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The Citizen, 2018-04-12, Page 9• THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018. PAGE 9. Belgrave citizens protest development on `park' land By Denny Scott The Citizen A group of concerned citizens from Belgrave may now have more questions than answers regarding a plot of land in the community. Morris-Turnberry Council debated the development of land on McCrea Street, however, it became apparent during Morris-Turnberry's Tuesday night meeting a group of concerned citizens wants no development at all at the location. Council had declared the land surplus and, on Tuesday night, were debating whether or not to rezone the land from Community Facility (CF) to Village Residential Medium Density (VR2-1). Before the group aired its issues, planner Jennifer Burns explained the documentation for the proposed buildings was lacking clarity and necessary information, which resulted in the Huron County Planning Department suggesting deferral of the issue. Council did defer the issue, and subsequently scheduled a special meeting on Thursday, April 5 to discuss the issue with Burns, who was unavailable to meet at any other time prior to council's next scheduled regular meeting. The proposed six-plex caused several concerns with the Huron County Planning department beyond the missing information, including insufficient backyard set -backs for the structure and a lack of documentation for storm water management. Other concerns included scarce information regarding a septic system for the development, which, given the location of the building which is nearly on top of the well, was labelled a high-priority issue by Burns. "It's really challenging to comment on the suitability of this rezoning application," she said. "Those are just a few of our issues. Other concerns include a lack of elevation drawings to show what the proposed buildings will look like." In spite of those concerns, Burns said the basic idea for medium density development fits both the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) as well as Morris-Turnberry's and Huron County's official plan documents. She did note, however, that both of those documents call for development to follow the quality and character of the rest of the settlement area. Burns noted that she had received a significant amount of correspondence from neighbours regarding the project. While some of them had called for the development of a single-family detached Directing traffic Donald Hastings and Dave Jacklin, co-chairs of the International Plowing Match's traffic committee, recently donated their $2,000 of match proceeds to the Brussels Fire Department. The pair is seen here presenting members of the department with their cheque. (Photo submitted) FDNH updates CH Council Fire Department of North Huron Deputy -Chiefs Matt Townsend and Chad Kregar have updated Central Huron Council on the department after over a year of silence. Council had lamented not being updated on the department since past -Chief David Sparling's retirement and throughout the unrest in the department late last year that saw over 40 firefighters walk off the job in protest of a hiring decision. Kregar and Townsend spoke to council at its April 3 meeting, running down the department's statistics, updating council on the hiring process for the chief and insisting that they're striving for a more transparent department. In 2017, Kregar said the department responded to just under 200 calls, 21 of which were in Central Huron. Kregar said one call was a major farm loss in the municipality, while the bulk of the calls were either medical or motor vehicle collision calls. So far in 2018, Townsend said the department had responded to over 35 calls. Though it was early in the year, he said that the department's call volume seems to be levelling off after the extreme year of 2016 that saw the department reach its normal annual call volume in the summer months. Kregar said that he hoped the department would be changing the way it does things in the coming years under a new chief, namely improving its transparency. Mayor Jim Ginn thanked the firefighters for all of their hard work in recent years and for coming to Central Huron Council to make a presentation after it had gone so long without one. Your Local Paper - The Original Social Media! News / Information / Events / Shopping Community / & More The Citizen Gxmmxwonc'mnn pnero. Corn am, M.w.mm,.a? A Onbwle Ike Nsme u•Doe snaawwam .htn. NOM MO In print, online or on the go, we are your local newspaper. We keep you connected to what's happening in our communities and surrounding areas. The Citizen www.northhuron.on.ca Facebook - � www.Facebook.com/NorthHuronCitizen @TheNHCitizen Twitter info @northhuron.on.ca The Citizen dwelling, keeping with the theme of the village, others had complained about a plethora of other factors with the development. She said individual complaints highlighted increased traffic, light pollution from street lights, increased snow removal budgets, a retention pond that some said would attract mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, and the loss of the only parkland in Belgrave on the Morris- Turnberry side of County Road 4. The latter complaint, however, was pointed out as being confusing by Mayor Paul Gowing who said the land was marked with no trespassing signs and shouldn't be used as a green space. Other complaints were also received regarding the perceived behaviour of the renters who would live in the units. Several landowners maligned such individuals, painting them as not caring about properties. Chris Palmer, a nearby resident, spoke to council, explaining that the group "vehemently opposed" not just the medium density development, but any development at all. He said the group was astonished that the sale of this property would be considered without consulting the neighbours who border it or the families who use the green space. Palmer also pointed to a loss of privacy for nearby neighbours, smoke, noise, garbage and dogs as potential problems. The building being considered for low-income housing was also a concern, with Palmer questioning the quality of neighbours that would result in. "We don't know what kind of people would occupy it," he said. "You have to be politically correct. We don't. This is our lives being impacted... [and] threatened." Other concerns presented by the group included the designation, which would allow not only the proposed six-plex but could allow a number of medium -density uses, including retirement homes. Palmer completed his presentation by saying that council needs to put the families of Belgrave first, adding that they all felt the land belonged to them anyway. "I don't want to sound Indigenous, but, we own this land," he said. "It's public land. It's the taxpayer's land... A multi -unit dwelling is not wanted, just leave it as a green space." Several landowners echoed the concerns, with some saying the existing parkland in Belgrave was inaccassible because they didn't want their children crossing County Road 4 due to dangerous traffic. Other landowners questioned the need for the development, saying they were told it was targeted at seniors. Those landowners questioned any senior moving to the area due to a lack of commercial businesses, medical facilities, financial institutions or services. Other speakers included eight- year-old Seth Moffatt, who asked the zoning not be changed and the green space left for the children of Belgrave, and nearby resident Nancy Folkard. Council began to address some of the concerns, however the landowners continued to interupt after each councillor spoke. Deputy - Mayor Jamie Heffer pushed to defer the issue to keep the meeting proceeding. "We haven't taken your comments lightly," he said. "We have certainly heard them. The presentation you've given is a sign this is an important issue.... Much more comment from council wouldn't be suitable until we have more information." Later during the meeting, Council set the special meeting for Thursday evening with Burns, deciding, due to the sale of the land, that it would be a closed -to -the -public discussion. Wash & Fold Services Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687 Keep up with the latest agri-businesses and the best of rural living! VN AG LI JAN. 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