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The Brussels Post, 1975-12-31, Page 6IFIA111)111DY iSIEVS' .;:gpfft. Jo9 to.. AU in the Nev Year This little- time- is to say Hope the yea', is nest in every way. Many tliatilig to you. =FIELDS PRO HARDWARE Huron County Council Adopts countryside planning report (By Shhirley J. Keller) The planning board had star billing when. Huron County Council met for its final 1975 session in the county chambers Friday, December 19. The implementation of the Country- side Planning Report was the m aM item for debate and it took the entire morning for county councillors to discuss it. By noon, however, the report had been adopted in principle as a guide for local secondary plans in Huron. It was agreed the county planning board and county council would take an active role in reviewing secondary plans and that the secondary planning process now in operation would be continued until a basic planning program has been establighed for all municipalities. It was further agreed that until such time as a basic planning program has been established for all municipalities, or until there is a change in the county government structure or provincial planning legislation, no attempt will be made to redo the county official plan. Besides this, county council had decided that secondary plans would be grouped according to the perspective areas of the Countryside Planning "Report (urban, agricultural or recreational) with one planner assigned to each group to pursue secondary plans within the group based on the existing priority system. In this regard, county council agreed to hire George Penfold, an agricultural engineer with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Clinton, as an additional planner. Mr. Penfold is a provisional In , ember of the Canadian lnstitue of planners, it was learned from Gary Dvidson, Huron County Planning Director. Mr. Penfold's salary will be $16,500 per annum with duties to commence February 1, 1976. The Countryside planning report was prepared by James F. MacLaren Limited, consultants. According 'to many county officials, the study and its findings were "disappointing". Elmer Hayter, a former warden now serving as chairman of the county land division committee, expressed his concern to county council. "I understood the report would be more specific than it turned out to be," said. MrHayter. Mr, Hayter said the report was prepar,ed by "high paid personnel" who were paid 80 per cent by the province and 20 per cent by the county. The Stanley Township farmer said he felt the preparation of the study had cost the county more than shows on the surface" since many county employees were involved in it, taking time frdm their regular duties. He reminded council that in its zeal to curtail strip development, people were buying up entire farms. "I think this is a greater concern to agriculture' in the county than perhaps strip development may ha'Ve been," warned Hayter, He congratulated Goderich Township for including estate planning in their secondary plan. Bill Elston, warden at the time the study was begun, told council he considered the main purpose for the study had been to plan housing developments on land that was not much good for agriculture.11e said he had spent a good deal• of time with S.H.Janes of James F. M acLaren Limited, showing him the type of land available in rural commuinities for urban-type development. "We in Morris Township need this extra revenue from this kind of development," Reeve Elston said./ H e complained that the study hadn't spelled out the areas in the county that could be utilized for such urban-type building. Warden Anson added that if time is an important factor, then it is almost necessary to give up something in order to speed up the planning process. It was pointed out by Mr. Davidson in his report to council that the county plan s control of land use is indirect. Land use is controlled through zoning bylaws, not 'plans ... but a zoning bylaw much conform:to the plan. In order for effective planning control to exist the local municipality must prepare a local secondary plan, and then a bylaw. It is this process that many local municipalities are now in. The revision of the county plan based on the approach and policies of e the countryside Planning Report, would not alter this basic situation. It only be altered by a change in the structure of the county government or a change in proVincial legislation. Wh ile a revision of the county plan would give more effective land division policies at both the subdivision and consent level, the time this would take must be weighed against the time lost in developing basic local land use controls. This time loss is a direct one since localized secondary plans are still required under the approach developed in the study. The key to the county plan, then, is the secondary planning. As the process now operates, neither the county nor the local municipality can over-ride the other. The county cannot prepare a secondary plan or bylaw and enforce it on the municipality. On the other hand, as the county planning board and the county council must approve secondary plans as amendments to the county plan, the municipality cannot unilaterally alter the general guidelines of the county plan. The process is one which requires mutual cooperation. As the preparation of the secondary plan is initiated at the local level and approved at the local level prior to submission to the county, the local ,municipality controls the process. "Planning to be effective must be capable of implementation," says Mr. .Davidson. "Like all laws, a plan relies heavily on public acceptance and voluntary compliance. It is, therefore, essential that the local residents and their council understand the plan and believe that it represents the best long term future interests of their community. If the plan does not have this local commitment, it will not be effectively implemented." "From the discussion of local secondary plans, I would recommend that the prodess of doing local secondary plans involving , local initiation and active participation be continued, with the county taking a more active role in the review to ensure county wide policies are maintained", added Mr. Davidson. There are ten agricultural municipalities in the county, according to the countryside planning report. They are Grey, Howick , Hullett, McKillop, Morris, Tuckersmith, Turnberry, Usborne, East. Wawanosh and West Wawanosh. The five towns and the five villages are the urban municipalities and the six townships along the lake - Ashfield, Colborne, Goderich, Hay, Stanley and Stephen - are considered recreational municipalities. USE POST WANT-ADS DIAL 887-6641 Huronview The Goderich Salvation Army visited the Home on Sunday afternoon with members of the band playing in each of the sitting rooms assisted by a group of young people singing carols. The residents were presented with gifts of fruit by members of the corps which was greatly appreciated. Mrs. Finkbeiner led the Sunday evening song service sponsored by the Christian Women's Club of South Huron. Three new residents were. welcomed to the Home at Mondays program: Mrs.Broughton of Auburn, Ray Henderson, Seaforth and George Feagen, Goderich. The Goderich Township Women's Institute volunteers assisted with the afternoons activities with music provided by Mrs. Molly Cox, Mrs.Maitland Driver and Norman Speir. Seventy Grade 1 - 2- 3 students from the Clinton Public School entertained on Tuesday afternoon with their part of the annual School Christmas Concert. The program was directed by, five teachers Miss Johnston, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jewett, Mrs. Allen and the Principal, Mr. Taylor. Doug - McKellar was emcee for the afternoon and introduced, songs by the Primary and Junior Choirs; two plays Frosty the Snowman; a Plot to Kidnap Santa Claus and a Christmas Message. Mrs. Buchanan expressed the appreciation of the residents. A group of young people "The Ca.lvinettes" sang Carols through the Home on Tuesday evening and presented gifts' o some of the residents who don't have immediate relatives. Thirty Grade seven students of the Robertson Public School, Goderich presented a Christmas concert on Wednesday afternoon David Kemp directed the program and accompanied the students for the singing of several Christmas Carols. The poetry part of the program included all of the students with each one taking a part of the verses. Mrs. Doak, who is a great grandmother of a pupil at Robertson School thanked all those taking part on behalf of the residents. After the party's over, may joy remain in your hearts, Wed like to say thanks for your loyalty. WORKMAN • PLUMBING and HEATING —THE B R USSELS POST CiEitEMBER 81, 1976 M cKinley explained that the study was a "reasonably good guide" with some aspects of the plan usable, and some not. ' It would be nice to have a report that gives us all the answers," said Warden McKinley. "The only trouble is we all wouldn't agree." Reeve Garry Ginn of Goderich Township expressed his concern for designating certain planners for certain areas. Gary ,Davidson agreed this could become a problem, especially if one planner tended to dump his problems onto another area rather than treating it as a planning whole. But he .4,4? Here's- hoping being,0 New Veen. for dll our good friends. They •deserve the 'beiff HAYVVARD'S DISCOUNT