HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-12-22, Page 3151
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The Goderich Police Force is back to full strength with the
hiring of Constable George Lonsbary effective December
17. Constable Lonsbary comes to Goderich from Norwich
where he served on the Police Force of that community for
four years. The new police officer is married and the father
of two daughters. (staff photo)
Eileen Palmer fails
to obtain support
Councillor Eileen Palmer began to :h tick /cum! shake her
head in disbelief last Thursday evenvhen the matter of
possible policy to make vacuncies on municipal committees
and boards known to the public.
"No, no," she muttered. But Councillor Poliner only had
Councillor/Frank Walkoo on her side and by recorded vote,
council decided to announce in the local newspaper the
positions on boardsand committees to be filled, and to in-
vite those interested citizens to make their 11(1111eS known to
the town administrator Harold _ Walls.
Councillor Bill -Clifford told council he found nothing
amusing about the fact tkat (1 St I ggeSi 0 11 was being put
forth to involve the public in municipal htisiness.
"Council doesn't have to accept the people who may in-
dicate their willingness to serve," said Clifford, "but 1 feel it
is a good idea to give notice of the vacancies to be filled. 1
don't find it amusing."
Councillor Frank Walkom reminded council of the time
several years ago when Ron Price resigned from council
mid-term and an advertisement was put in the paper to fill
the pogition.
"Out of a town of oveF 6,000 people we 'had five ap-
plications," said Walkom.
Councillor 'Palmer said that in a larger centre where
people are not so well known -to each other, it may he
necessary to resort to advertising. .
"But in Goderich everyone is fairly well known to
everyone else," said Mrs. Palmer. "We are quite capable of
selecting the better candidates."'
Reeve Deb Shewfelt said he agreed there was nothing
amusing about the suggestion - especially when it could
leave an impression that present appointed nwinhers (11'P
not performing their duties `well,
"I think they do a grea t job, " said Shew felt.
Deputy -reeve Stan Profit assured Shewfelt there was no
intention to discredit. present personnel.
"Certainly not," stated Councillor Clifford. "We ore still
at liberty to put on who we want."
Councillor Dove Gower said he was nut opposed to the
suggestion bu t.,ocided he wouldn't want the selection Of
committees and boards then to become a "hassle" similar to
the'one this year when it came time to select aYi assistant
arena manager.
Vacancies will be filled on hoSpital board,. cemetery
board, planning board and the committee of adjustment.
sp.
126th YEAR - 52
6,1
obertrb
SI
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1973
Council votes to change zoning but ...
SINGLE COPY 20c
No permit to Krohmer just yet
Erich Krohn) er was back at
Goderich Town Council last
Thursday evening With a
revised proposal for his
property, at the end of Gibbons
Street but council, though ap-
proving a zoning change from
Developmental to It 2 to permit
four semi-detached units as
proposed by Krohmer, in-
dicated it would be a while
'before the developer would get
permission to go ahead with his
project.
In a letter to council, Kroh -
mer asked for a building permit
to construct four semi-detached
units (each two family
dwellings) on four lots.
Krohmer declined to say
what the approximate cost of
the homes would be after con-
struction because of the con-
stant fluctuation of building
material prices. He did say he
proposed to build the units of
_brick and siding.
"I was under the impression
you were coming hack .with a
proposal to building six units
on four lots," said • Councillor
Dave Gower, also chairman i of •
the Goderich Area Planning,
Board. "What's the difference
between this proposal and the
last?"
"I don't know,* answered
Krohmer who went on to,ex-
plain that his plans conformed
with local bylaws.
County Planner Gary David-
son concurred.
"If conforms with the plan,"
said Davidson. "It just requires
a re -zoning."
Davidson said that under the
new bylaw now being cir-
culated to Goderich residents.
duplex pr semi-detached
development requires a R 2
zoning. Row housing requires a
R 3 zoning.
"There is need for multiple
family dwellings," advised
DavidSon., "Council must
decide on the principle."
Town building inspector Roy
.%"
siegalladi ,
witillehij".. ',Lakes Shilipingveseel "Thornhill" cleared (MAW°. h harbor on Thursday evening
loot - refl000ernent crew after all 22 members of her regular crew signed off the vessel In
oiler over atoodffion of the craft and violations of their contract through the hiring of non
. The Thursday evening sailing was nearly a day later than had been
far m.7 •Ohedulod due to the laboeproblern. The vessel Is bound for anotherioad at Thun-
- 60,0011 returning to Ooderich for the winter. (staff photo)
Breckenridge told council that
before a building permit would
be issued to Krohmer, the plans
for the project would have to
conform to new zoning. •
"The homes would have to
be built within these
guidelines," said Breckenridge.
"There is no question about
sideyards and the like, Mr.
Krohmer knows that." -
c,
Krohmer nodded his head in
agreement.
"This kind of development is
not new for Goderich,"
remarked Reeve Deb Shewfelt.
"I was opposed violently and
loudly to row housing," said
Deputy -reeve Stan Profit: "I
think I could accept this. Since
these homes would be for sale,
it is likely the owners would
take more pride in their places.
I think this is much More ac-
ceptable."
Profit then made the motion
to rezone from Developmeptal
to R 2 to permit the project
suggested by Krohmer. It was
seconded by Councillor Bill
Clifford.
"I'm trying to keep an open
mind," said Councillor Elsa
Haydon. "But if it is pushed
through tonight, then I'm op-
posed, If I had time to think
about it, I might support it.
There are too many things to
take into consideration at this
time." ,
"I will support the
rezoning," said Gower.
Councillor Eileen Palmer
Local Planning Board agrees
to recommend amendment four
At a special meeting of the
Goderich and Area Planning
Board on Friday afternoon a
motion to recommend approval
of amendment four to the Of-
ficial Plan was passed for the
second time.
At an earlier meeting the
board has.. passed, a similar
motion but the matter was tur-
ned back to the Board by Town
Council since there was some
question "regarding whether or
not the proper procedure had
been ffolioed in making the
recommendation.
-The amendment will he the
first step toward rezoning a
Portion of property on Highway
21 south, next to the municipal
industrial park, which will in..
turn permit construction of a
shopping mall proposed by
Suncoast Estates Ltd.
Basis for the amendment, as
outlined in a preface to the
recommendation, noted that •
the Planning Board -had
received "an application to
develop, for commercial pur-
poses, iands presently
designated industrial by the
Town of Goderich Official
Plan." .
"A
- comprehensive market
study was prepared for the
Goderich area," the preface
notes, "which indicates that the
-shopping, center will have a
minor impact on the downtown
commercial area and that this
will only occur during the
initial years of the plaza
operation."
"Planning Board has
'examined the location of the
proposed commercial develop-
ment," it further said, "and is
satisfied 'that it will not exert
any adverse effects on adjacent
development and that the
necessary services and
amenities can be provided."
The recommended amend-
ment would change the official
plan to read, "the commercial
classiacation of land means
• that thepredominant use of the
land in the areas so designated
shall be for general and high-
way commercial uses."
The generalprinciples to be
considered in "the development
and zoning of commercial areas
note that the general commer-
cial uses permitted are those
uses which serve essentially the
whole of the Goderich market
area,
They may include retail and
service 'shops, offices and.
studios, hotels, places of enter-
tainment", automobile service
stations and sales garages and
carelaker's accommodation in
part of a permitted commercial
use or apartments on the
second and third storey of a
commercial building.
The central business district
should remain as compact as
possible in order to serve
pedestrians most effectively.
New development in the central
business district should not be
allowed to infiltrate un-
necessarily into adjoining
residential areas.
In order that the central
business district may continue
to attract trade from the
market area it serves, a high
quality of development and an
attractive appearance should
be created within the area.
Adequate off steeet parking
facilities shall be provided in
all commercial areas. Access
points to such parking areas'
shall be limited in number and
designed in a manner that will
minimize the danger to
vehicular and pedestrian ,traf-
fic.
Provision shall be made for
the retention of a buffer strip
suitable for screen plants and
grass, where the commercial
areas abut residential areas.
Only one official objection
was filed with the Planning
Board in connection with the
amendment. Colin ColborAe, a
lawyer representing 042
Goderich Downtown
Thornhill clears Goderic
with
replacement crew
Despite the resignation of all
22 members of her regular crew
the Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd.
vessel "Thornhill" cleared
Goderich harbor at about 5:30
p.m. Thursday bound for Thun-
der Bay where she will pick up
her last load of the season.
She is expected back in
Goderich sometime after
Christmas where she will join
the winter fleet.
The crew signed off their ship
Wednesday afternoon in a
dispute over what the sailors
termed the unsafe condition of
the boat and hiring practices
which they said were a breach
of their contract.
In addition to the original
crew, another five sailors 4who
had been called in by' the
Canadian Maritime Union,
also refused to sail with the
ship. All sailors aboard the
ship were represented by the
C.M.U.
As a result of the mass
resignation only seven men
were left to operate the ship.
All were officers and not mem-
bers of the C.M.U. A shore
hired crew was raised however
•and will man the vessel on her
final voyage of the season.
According to Walter Gonyou,
president of the Canadian
Maritime Union, the men only
wanted to "go home for Christ -
111119."
As they left ship members of I
the crew told reporters the boat
was leaking as much as 14 in-
ches every four hours on the
port side and ballast pumps
were broken down.
They also expressed concern s
about taking the ship north p
again since a reported five in -
dies of ice now cover the chant p
nel at Sault Ste Marie and the .t
ice they said could represent a p
further safety hazard.
The Thornhill was built in
1903 and overhauled last in u
1951.
Several members of the crew E
expressed dissatisfaction with • c
C.M.U. officials who they say t
have not authorized the men to c
strike. On their own initiative c
crew men contacted the steam- pe
ship inspection division of' the he
Canadian Department of Tran- is
sport and an inspector went
aboard late Wednesday.
pc.
The inspector checked the is
ship's engine and pumping be
system and later reported he
could find nothing wrong with
the vessel. pr
th
of
John Birtwhistle, head 01 the
ministry's marine safety
branch, said the ship "is quite
seaworthy. As far as we are
concerned it can sail".
Union Steward Pat Kelly
said in an interview that the
sailors had no quarrel with the
ships captain Jack Gordon.
'The disagreement is with the
company and our union
enders," he said.
The crew explain, they could
tage a wildcat strike sine un-
said Goderich is badly in need
of lower cost homes and in-
dicated she Would approve the
rezoning.
Reeve Deb Shewfelt pointed -
out that he would support the
motion to rezone because the
people still have a right to ap-
peal through the due ptocess of
law. He said he felt this was
the ideal time to consider the
rezoning because of the fact
that the Official Plan is now
being sent out to local
residents.
The recorded vote showed
only Councillor Haydon op-
posed. Councillor Leroy
.Harrison was absent at the
meeting.
"Everyone should be well
aware the permits are still a
long.way off," said Cowcillor
Haydori. "The neighbdff must
have a chance to object."
Businessmen's Association, At this point,' Councillor
resubmitted a brief opposing Gower indicated the permits
-put
.pbleafnorwe hrric(h)whnad,c(fmirnsicilbe,ein
another reason.
might be held up for yet,
August 10 of this year •
"We should not entertain
Colborne told the meeting
these building permits until the
that the major objection ,cen-
matter of the South Storm
tered around the economic
Sewer is cleared up," said
feasability of the projects'
Gower.
operation. "The increase in
In his letter Krohmer had
square footage represents
given some notification of h
nearly 90% ," he told the
meeting. growing concern about the
manner in which Town Council
"Even moderate sized cities
does business.
• like Sarnia will demonstrate
my years in Goderich I
the effect of such shopping cen-
ters on the downtown business have a:waystried to co-operate
with the Town Council as far
districts," he noted.
as building permits and land
Mr. Colborne also'said that
asIembly are concer
the businessmen of Goderich
wrote Krohmer. "I am afraid,
agreed that competition was a
however, that my co-operation
good thing for the consumer
has led to innumerable delays
but added that the people of
Goderich would benefit from and one wonders whether
should not have taken a more
the mall "only in the short
run." vigarous. approach."
Letters on the agenda from
The lawyer also pointed out -
that the Ministry of Economic Town Solicitor Dan Murphy
Affairs had recently published and the Huron County Plan-
ning Director Gary Davidson
population predications for
Huron County which indicated appeared to be in conflict, ac -
that by 2001 the number of cording to Councillor Haydon.
She said that while Mr. Mur
people living in the County
would have decreased from the phv claimed building permits -
1972 total of 52,951 to 49,883% . must be issued under the 1958
bylaw, Davidson claimed "The Ministry also predicts a
per -
further decrease in the mits must he issued—in accor-
population of working age of dance with the new bylaw.
31% he told 'the meeting. "If we're not even clear on
the basics, how can we make
"The businessmen of
Goderich realize the downtown any decision?" asked Coun-
cillor Haydon.
area needs parking and moder-
nization," he noted.- "But the
Businessmen's Association ap- Deputy -reeve Profit admitted
proached council asking for a he believed Mr. Murphy had
committee to study this matter "changed his mind". He said
and council has vet to act on he recalled Murphy saying the
that request." new bylaw would stand up in
court which was one good
"We ask Planning Board not
to recommend the change until reason for giving.it a first
they study what could be done reading ,a long time ago.
-in the core area," he said. Reeve Shewfelt said Murphy
Planning Board Chairman had not changed his mind, that
der law such an action could
result in imprisonment. Dave Gower told the lawyer the solicitor had always said
that he felt Planning Board building permits must be issued
Their only alternative, they
had alreadysufficientl studied under the 1958 bylaw but that
aid, was to resign their Y developers should, be en -
all the reports.
ositions which means they will
ot Board member Vince Young courage to maintain the intent
. .
I e or unem-
loyment insurance and that noted that he did not agree of the new bylaw which could
with the population predictions probably stand up in court.
hey could lose their seniority
and asked if, Mr. Colborne ex -
heositions with their employer
shipping company.
Throughout accept the Provincial Govern-
pected the Planning Board to f
nloading of the Thornhill's
Wednesday
• ments statistics as fact. e work
On a motion by .Mr. Voting
argo of grain at the Goderich
levator and Transit facilities the motion to recommend to •
continued using men hired Goderich Town Council that on t
hrough the Canada Manpower e air
the zoning change be granted.
enter or from the dock. These
a!iiial laborers are paid $3.00
r hour where a regular mem-
r of the crew, with 10 years,
paid only $2.58 per hour.
Union spokesmen hasten to
nnt out however that the
sue of casual labor has no
aring on their resignations.
hey were unhappy about the
ospect of these men filling
eir positions for the final trip
the season though.
If an inexperienced crew
iled the vessel the resigning
ew said the ship would he in
additionally unsafe position
ce there would he no trained
eelsmen or other hands
ord.They also say there
uld he no cooks. 4 -
In addition to the non licen-
seamen who left ship two
leers, the third and fourth
gineer, were reported to have
igned Tuesday night.
SA
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People . . smile on
your brother. Let's live
together and love
one another. Starting
this yearl
January 6
At 6:00 p.m. January
Canada's third television net-
work will go on the air. A five,
hour festival of specials to
celebrate the opening of the
networkvieyed begin-
ning at p.m. but details
were not vailable at press
time.
The 6:00 p.m. time is based
on the understanding that On-
tario will join the United States
in changing to Daylight Saving
Time. Alteration to the
Global schedule will be
necessary in the event that the
province remains on Standard
Time.
Viewers in the Goderich and
Clinton area will be able to -
receive the new television net-
work over channel six via the
Bluewater Cable T V system
or through broadcast patterns.
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