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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-08-27, Page 3CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1986' Page 3 News and features Harbour Lights recreational proposal comes under fire By David Emslie GODERICH TWP. - Residents here are opposed to a proposed Harbour Lights trailer park for a number of different reasons, including drainage, sewage, traffic and density problems. In a letter to the township from Maurice Pellarin, a cottager at Jowett's Grove and spokesman for the people of the Grove, a number of their concerns and reasons for their concerns are given. The 15 acres of land under study lies just north of Bayfield on a part lot of the Bayfield Concession. It is between Jowett's Grove Road and Highway 21, The official plan amendment request be- ing made by Dick Peever, President of Har- bour Lights, that has given rise to the op- position asks that the land be changed from urban to recreational zoning. This cor- responds with the zoning bylaw amend- ment, changing the zoning from a special zone for condominium development to a recreational zone for a recreational trailer park. The first objection in the letter concerns increased traffic flow. "The development will substantially in- crease the amount of traffic on Jowett's Grove Road, which forms the boundary of the proposed development on three sides. That road is poorly designed and is already inadequate to handle existing traffic flows...," Mr. Pellarin noted. Mr. Peever feels that the rise in traffic will be minimal, and should not cause pro- blems on the road. "There are two things. Jowett's Grove Road used to be Highway 21, it is designed for traffic flow, it is paved and of good width," Mr. Peever said. "The number of extra trips will be small, most of the trailers will be there permanently." He added that most of the bigger trailers are not towed behind cars these days. John Oakes, a Toronto realtor and cot- tager at the Grove agrees with Mr. Pellarin that added traffic will be a problem. "There is no separation of pedestrian traffic," he said. The letter states that the increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic will result in an extreme safety hazard. Drainage was the next point of concern in Mr. Pellarin's letter. As the proposed sight is already subject to flooding, he feels that the placement of trailers, construction and road paving will substantially increase the amount of water to be drained from the development. "Any increased surface water draining through the existing gully, as well as- any subsurface water generated by the develop- ment, may adversely affect the lake bank, and in particular, may lead to some slip- page and erosion," the letter stated. the Rotordisk system will be as clean as rain water, and the Ministry of Environment will be monitoring the system because changes made will put it in a category by itself. The concern that 110 trailers in the 15 acre area would be too dense is also a major one. "The density of 11 units per acre proposed by Harbour Lights, substantially exceeds the 5.6 units per acre permitted for its con- dominium development, and substantially exceeds the six recreational vehicle lots per Locals frown upon trailer park "Our property drains through the culvert, down the road to the bank. It wasn't our pro- blem to begin with, that culvert has been under the road since the old Highway 21," Mr. Peever said. "What we've agreed to do, at our .own expense, is put in an underground pipe which will go back to Har- bour Lights." He explained a retaining pond will be built to hold the excess water, before it is drained at harbour Lights. "Another problem is sewage treatment. Who will take care of it, the town or the owner?" Mr. Oakes questioned. "It is a con- cern of a lot of people." Mr. Pellarin's letter explained that people are concerned because the current sewage system at Har- bour Lights, septic tanks, frequently overflows. The letter stated, "Careful consideration should be given to the issue of ownership of the proposed sewage treatment plant (private versus municipal ownership), par- ticularly since the sewage treatment plant would be located in the Village of Bayfield...Related to that issue is the ques- tion of responsibility for the ongoing, long term operation of any sewage treatment plant." "We'll be running that (the treatment plant) ourselves. It is such a simple system, it is virtually trouble free. It has built in alarms," Mr. Peever said. He added that he has trustworthy people to monitor and care for the system. ' "I have people who have been with me for 15 years, they are capable people." He explained that the water coming out of acre set out in clause 7(d) (ii) of the Secon- dary Plan, and 14 lots per hectare permitted under Section 12.6.6 of the zoning bylaw," the letter pointed out. Mr. Peever said that the density will only slightly exceed the standards of six single family dwellings allowed in a single family dwelling subdivision. "With 110 trailers on 15 acres of land, there will be somewhere between seven and . eight single family dwellings per acre," Mr. Peever said. The final opposition listed by the residents of Jowett's Grove deals with the com- batability of a trailer park with the surrolkn- ding area, and whether such a development is appropriate. Mr. Oakes said this type of development is, "Shortsighted and inappropriate because it is the next prime land. It should be developed more creatively and imaginative- ly. With imagination, Mr. Peever could do something nice with it." The letter echoed Mr. Oakes' feeling. "The proposed development is not, in our view, compatible with the immediately sur- rounding land uses." "The zoning was amended in 1981. to per- mit the applicant's proposed condominium development, which in our view, provides a reasonable transition from a cottage area to more intense land use." Mr. Pellarin's letter continued, "The greatest portion of the subject property is an open field with very little in the way of trees, or other landscaping. The plan filed by the applicant indicates that the subject proper- . Marilyn Tyndail to head LCAC Marilyn Tyndall recently took over as chairperson for the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee. (David Emslie photo ) By David Emslie CLINTON - Marilyn Tyndall was chosen for the position of the new Local Architec- tural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) chairperson on August 12. LACAC, Mrs. Tyndall explained, is a com- mittee set up to advise council on matters which involve the conservation of properties which are historically or architecturally im- portant, or which are of interest to the municipality. "We're a group of interested people who like to see old things stay if possible," she said. Mrs. Tyndall who replaced Nancy Fisher- Vossen as chairperson, said she got the job because she was next in line, though she felt Reg Thompson should have had the job. "Reg Thompson has been in for a long time," she said. "He does most of the leg work and the research, and he didn't think he would have time for this job." Aside from advising council, LACAC works in several other ways. "If someone is buying a new home, and they wonder if it is historical, they can come to us and if we have the information they are welcome to it," Mrs. Tyndall said. LACAC will also approach council if a per- son would like their home to be under the Heritage Act. Once under the act the house will not be demolished, and some structural changes can not be made. Mrs. Tyndall said the committee sometimes gets a bad name because people feel if their home is under the Heritage Act they will not be able to change it at all. This, however, is not true. "If they want to work on a house under the Heiatage Act at doesn't deter °the regular owner," she said. "We advise them what they can do. If it is structurally important just on the outside they can change gnything on the inside." If they know of a house that is up for sale and is going to be demolished, there are also steps they can take to stop this. Apart from trying to save a bit of Clinton's history, LACAC does much research into the architectural and historical heritage of the community by investigating registry GRANDPARENTS ARE EXTRA -SPECIAL! Say "I love you" on Grandparents Day with a. hug and a Hallmark card. We have a card that sayas it exactly your way! Remember their special day -- Sunday, Sept. 7. . . (and 'iojipe 9 ALBERT STREET, CLINTON Open: Monday to Saturday / am - / pin: Friday a.anlrp. 1111 1 ym records, old newspapers, historical writings, old diaries, and even wills. "We'll accept anything, including old pic- tures," Mrs. Tyndall said. Striving to increase public awareness of Clinton's heritage is another of3 LACAC's goals. To meet this end they have a small reference library,.inthebasement of Clin- ton's library. They also organize exhibits, and tofirsilhe -Old-Churches and'homes-im• town where the owners are willing, Mrs. Tyndall explained. One of the committee's most visible pro- , jects in town is°assisting with the restoration of the towd hall and library. • ty is to be bermed and landscaped along its perimeter. The grade of the property is substantially below the grade of Highway 21, and we question whether that boundary of the development can ever be bermed to provide any significant buffer to the development." In conclusion the letter stated that the people of the Grove are not against all development, as was proven when they did not fight the proposed condominiums in 19814, but they expect the property should be devl)�1oped in a reasonable, appropriate and compatible manner, "not only for the benefit of Jowett's Grove, but also for the benefit of the residents of the Township of Goderich, and surrounding municipalities." On the matter of the trailers being put in an open field, with berming being a difficul- ty, Mr. Peever said, "One of the reasons for the retaining pond, besides the drainage, is we'll be moving the dirt to the side of the highway for berming and planting on top of that" He explained a cedar hedge may be planted for efficient screening. He also said the field will not remain bar- ren. "We have had a tree plot plan done. The trees have been plotted so we can save the trees." He added. that approximately 3,000 spruce, Norway spruce, maple and ash trees have been planted, and will be transplanted to the site. Some of the trees are 12 feet high, while the majority are within the three to six foot range. He said he feels that the trailer park will be the right type of development, and will bring in good people. , "In our current park we have people like policeman and painters, they are really responsible people in the community." He added, "It is in our best interest that any development we do will be done in the best possible manner. It enhances our property and adds to people's enjoyment." "As long as it is good planning, it will be good for the town. 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