The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-04-01, Page 22♦Page A22: Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, April 1, 2009
GODELRCH
Canada's prettiest town
PUBLIC MEETING
CONCERNING A
PROPOSED ZONING BY-LAW
AMENDMENT
AFFECTING THE TOWN OF GODERICH
TAKE NOTICE that the CoUncil of the Corporation of the Town of Goderich will hold a public meeting on
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. in the Huron County Council Chambers, 2nd floor of Courthouse,
Goderich, to consider a proposed zoning amendment under Section 34 of the Planning Act.
BE ADVISED that the Clerk of the Corporation of the Town of Goderich considered this application to be
complete on Friday, March 27, 2009.
ANY PERSON may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either in support
of or in opposition to the proposed amendment.
ONLY individuals, corporations and public bodies may appeal a by-law to the Ontario Municipal Board. A
notice of appeal may not be filed by an unincorporated association or group. However, a notice of appeal
may be filed in the name of an individual who is a member of the association or group on its behalf.
NO PERSON or public body shall be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal unless, before the by-law
passed, the person or public body made oral submissions at a public meeting or written submissions to the
Council or, in the opinion of the Ontario Municipal Board, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or
public body as a party.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION relating to the proposed zoning amendment is available for inspection during
regular Office hours at the Town Clerk's office.
DATED AT THE TOWN OF GODERICH
THIS 1st DAY OF APRIL, 2009.
Larry J. McCabe, Clerk -Administrator
Town of Goderich
64 West Street
Goderich ON N7A 2K4
(519) 524-8344
PURPOSE AND EFFECT:
This By-law proposes to ctaage the zoning on Lot 833 and Part Lots 809, 810 and 834, Registered Plan
457, in the Town of Goderich — known municipally as 45 Nelson Street East. The property is currently zoned
as Residential High Density (R3) and was formerly used as a retirement home.
The purpose of this application is to change the zoning
on the property from Residential High Density (R3)
to Residential High Density - Special Zones (R3-16).
The existing building is proposed to be converted to an
apartment dwelling with 12 affordable housing units.
The proposed project was app by the County of
Huron under the Federal/Provincial Affordable Housing
Program, which provides capital funding for affordable
housing units. The special zone recognizes the setbacks
of the existing building, permits the outdoor children's
play area to be located within 0 metres of a door/window
of the on-site building only, exempts the requirement
of individual privacy yards for ground floor units, and
permits a reduced number of parking spaces (to 12 from
the required 18) to be located in the front yard.
This by-law amends -Zoning By-law 38-1985 of the
Town of Goderich. Key Maps showing the location of
the lands to which this by-law applies are shown on the
following pages entitled Schedule 'IAP
SCHEDULE "A`
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Zone champ MK R3 atesidenlial High Deneitp to 89-16 (Residential High Deady - Special Zones)
Qatari sun, sand and sea:
Desert dune-ing and dining
Part 1 of a two-part series
about a desert tour in Qatar
on the Arabian Gulf
We've been on safari—but
on safari the only way to go—
in an air-conditioned Land
Cruiser.
I know, I know—camels
would have been far more ex- Parks-Mi144
citing and rugged but also slow 4-74; ii . (14::.-91
and hot, not to mention that
they spit.
With such a great stretch of desert to
cover, James and I chose a modern sa-
fari in order to do as much in one day as
possible without getting lost.
We opted for the Khor Aludaid Jour-
ney, a six -hour jaunt through the des-
ert to The Inland
Sea and then to
a Bedouin camp
where we'd enjoy
an Arabic food
dinner beside the.
Arabian Gulf—all
organized by Sa-
fari Tours out of
Doha.
Hence, two ve-
hicles ventured
forth: one with
a young couple
from England and
ours, containing six intrepid Canadians.
Our excellent driver, Khalid, started
challenging the desert when he was
12 -years -old, undoubtedly on an ATV,
accompanied by his grandfather.
Khalid was a jovial fellow, who knew
the Qatari desert like the back of his
hand. The vast expanse of sand and
dunes was obviously his playground—
and he hacl•iongsince mastered its shift-
ing vagaries.
Once outside Doha, we took a wind-
swept coastal highway through a few
small towns and passed the area's large
power station andan immense gas refin-
ery at Mesaieed.
Qatari gas reserves are estimated at
some 910 trillion cubic feet.
Across the desert flats, distant beige/
brown clumps and humps proved to be
grazing (on what?) camels, the Cadillacs
of the Desert that sustained this country
before mechanization.
We saw a number of ATV rental busi-
nesses en route as well. Judging by the
large number of vehicles at the various
outlets, 4x4-ing is a popular sport with
nationals and ex -pats alike.
We have heard, however, that 4x4 ac-
cidents happen regularly each weekend
when changing sands prove too much
for ATV cowboys.
The tires on our Land Cruiser were
large and lightly treaded, suitable for as-
phalt in a country 'of endless summer, as
well as off-roading. Deep treads would
simply dig a hole in the sand and bury
the big vehicle to its axels.
First stop, where blacktop met des-
ert, was to deflate the Land Cruiser's .
tires to 15 psi.
While the drivers lowered
tire pressure, we were enter-
tained by getting up close and
personal with some sleepy
camels, elaborately saddled
and lying in the warm sun,
awaiting tourists with their
handlers.
The large beasties were not
tethered but were muzzled
with open weave cloth masks
over their noses—you'll recall that cam-
els are prone to spitting. Thee desert
leviathans were not disturbed by our
venturing near them to stroke their soft
furry heads. Photo op!
Tires like balloons, our contemporary
chariots were
ready to roll. We
eagerly got on
board and . the
convoy headed
out.
Desert scen-
ery is simulta-
neously stark,
intricate, beauti-
ful, barren, and
definitely large
in various shades
of beige—much
like Canada's
Arctic except for colour.
Although we were travelling on a
weekend, few others were out and about.
Like mountains, the desert dwarfs all in
its midst, especially when you're the
only people for several hundred empty
and seemingly infinite square kilome-
tres.
A magnificent wasteland stretched for-
ever to the horizon, its undulating topog-
raphy beckoning us.
Giant sand dunes towered around us,
the desert roadway twisted and turned,
climbed and fell—driver Khalid tamed
the terrain, downshifting, changing track,
deftly maneuvering hillocks and rocks,
while giving us the joy ride of all joy
rides.
The Land Cruiser ahead of us ap-
proached a 100 metre sand dune, climbed
its front face, and side slipped down its
rear slope, generating a huge spray of
sand.
Several of our group decided that
wasn't for them and hopped out before
our vehicle began its ascent. They wait-
ed at the bottom of the slope cameras at
the ready.
James and I and friend, Lorraine, told
Khalid "Go for it!"
'Wow, what a ride!' doesn't do justice
to the thrill of dropping off a cliff, of
controlled drift, of fat -tire -floating and of
perceived risk in the tilt of the Cruiser
as Khalid skillfully guided us down the
long, sandy mini -mountain.
How could anything top that? We'd
soon find out.
Part 2 to follow will continue with this des-
ert adventure and its stunning conclusion.
Photo submitted
Carolyn and James Mintz making new
friends in the desert of Qatar
•