The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2019-04-18, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2019. Cowbell’s Shindig repeats win at 2019 Queen’s Park event For the second year in a row, Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company’s Shindig Huron County lager will be featured at Queen’s Park. At the 14th annual Ontario Craft Brewers’ sampling event, hosted by Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the Honourable Ted Arnott, earlier this spring, MPPs and government staff named their favourite Ontario craft beers. The winners will be made available at the dining room and through catered events and receptions at Queen’s Park for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Voting ballots are given to guests, allowing them to vote for their favourite beers in several different categories. Cowbell’s Shindig was named the lager of choice at the event. Other winners include Niagara College Teaching Brewery’s Pilsner 101 which was the Speaker’s Choice, Full Beard Brewing’s The Bearded Prospector Cream (top ale), Junction Craft Brewing’s Caribru Session IPA (top IPA), Muskoka Brewery’s Shinnicked Stout (top stout or porter) and Old Tomorrow Brewing’s Honey Ginger Shandy (top specialty). This is the second year in a row that Shindig has captured the coveted best lager position, a feat not earned by any of the other finishers this year. The event welcomed 32 Ontario craft breweries, which served 116 different beers for those in attendance. By Denny Scott The Citizen The big day Watson’s Home Hardware’s Blyth location marked its grand opening last Friday and Saturday with a fundraising barbecue for the Fire Department of North Huron, in-store giveaways and specials and a ribbon-cutting featuring local, provincial and national Home Hardware representatives. (Denny Scott photo) North Huron Council has suggested that Huron County Council deny an extension requested for the Wingham Creek A2A Development Inc. after just shy of five years of inactivity on the project. The development, which borders the Maitland River Elementary School as well as several residential blocks on the southeast end of Wingham, was originally given draft approval with conditions by the County of Huron on July 2, 2014. During her report to council on Monday night, planner Laura Simpson explained that, in 2017, A2A development Inc. was given a two-year extension, with the condition that the first phase of the subdivision be registered for development within the extension period, which concludes July 2, 2019. Phase 1, according to plans presented by A2A, includes 250 residential units in varying residential densities over 11.5 hectares of the 36.9-hectare project. After Phase 1, the plan called for another 214 residential units to be built over 8.5 hectares in Phases 2 and 3. Simpson explained that the subdivision plan application was a significant one because it represents 92 per cent of Wingham’s undeveloped residential land. “Since [the original application], demand has increased for residential property and there has been no significant movement on the subdivision,” she said. “The previous extension clearly stated that North Huron may not support another extension.” The only steps taken by A2A Development Inc., Simpson said, had been obtaining clearance letters from the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and service-providers, as well as proof of co-ordination with Canada Post to determine the future sites for community mailboxes. “No information for engineering concerns, or the subdivision agreement has been provided,” she said. “To date, the steps completed are limited and don’t meet the urgency communicated by North Huron in 2017.” If the extension, which council is only a commenting body on, not the decision-making entity for, was denied, any future development on the land would have to start from square one, Simpson explained. She said that, if the development were in a vacuum, it wouldn’t be such a significant issue, however inactivity could have negative consequences for other residential developments in the area. She said that not having the land open for development is a concern for North Huron, but later explained that A2A, as a developer with both land and a stated interest in creating residential properties, could file appeals against any other developments that are proposed. North Huron Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans provided evidence to support Simpson’s concerns. He said that other A2A developments have had little to no movement in Meaford and Central Huron, and that A2A, in relation to the Central Huron project, had filed an appeal against a development project in 2016. That appeal was dismissed and the project proceeded. Councillor Chris Palmer had found similarly disturbing evidence, he said, that A2A may not intend to pursue the development in a timely fashion. Palmer said that an internet search revealed some upsetting information, including worrying legal action and other concerns. “There is a cloud over [A2A],” he said. “It’s not to say they’re [not] on the ups, but it makes you wonder. It makes you wonder about having them in the midst. Will they ever follow through?” Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip, the only council member who was on council for the 2017 extension, had similar concerns, saying that the situation concerned him as well as ratepayers. Seip did say that, if A2A came to the table with plans before July 2, he would be happy to work with them, but the group has brought nothing of significance to North Huron or Huron County since filing the extension. Council questioned what could be done with the land that A2A owns if the extension is denied, and Simpson said that, as private land, there is nothing council can do to influence it being sold or developed. Seip said that, in hindsight, North Huron should have bought the property and then sold it to A2A because property sold by the municipality can have a forced ‘buyback’ clause on it where, if a developer doesn’t move on it in a timely fashion, the municipality can buy it back for what was paid. “This didn’t come to the municipality,” he said. “Now, we’re stuck with [A2A]. Everyone was happy with the ownership at the time, but, after six and a half years and more, and all the communication and literature, there is no indication that anything is going to get done.” In lieu of having representation at the meeting, Weston Consulting, acting as an agent for A2A, sent a letter to North Huron Council saying that A2A still plans on pursuing developing the land, regardless of North Huron’s stance on the project. Seip pointed out, however, that the land could not be developed as a subdivision without a draft plan of subdivision, which, after July 2, A2A wouldn’t have. Council approved Simpson’s recommendation to suggest that Huron County Council deny the extension. STEVEN NIXON Broker WILFRED MCINTEE & CO. L IMITED Bus: 519-357-2222 Cell: 519-531-0252 Fax: 519-357-4482 Email: nixon@execulink.com Web: www.stevennixon.com 249 Josephine St., WINGHAM, ON N0G 2W0 Serving the area since 1999 PT LT 40 CON 1 GREENOCK TOWNSHIP $270,000.00 MLS# 30716867 Great location to build your dream home on this 35 acre mixed bush property, some workable land, private location, fronts on paved road, central to Teeswater, Walkerton or Kincardine, short drive to Bruce Nuclear. Call Steve Nixon 519.357.2222 #7 Our popular Stops Along The Way is the premier visitor’s guide to Huron County. Our print version is distributed FREE at tourist information booths, town halls, retail outlets, accommodations, and restaurants throughout the county and beyond. Our tourism partners tell us that it is one of the most picked-up year-round! Do you have an event happening May 24 - August 1, 2019 which you would like added to our community event listings? Stops Along the Way is the go-to publication for information about the Huron County that the locals know. Take advantage of the year- round draw of ALL of our attractions - theatre, beaches, trails, and our blossoming food and beverage industry! Email deb@northhuron.on.ca and get your upcoming event in our Early Summer issue of Stops Along The Way or call 519-523-4792. Deadline for this issue is April 26th. Promote Your Spring Events NH suggests denial of A2A development extension What an honour Sunday was Mikayla Ansley Day in North Huron and the Blyth Lions Club held a special event to honour the 12-year-old winner of the Lions Clubs International Peace Essay competition. Over 160 attended, including several dignitaries. Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and nearly all of North Huron Council were all on hand at Memorial Hall. The final presentation of the day, however, came from the Blyth Lions, who had Ansley’s essay framed for her. From left: Lions President Barney Stewart, Lions Club members Lisa Bromley, Meg Lyoness, Ansley and Lion Shawn Loughlin. The event raised nearly $450 for Sick Kids Hospital and Blyth Lions Club and dozens of pounds of food was collected for the North Huron Food Share. (Mark Nonkes photo)