HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1975-08-21, Page 6Page 6 - Zurich Citizens News, August 21, 1975
Huron County planner leaving
to resume architect ral stu
(by Dave Sykes in the Goder-
ich Signal Star)
Nick Hill thinks of the Hur-
on County Planning Board as
having pioneered planning
in the cunty level. He believes
it has evolved to a stage where
it has become a model for
all counties in the province.
But as much of an accompl-
ishment as that has been, he is
setting out to blaze new trails
and achieve new goals. He
will be leaving the Huron
County Planning depart-
ment September 30, to pursue
a career in architecture. Nick
will return to Toronto and
work with an architectural
£irm for six months to compl-
ete the necessary practical
experience before takinig
the architects' registration
exam in the spring.
He is both familiar with
and interested in architecture
and has an extensive educat-
ional background with the
subject. He claims that the
four years he has spent
with the county planning dep•
artment have been invaluable
because of the close link
with planning and archit-
ecture.
"I think my stay has given
me a grasp of rural venacular
and an appreciation of the
aspects that make up the total
environment," he said,
"I also think I've grasped
the realm of rural versus
urban land use and an apprec-
iation of the natural environ-
ment and structure of towns."
Planning on the county level
is still in its infancy across
the province but Nick believes
that it is maturing rapidly
largely due to the efforts of
the Huron department.
"The most important ac-
complishment has been public
participation which was init-
iated by Gary Davidson. (Mr.
Davidson is the Huron County
planning director) he said
"Planning is new in the coun-
ty and the educational process
of discussion has put us
years ahead of other counties
who in fact look to the Huron
County Planning Department
for the development of their
own departments."
But the development of the
department has been evolut-
ionary and in fact it was a
tough product to sell to the
people. Nick stated that when
the department was formed
four years ago it was greeted
with hostility and suspicion,
but the department overcame
that by pioneering citizen
participation in rural planning
through public workshops.
"The public workshops
created a forum for debate
for the rural communities,"
he said, "Perhaps the main
accomplishment of the dep-
artment has been the aspect
of communication and the
subsequent participation of
the people in the planning
operation."
The Huron County Planning
Department was established
in 1971 under the direction
of Gary Davidson. The initial
duties of the department
were to get approval of the
county's official plan and to
initiate a county planning
program. Once the county
official plan was approved
the department proceeded
with its recommendations to
establish official plans for
the municipalities and town-
ships of the county.
Since the approval of that
county official plan, the plann-
ing department has concent-
rated most of its efforts in
drawing up plans forthe
townships and municipalit-
ies. During his four years
with the department Nick
has been involved with
plans for Zurich, Brussels,
r
part of Exeter, Grey Town-
ship, Howick and he is pres-
ently drawing up a plan for
Usborne which he hopes to
complete before he leaves.
The process of drawing
official plans through public
workshops can be confusing
with conflicting views and
interests of the people and
the diversification of land
use in some townships. Nick
cited the plans for Goderich
and Colborne townships as
probably the most difficult
in the county.
"The workshops can some-
times seem like total confus-
ion and our job . is to, bring
out some clarity from it,"
he said. "But I have been
surprised with the conserv-
ation aspect of the people
who have now realized
the intrinsic values of nature
which is really the raison
d' etre behind planning."
The implementation of
rural planning has made
people aware of their natural
surroundings and the need
to preserve it through good
planning. Nick insists that the
success of the department
was made possible by the
involvement of the people
right from the beginning
whom he claims have shown
good manner and temper-
ment.
When Nick completes his
architecture exam in the
spring he willhave twin regis-
tration in both architecture
and planning and has hopes
of opening a private office
someday. He is now working
on his second book of rural
architecture.
Although his planning
days may soon be behind
him, Nick's romance with
Huron County may never
end.
"I can really enjoy and
relate to this area," he said.
Zurich Hy ro•mElectric System
NOTICE
The Zurich Hydro Electric System wish to announce a revision to it's ret-
ail rate schedule which will be effective with all bills issued on and after
September 1, 1975.
NEW RESIDENTIAL RATES will be as follows:
First 50 Kilowatt Hours @ 5.1 cts. each
Next 200 Kilowatt Hours @ 2.6 cts. each
Next 500 Kilowatt Hours @ 1.55 cts. each
All additional Kilowatt Hours @ 1.7 cts each
The third block of 500 Kilowatt Hours apply only to those customers
having a metered electric water heater.
NON RESIDENTIAL SPACE HEATING (Applicable to existing installat-
ions only) will be 2.20 cts. per Kilowatt Hour for separately metered energy,
as an alternative to the General rate.
GENERAL SERVICE RATE will be as follows:
Billing Demand
0-50 Kilowatts ---
50-5000 Kilowatts @ $2.30
First 50 Kilowatt Hours @ 5.1 cts. each
Next 200 Kilowatt Hours @ 2.9 cts. each
Next 9750 Kilowatt Hours @ 2.2 cts. each
All Additional Kilowatt Hours @ 1.7 cts. each
An additional amount of 5% shall apply to all bills not paid, on or before
the due date.
Soper Summer
Savings.
CHECK OUR BARGAINS ON
SPECIALLY MARKED PANELLING
BUY TWO SHEETS AT THE REGULAR
PRICE --- GET. A THIRD SHEET
FOR ONLY $ 2.00. .
1975
Styles of panels are now in
our stock. Ideal for now
or replacing old style
panels now in your
home.
BALL-MACAU.LAY LTD °
Clinton - 482-9514
Seaforth - 527-0910
Hensail - 262-2418