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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2019-10-10, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019. Huron County is beginning work on its five-year update to its official plan with open houses scheduled for this month, a provincial review lined up for later this year and a public meeting early next year. Huron County Planner Monica Walker-Bolton presented a breakdown of the planned updates to both Central Huron and Huron East Councils at meetings last month. The process began early this year, with draft policy writing in January, followed by community consultation in May and pop-up information booths from June to August at events like the Dungannon Rodeo, the Clinton Fair and the Huron County Plowing Match. Walker-Bolton told both councils that the Huron County Planning and Development Department has to update its official plan every five years and that update is then approved by the provincial government. In this update, she said, there are proposed amendments for five main areas: agriculture, climate change and active transportation, economy, natural environment and housing. One of the most highly-publicized planning updates in recent years, she said, is the Natural Environment Update, formerly the Natural Heritage Plan, but it won’t be part of the county’s official plan update. As decided by Huron County Council, the Natural Environment Update will be implemented at the municipal level at the time of each municipality’s five-year official plan review if that council so chooses. Under the agriculture heading, Walker-Bolton said there would be proposed changes to set policy for on-farm diversified uses and minimum distance separation, agriculture-related uses, policy acknowledging residential character of surplus severances and existing agriculture permitted in natural environment areas. In the economy section of the proposed updates, Walker-Bolton said the official plan would aim to acknowledge Huron County’s “serious” labour shortage, the importance of fibre optic internet, the housing shortage and recognize the living wage. She also said updates would define attainable housing as being connected to the living wage and that strategic sites would be identified for investment by the county and local municipalities. Updates to the natural environment section will include the rehabilitation of gravel pits into natural environment, a renewed focus on the quality of Lake Huron water for both drinking and recreation purposes, the 50-metre setback from adjacent lands from natural features other than wetlands and the acknowledgment of landowner efforts and the county’s role to support landowner efforts when it comes to natural environment. Updates to the climate change and active transportation portion of the official plan will promote active transportation to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, direct local plans to include policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, to use infrastructure corridors like former road allowances for active transportation, to encourage the use of renewable energy and energy conservation and to encourage energy-efficient development. When it comes to housing, the plan will be updated to reflect the urgent need for housing of all types in Huron County. Freehold, leasehold and rental properties will all be encouraged and housing will be allowed broadly in settlement areas provided it wouldn’t conflict with industrial areas. There would also be support for residential housing mixed with commercial development. Walker-Bolton said the update would allow for more flexibility for development and re-development as well as adjustments of settlement area boundaries. The update would also promote higher density infill development. She said the plan would require new “greenfield” development on full services at higher density than the rest of the settlement area, while the county will also work to develop residential intensification guidelines to encourage density in residential areas while balancing design with affordability. The update would encourage municipalities to pre-zone land for high density and would encourage local official plans to permit “tiny home” villages and other forms of alternative housing. Walker-Bolton told Huron East Council that because the need for housing in Huron County is so strong, there will be an emphasis on developing a variety of housing options in a scale of price ranges. For too long, she said, housing in Huron County has been targetting retirees with the means to buy expensive houses. Huron County now wants to encourage developers to keep building those homes, but to also build higher-density developments in all levels of affordability to ensure all residents of Huron County can find attainable housing. What a cooling off we had for a couple of days last week. Wet, cool and damp weather really made it feel like fall! We will hope for a little better weather so the farmers can get back into the fields and harvest can continue. As I was writing on Sunday, the weather was improving and warming up. News broadcasts predicted good weather for the week. Here’s hoping the farmers are hard at work getting beans off and wheat planted. We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving this weekend. We hope you have time to spend with your family and don’t eat too much! Congratulations to Rob and Brenda McIntosh as they have become grandparents for the fourth time. Daughter Jody and husband Josh Nurse have welcomed a beautiful baby girl to their family. Saylor Brenda will be welcomed home by big brothers Benton, Bowey and Barrett. The family resides in Clinton and it will be a busy household! A couple of familiar faces were seen around Brussels for a few weeks in August/September in the form of Gerald and Joan Miller. They made their annual trip back home to Ontario from the west, to visit family and friends. They had a special occasion this time, the marriage of their son Rob and partner Barb. The wedding was held at the Miller farm. The entire Miller family was together for the celebration. Gerald and Joan also spent time visiting with lots of old friends before returning home. Another sign of fall is the deer are moving. They must know what is coming with the first deer hunt season just shy of four weeks away. Dawn and dusk, I have seen them at both times this past week. Eyes open everyone. The kids on the bus were excited to see an American bald eagle when I pointed it out to them. It was not a big bird and was alone when it took off from the road, but a beautiful creature to see. When I asked them how would they know it was a bald eagle and the older ones responded it was the white head. We also pointed out the white feet and tail feathers are other telling features of the bald eagle. An educational bus ride that day. Celebrating birthdays this past week were Christopher Blake, Melva Fraser, Chantelle denDekker, Valerie Gratto, Bryce Shortreed, Matthew Shortreed, Paulene Bennett, Shaye Flaxbard, Paul Kirkby, Dianne McCallum. Happy birthday to all. Harvest continues in Walton County begins work on official plan review One year subscription to The Citizen only $3800 Enclosed is $38.00 for a 1-year subscription Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town . . . . . . . . . . . . .Postal Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On-line subscriptions available too at www.northhuron.on.ca Phone or mail cheque made payable to North Huron Publishing to: P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 Are you tired of getting a second-hand newspaper? Be first in line and get your own subscription! SHEAR TALENT Hair Design & Tanning Walk Ins Welcome 45 West St., Goderich 519-524-6555 www.shear-talent.ca By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570 PEOPLE AROUND WALTON NEWS FROM WALTON By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Amazing It wasn’t all peaches and cream over the weekend for the teams taking part in the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation’s annual Amazing Race fundraiser, as one of the obstacles was a blind taste test that was, at least on the surface, more Fear Factor than Masterchef. All the teams had fun, however, as the race raised just under $12,000 for the foundation. (Darlene McCowan photo)