The Rural Voice, 1990-04, Page 34ning. Mike McKenna, representing
the Owen Sound Field Naturalists,
said the "development rush is threat-
ening wetlands and these remaining
wetlands should be treated as the
national treasures they are." He urged
co-operation between factions in
future planning.
Doug Dingledein, a founder of
GABP, called for a general review of
the Grey -Owen Sound Official Plan.
"The ministries have guidelines for
development," he said. "Only a few
of those have been incorporated into
Grey County plans. The Grey Asso-
ciation for Better Planning is not op-
posed to farm retirement severances."
Several people walked out of the
meeting room to protest Dingledein's
35 -minute presentation.
Many of the speakers at the second
meeting were farmers. "Farmers to-
day are struggling to survive in a
hostile environment, said Paul Hayes,
a dairy farmer. "The costs of labour,
repairs, and interest rates have all
increased. Now the Grey Association
for Better Planning wants farms to be
public property after the stones are
picked, the fences fixed, and the taxes
paid ... Farmers are not eligible for
many social benefit programs, and the
sale of lots could actually determine
whether the farmer could stay on his
land."
The third and final meeting was
held February 12: 300 attended, and
23 made presentations, this time lim-
ited to 15 minutes each. Nine people
were supportive of the present County
Council and planning practices, 11
were opposed, and 3 took compromise
positions.
Out of the third meeting came the
beginnings of an ad hoc committee to
work with the county's Planning Ad-
visory Committee. Several members
of the two opposing groups spoke of
seeking compromise, "middle of the
road" positions.
Farmers again spoke of the farming
situation in the county. Julia Stark, an
egg producer from Osprey Township,
referred to farm land as her "pension
fund." Paul Younger, a sheep farmer,
offered a different perspective, de-
fending the preservation of farm land
and noting that Grey supports a diver-
sity of crops and livestock, not the
least being excellent sheep operations.
30 THE RURAL VOICE
The Environmental Assessment
Advisory Committee will shortly be
presenting its report to Jim Bradley.
Additionally, the Minister of Munici-
pal Affairs, Jim Sweeney, has ordered
a study of the situation because cit-
izens have complained that county
officials ignore existing planning
policies as well as provincial
government guidelines. That study
probably won't be completed until
May, says a ministry official.°
SEVERANCES IN GREY COUNTY
Media reports on the issue of severances in Grey County have often
stated that "close to 2000 severances were being made in Grey County."
Most of the severances, if not all, were labelled "agricultural severances."
The county government itself counts 1,887 applications for severances in
1989, categorized according to what the applicant puts on the application:
• residential (severances made for houses) — 1,425
• agricultural (severances of two farms) — 122
• retirement Lots (farmers severing parcel to retire on) — 82
• hobby farms (large 10-15 acre lots) — 18
• addition to existing lot or farm — 94
• easement, correction of title, right of way — 33
• recreation, seasonal residences — 57
• commercial or industrial — 24
• institutional — 6
• Bruce Trail corridor — 5
• miscellaneous — 21
Of the 1,887 severances request-
ed, 1,338 were granted, 155 were
not granted, 47 were withdrawn, and
347 applications are pending.°
AGRICULTURAL SEVERANCES
Figures on the number of severances granted in a county are kept by the
individual counties, not by the province. The Ontario Ministry of Agricul-
ture and Food, however, maintains figures on the number of severances that
are submitted, under the province's planning act, to the agriculture ministry
for comment. These severances include those involving class 1 to 4 farm
land and specialty crop land.
In 1987 (figures from 1988 and 1989 have not been finalized), among the
counties with the lowest number of severance applications involving farm
land were:
Perth
Huron
Bruce
47
58
60
Oxford 93
In the same year, counties with the highest number were:
Grey 710
Simcoe 710
Northumberland 706
Stormont -Glengarry -Dundas 687
Gary Davidson, head of planning for Huron County, says three conditions
combine to produce severance hot spots. One, he says, is a big city nearby.
Two is "a group of people that wants to cash in on this." Three is "a plan-
ning and political process that wants to cash in."
Huron County, he says, has had a firm plan in place for two decades, and
although there has been some pressure from the areas closest to London and
Waterloo, it has been directed into towns and villages.°
NEXT ISSUE • THE GREY ASSOCIATION FOR
DEVELOPMENT AND.GROWTH