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The Huron Expositor, 1995-02-08, Page 66 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, F.bruary 8, 1995 Close-up Horses may call Stanley home BY TIM CUMMING Expositor Editor Horse lovers (and their horses) could be calling Stanley Township home if a local development propo- sal is successful. Stone Lea Holdings Ltd., a group of nine local investors, plans to provide serviced lots attached to a communal fann located two miles cast of Bayfield, north of County Road 3. As part of the development proposal, professional staff will care for the horses of property owners. The fate of the proposal may be partly determined at a public meet- ing on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 when the developers will seek to have a zoning and official plan amendment made by the Township of Stanley. The rezoning would change the affected properties from their current agricultural designation to an agricultural classification which would permit special uses, such as horses and houses attached to a larger farm. One of the big question marks for the proposal is how the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will respond. The proposed development, at the top of the bank of the Bayfield River, will take about 21 acres out of agricultural production and con- vert about 250 acres from crop production to pasture land. Stone Lea Holdings President Tim Beard said the project combines community development with the legitimate agricultural practice of providing farm land for horses. "To say pasture land is not agri- culture is a disservice," he said. In an interview with The Huron Expo- sitor last week the graduate of a rural economic development pro- gram referred to Stone Lea as a niche market, commercial livestock operation and "specialty crop." The concept of Stone Lea is a `recreational residential community'. "There's a housing component, a farm component and a recreational component," said Beard, who lives at RR 1 Bayfield. Town & Country Bowling League Sweet Adelines - 84 The Twisters - 98 Boy Named Sue - 401/2 Go-Go's - 51 The Heart Throbs - 71 DJ's - 751/2 Women's High Average Susanne Stokes - 177 Women's High Single Lila Story - 218 Women's High Triple Sue Stokes - 571 Men's High Average George Johnston - 233 Men's High Single 3Men's High Triple 848 Personal best for evening: Darryl Smith (249); Ralph Johnston (250); Sheila Brooker (171); Lloyd Dale (213); Jeff Dick (212); Carol Johnston (192); Louise Dick (187); Terry Smith (206); Orville Story (162); John Staffen (295); Dwain Forrest (210); Mike Glousher (157); Colleen Staffen (150); Ruth Duffy (181); Betty Dale (176); Lavern Hoegy (198); Sharon Evans (172); Reg Dick (239); Del Altman (169); Gordon Murray (207). rlooRaocaoaacoaaaoct;117cl Huron County's Complete VEHICLE RENTAL Headquarters Q Small & Mid-sized Cars 0 Passenger & Cargo Vans, Pickup Trucks O Daily, Weekly, Monthly Q Insurance Rentals & M6ie Q Free Delivery [� Ask about our full transportation service CAR & TRUCK RENTALS Division of Suncoest Ford 500 Huron Rd., Ooderich CALL COLLECT Ask for Helen 524-8347 TIM CUMMING PHOTO DEVELOPMENT ENVISIONED - Tim Beard, President of Stone Lea Holdings Ltd., points towards an area where he would like to create a recreational residential community built around a farm for horses. The proposal is coming before a Stanley Township public meeting. The promoters of the project see the 460 -acre proposed development as a viable economic opportunity for an agriculturally -based area. They envision incorporating the complex with a network of recre- ational trails. The development could create around 500 person years of employ- ment and more than 75 full-time jobs, according to figures supplied by Beard. It would also produce more than $400,000 in taxes to be divided between the municipality, the school boards and the county. To make Stone Lea a reality the developers must extend a serviced water line to the site. They would create a communal sewage treat- ment plant which the municipality would have to agree to assume. The proposed 150 houses to be built on the fully -serviced lots are expected to be a combination of full-time residences and homes for part-time use (such as weekends and summers). The project could accommodate 300 horses, said Beard. The developers held an informa- tion meeting on the proposal on Wednesday, Oct. 26. More than 100 people attended the meeting to hear answers to questions about the proposal. There was no opposition to the plan in principle, said Beard. The proposed development will be located above the top of the bank along the Bayfield River. "We're not intruding into the river valley," emphasizes Beard. "We do not want to damage the river valley, we recognize it to be a valuable resource." Beard says the Stone Lea devel- opers will create corrective drainage to redirect water so it doesn't go over the valley bank. A profitable residential development may have more funds to stop soil erosion than existing farms, he said. Beard, who has a degree in agri- cultural economics and rural devel- opment and an MBA, started work SERVICE ... while you wait El FINE JEWELLERY REPAIRS G CHAIN REPAIRS RING SIZING ❑ RE -TIPPING AND CLAW REPAIRS Also available._stone resetting, tine jewellery appraisals. custom and special order jewellery NSTETT JEWELLERS LIMITED Clinton Store Only! Main Corner, Clinton 482-3901 Toll Free 1-800-727-1556 527-0430 The OBVIOUS CHOICE tnd�•prndrn tlrmbcr Milker :I Husgvarna Chiinsaws' Poutan PRO Outdoor Power Products ()moon Saw Chem Windsor Saw Chain 3 GLEN SAWS RR S3 Clinton Over 40 Years of Service Dependability W. Gordon Glen -Home ' 482-9292 233-3175 Yr> on the project in 1991. The group began buying property options in the fall of 1993. He argues that Stone Lea is a "manageable and sustainable econ- omic enterprise." The project will not change the agricultural flavour of Stanley Township, Beard insists. "We don't want to change the land use designation, we don't want to interfere with the neighbouring farmers' right to farm," he said. "We want to integrate this thing so it fits in with the environment." The Stone Lea development could become a reality within two years, said Beard, but only if all the regu- latory hurdles are overcome. Surprisingly, the development is not being started by horse owners. "We're not doing this because we like horses," said Beard. "We're doing, this because we see it as a viable and responsible business proposition for an agricultural com- munity." All Deposits Insured Within Limits Rates subject To Verification Q�% 5 YEAR RRSP 1 Yur 6C•Shabil 0 1 4•19 Save an extra 40% in taxes on your RRSP contribution this year lnuestment Centre Investment & Tax Planning Secure Investment Products ... from people youcan trust SEAFORTH 96 Main St. 527-0420 ❑ YES, I'd like to know more about how I can do better with Working Ventures Canadian Fund Inc. 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