HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-04-20, Page 17Wednesday, April 20, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 17
Delegation says county needs to change
Cheryl Heath
CMI Agency
A delegation known for
being against the wind
proved to stoke some
controversial comments
April 13, at Huron County's
committee -of -the -whole
session in Goderich.
In appearing before
council as a delegation on
the topic, Rural Residential
Impact Study, Robert Budd,
an outspoken opponent of
wind projects slated for the
region, argues it is time for
Huron County to get serious
about attracting more
residents and businesses.
In referencing an array of
documentation, including a
past study by consultant
Wayne Caldwell, Budd urged
county officials to begin
looking beyond the current
planning policy as well as
that in place care of the
provincial government's
Provincial Policy Statement
(PPS).
In particular, suggests
Budd, it is time for the
county's planning officials
and leaders to see beyond a
future dedicated to
agriculture.
"You have to ask how well
protecting agriculture has
served the area," says Budd
noting that the "remarkable
stability" in population
figures for the past 30 years
suggests more must be done
to keep the county
sustainable.
"Where is agriculture
likely to take us in 30 years?"
asked Budd, who suggests
job opportunities in that
field are shrinking, which is
having wider ramifications
for the local economy at
every level.
"Huron County is not
stable, not stagnant, it's
shrinking," says Budd.
Indeed, he says, statistics
show while the provincial
population has grown 6.6
per cent, Huron County has
actually lost .6 per cent of its
population, putting it in the
rankings of communities like
Rainy River and other "boom
and bust" economies in the
north.
"'That's a bit of a cause for
pause as far as I'm
concerned," says Budd,
noting other trends show
people are leaving rural
areas for the cities.
One step in the right
direction, he says, may be a
renewed focus on finding
ways to implement and
support a creative economy.
"We're not quite doing it
right," he says.
While wading into the
creative economy territory,
which county council has
heard presentations on in
past years, Budd found
himself going toe -to -toe with
committee chairman 11111
Dowson (Bluewater) who
informed him that there was
a 10 -minute time limit in
place for delegations.
Budd notes he had bore
witness to several
delegations at county
council sessions, including
one by Leader Resources
Inc. CE() Charles Edey, that
had run well over that
allotted time frame with no
such rebuke.
"At no point was he rushed
in that regard; says Budd,
noting Dowson actually had
complimented Edey at that
time.
Ultimately, Coun. Brian
Barnim (Central Huron)
argued that more time was
being wasted talking about
time frames than would have
been spent if Budd had been
allowed to finish, which
councillors eventually voted
on letting hits complete with
a five-minute suggested time
limit.
While Budd wrapped up
his presentation shortly after
Barnim's plea, he did take
time out to question the
wisdom behind allowing
hundreds of turbines to
sprout up on county land
given such a scenario will
likely do to promote the
county's development
dreams.
In all, says Budd,
preliminary figures indicate
420 turbines are slated for
Huron, and there is now a
developer looking at land
west of I lighway 21.
"What is the economic:
impact of wind projects?"
asks Budd, suggesting the
county would be wise to allow
the lower tiers to take the lead
on dealing with severance
issues.
"We haven't been utilizing
our gifts," says Budd, noting
the keep is to "shape our rural
landscape into something
that works"
While there were no
direction questions from
councillors for Budd following
his presentation, Coun.
Hamlin notes the key message
in that Huron must be
sustainable is a sound one.
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The London to Halite( Round Ttlp for Avo (Economy/Sleeper Class), courtesy VIA Rail Canada Inc., was one of the popular Itve auction
Items at the Ausable Bey eld Conservation dinner last week. Patrons were generous in bidding to own ne local ad work and also a
wide variety of other items, wood carvings, celebrity memorrlbiNa, travel packages, culinary experiences, and more.
County Warden Neil
Vincent (North Huron)
agrees that it seems the
county may have been
"toeing the line" by adhering
so closely to the PPS "to our
own detriment."
AiCanada is
now a net importer
of food — I don't
think we should
destroy any more
agricultural land
than we have to.".
-- Coun. Rill Siemont
Coun. Bill Siemon (Huron
East), however, argues
agriculture trust be
respected in that it is the
county's No. 1 industry.
"Canada is now a net
importer of food - 1 don't
think we should destroy any
more agricultural land than
Nye have to," he says.
Budd says his presentation
is meant to address lands
that cannot be cultivated or
have water quality issues to
which Coun. James Ginn
(Central Huron) notes his
home municipality is
attempting to accommodate
landowners grappling with
issues relating to lots that
cannot be farmed.
"We've always been of the
opinion that the Huron
County planning
department is very
restrictive," he said, asking
planning director Scott
'l'ousaw for his comments
on that perception.
'l'ousaw says while there
were titres that the county's
planning rules were more
stringent than the
province's, such is no longer
the case.
"Clearly, population
decline is a concern for this
council and this community
in many ways," says'l'ousaw,
but adds there is a vast array
of factors that contribute to
that reality,
"If we took Clinton and
built 50 houses tomorrow,
would 50 families move in?"
asked'l'ousaw, noting Port
Albert is an example of a
Huron County community
with ninny lots available for
development.
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