the county, with 16 townships rep- resented compared to five towns and five villages, is in charge of boundary adjustments, she worried that urban needs might take a back seat to rural needs. She called the provincial proposal "a short-term, band-aid proposal." Bob Hallam, reeve of West Wawanosh agreed the local munici- palities should be in charge. "This will sucker us into regional govern- ment," he warned. But Warden Tom Tomes said the intention of the county executive committee's letter "wasn't to go out and do things. We're not out to cre- ate changes." At least two urban municipalities are currently con- sidering annexations from neigh- bouring townships, he said. ''There are talks going on with urban municipalities and I'm not sure the rural municipalities know." John Doherty, reeve of Goderich said he thought the results of the Huron County Study into restruc- turing county operations had settled the issue of boundary adjustments, leaving it to the municipalities to decide. "We're opening up a can of worms to get the Ministry involved." But Brian McBurney, Reeve of Turnberry, said that setting up a county committee to negotiate dis- putes between two municipalities over boundary changes would move the process one step closer than having the province do it. In an annexation of part of Tumberry by Wingham the provincial nego- tiator had been more of a problem than a help, he said. Warden Tomes, reeve of Stephen, said his experience in the recent negotiations that saw Grand Bend take over part of his town- ship, the province was ready to step in to force the negotiations. Lynn Murray, clerk-administra- tor, said that once the county starts talking with the province, the terms of reference of the committee can be set up. Councillor Fuller argued that those terms should include involving the local municipalities on any committee. the county. The committee was set up following complaints from some municipalities after the county planning department had proposed a unilateral increase in the fees it charges. Some municipalities have the right to complete their own zon- ing changts, subdivision plans, etc. but must still work through the county. These municipalities felt the county charges were too high when they were doing the work, while the county department argued they must pay a portion of the fixed costs of the department. Under the new fee structure, the fee has been broken down in three parts: municipal portion, county portion and administrative fee. The administrative fee goes to whichev- er level of government, local municipality or county, carries out the work. Under the plan rezoning will cost a total of $1,000 with the county gettirig $371, the municipality $342 and the administrative fee, $287. Official plan amendments would cost $1,675, with the county charg- ing $975, the municipality, $240 and a $460 administrative fee. Minor variances will cost $510, with $174 for the county, $134 for the municipality and $202 for administration. Consents will cost $735 with the county receiving $470, the munici- pality, $200 and the administrative fee being $65. Plans of subdivision will cost $1,730. The county's share is $1,230, the municipality's, $287, and the administrative fee being $213. Reeve Robert Fisher of Zurich told Gary Davidson, planning director, that the objective of the fees seemed to be to take the power to process planning changes away from the seven municipalities that now have it. He said he believes in a fee-for-service basis but some people were still going to be subsi- dizing others. He cited the case of a recent local variance in his commu- nity that was required by someone, to erect a deck that would encroach on the set-back. It was ridiculous for that person to have to pay a $510 application fee, he said. Meanwhile someone else might get $2,000 worth of work done for much less. Dr. Davidson said the fee struc- ture does average out costs but under the planning act the county can only charge an application fee, not charge by how much work is actually done on a particular case. Municipalities could consider a rebate if they think specific cases are out of line, he said. Even under this plan, he says, the county plan- ning department and municipalities won't recover their full costs and regular taxpayers will end up subsi- dizing those who benefit most: the applicants. There is no intention, he said, to remove the privilege of processing You can lose a lot more than your licence drinking 0 mihiTIA:7 and driving. o.ne el HELPING THE WORLD WRITE NOW • CODE Self-sufficiency through literacy in the developing world For information, call 1-800-661-2633 changes from those municipalities who already have it. Leona Armstrong, reeve of Grey felt there was too much of an urban perspective to the fee structure. She supported the idea of referring the fees back to the municipalities rather than push it through. Warden Tom Tomes said munici- palities had been consulted through the work of the committee. Bill Vanstone, reeve of Colborne agreed, saying the committee had done what it could. There were things he'd like to change but sometimes you have to compro- mise, he said. The fees would be reviewed after two years and changes could be made then. Bill Clifford, deputy-reeve of Goderich argued against sending the issue back to the municipalities, pointing out how long the issue of county council voting structure had been kicked around without a real resolution. "I think there are times when some decisions have to be made and have to be made here," he said. The decision was made when councillors turned down the motion to defer, then approved the fee structure. BELGRAVE KINSMEN CALENDAR $20 n each $20,000 in prizes' 1-5 chance of doubling your money PROCEEDS TO BELGRAVE COMMUNITY CENTRE Available from: Ken Hopper 887-6195 (le Belgrave Co-op Beck's Variety - Belgrave Scrimgeour's Food Mrkt., Blyth Citizen - Brussels t..:.)r. any Belgrave Kinsmen memby Boundary Study discussion brings controversy to council