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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-01-05, Page 22 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Jan. 5, 2005 News Huron East should invest in serviced industrial land in 2005, says Laviolette By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor After fielding four or five enquiries about the former Fletcher Tile property in Harpurhey and two about land on Welsh Street in Seaforth in recent weeks, economic development officer Ralph Laviolette is hoping Huron East will focus on investing in serviced industrial land in the new year. "I've pointed out to council how we've missed a number of opportunities over the past while and they might consider readying lands for an occupant, " he said. Huron East council received a letter recently from Chris Lee, chair of the Business Growth and Economic Development committee asking council to acquire land designated industrial or commercial in the official plan. "Competing areas, particularly along the Highway 8 corridor, have an apparent advantage of ready, leveled, well situated, actively -marketed, appropriately -zoned and fully -serviced lands that appear to be luring away potential development," said Lee's letter. "There have been rumblings of things going on and the economic development committee felt that we're lacking a longterm plan," said Lee during a phone interview Wednesday. Lee said creating a strategic plan that would address the issue of more serviced land available for development throughout Huron East would be the logical next step to last year's community survey. "We've acknowledged the need for an economic development officer and it's been a successful exercise to this point. But we need to take the long view now with results three or four years up the road," he said. Laviolette is beginning to hold meetings addressing the need for a strategic plan for Huron East's economic development. He opened up the topic at a November council meeting held in Vanastra and is planning to discuss it again at a public information session at the Seaforth Golf Club from 3 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 10. He's also holding the first annual meeting of the Huron East Chamber of Commerce Jan. 10 at the golf course at 7 p.m.with the theme A Vision for the Future and Tools for Downtown Revitalization. Laviolette said he would like to see council set up industrial land similar to the way Brussels' industrial park was organized with water, sewer and power. "The municipality is saying we'll service land if you come and that's not good enough for the developers out there, especially from the GTA (Greater Toronto Area)," he said. "We've got to close the gap a little and make the lands that are not in a saleable condition a little bit more attractive," he said. In Lee's letter, he lists several properties "ripe for purchase and development if the lands were cleared, re -zoned, serviced or land -filled for efficient use and if firm prices were offered." They include the Fletcher Tile property in Harpurhey, west of Railway Street in Seaforth and Tuckersmith, the west end of Welsh Street, the north and south sides of Seaforth, the parade grounds and lands beside Highway 8 in Vanastra and the larger parcels beside and north of Brussels' industrial park. BABIES ON PARADE Beautiful Babies Born in 2004! Luke William James Fritz Born: January 6, 2004 Parents: Greg & Jill Fritz Stephanie Mae Mohr 2003 Born: December 28,. Parents: Steve & Jacquie Mohr Grayden Norris Firm Born Hugh 9004 Parents: Norris & Becky Flynn jillian Frances Unich Born: February 19, 2004 Parents: Brian & Sheri (Kling) Tyler Orville Wascher Born: June 14, 2004 Parents: Corey Sandra (McClure) ) aimison Deanna Badley Born: May 24, 2004 Parents: Jeff & Angela Badley Caleb David Joshua Hunt Born: July 7, 2004 Parents: Josh Hunt & Vicki Dalrymple Allysa Christine Lebol 8 2004 Born: January Parents: Dylan & Robin Lebold Ryan Michael Allan Campbell Born: rents: ovember Michae10, 2004 Pa l& Julie Campbell Becca Lynn McClure Born: August 25, 2004 Parents. Mark & Michelle McClure Brooke Sophia Jean Meidinger Born: May 3, 2004 Parents: Kevin Meidinger & Cathy Jessome Payton Cave 1 Leppington Born: April 14, 2004 Parents: Kerry & Jon Leppington Plaine Angie Dunn Born: December 14, 2004 Parents: Wayne & Angie Dunn Sean Michael Vandendool Born: January 2, 2004 Parents: Paul & Lisa Vandendool Marissa ECi abeth Born: August 7, 2004 Parents: Krista & Trevor Price Maeve Lynn Adams Born: February 26,-2004 Parents: Jeremy & Cheryl Adams Alison Mary Dejong Born: March 11, 2004 Parents: Rob & Liana Dejong Gavin James 9Ricard 2004 Born: January 1 Parents: Mary Lou & Greg Ricard Ben S Rlobert Born: January 5, 2004 Parents: Chris & Shelly Smith Levi Daniel McGrath Born: August 13, 2004 Parents: Dan & Effie McGrath MariaGrace" Pelss Born: March 28, 2004 Parents: Mike & Naomi Pelss Davin Terry Gray Born: May 19, 2004 Parents: Terry & Paulette Gray Kyla Jeannette Rory Hunt Born: August 9, 2004 Parents: Kelly & Jeff Hunt Caitlin Elaine McKercher Born: August 14, 2004 Parents: john & Lorna McKercher Seaforth water upgrade, economic growth challenges for 2005, says Mayor Seili From Page 1 a two per cent increase to the municipality's annual budget. "But, we had to support the clinic and the hospital. We were one of a few municipalities in Huron County and across Ontario that weren't supporting their medical clinic. The clinic and hospital are things we need for growth and we have to protect them," he says. Seili says he's very supportive of the hospital study group that is currently researching the community's feelings about the services offered at Seaforth Community Hospital. "I've got to give the study group credit and I think the province and the Alliance will look at their results. We need to put back what's been lost at the hospital," he says. Seili sees one of the big challenges of 2005 as the upgrade to Seaforth water system, which could • cost anywhere from $3 million to upgrade the existing Welsh Street well to $20 million to join the South Huron pipeline to Lake Huron. "We have not turned down the pipeline but we're trying to find a less expensive solution for two sources of good water," he says. Another big challenge will be developing serviced land to attract new business and industry to Huron East. "I don't want to compete with private individuals but we have to become a landlord in smaller chunks. We have to have some serviced land in order to be able to grdw. We have to service our own land," he says. He says each of Huron East's urban areas need small parcels of serviced lands but isn't certain of the acreage required. "My big concern is the slow growth because of the challenges to the agricultural community. We're in a holding pattern right now but there is small business out there - we just have to work at finding it," he says. "We've got to keep what we've got, build on what we've got and work a bit harder to get what we want," he adds. While being Huron East's mayor has taken up double the time he thought the job would require, Seili says he's still enjoying it. "Balancing all three jobs (his position as mayor, his business and his home life) have been a challenge but it's been a fun challenge. Meeting people has been the best part," he says. As for the next two years and the future of Huron East, Seili says they'll be positive. "The future is bright - because I'm an optimist," he says.