Loading...
The Citizen, 2005-10-27, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2005. PAGE 7. 16 landowners receive HCFA’s annual award By Keith Roulson Citizen publisher A group of 16 landowners from the Tipperary Line near Clinton, received the 2005 Huron County Federation of Agriculture Award for outstanding contribution to agriculture. The group took their fight over a plan to store natural gas underground in their area all the way to the Ontario Energy Board where they recently won major concessions Huron East considers zoning for Brussels complex By Heather Crawford Citizen staff Huron East council discussed a proposed zoning bylaw amendment at the Oct. 18 meeting. The lot affected is 74, RP 192, Brussels ward, located on the corner of Alexander and King Streets. The property is currently vacant and a single storey triplex is proposed. The proposal requested changing the zoning to R2-4 (residential medium density-special) from R1 (residential low density). The special zoning is to allow a reduced rear yard setback of six metres (19.68 feet). The Brussels zoning bylaw MPAC set to deal with assessment concerns If you own property in Huron County then you may already have your property assessment notice for 2006 or you will soon see it in the mail. More than 61,000 assessment notices were sent to property owners in Huron and Perth Counties. The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) will work with the Ombudsman’s Office during its investigation to deal with any issues or concerns about the assessment process. “Our role at MPAC is to ensure that assessed values of all 4.4 million properties in Ontario are accurate,” Carl Isenburg, president and chief administrative officer of MPAC said in a press release. At a ratepayer’s meeting in Cranbrook on Monday, Oct. 17, Brussels councillor Mark Beaven argued that current value assessments show “no reflection of [a person’s] ability to pay.” One person in attendance at the meeting said the assessment for her waterfront property doubled this year. Chuck Egener, municipal relations representative for MPAC, said there were open houses held in different areas around the county (hat offered an opportunity for property owners to ask questions about their assessments. Egener encouraged anyone with inquiries lo call the office or come in person to 57 Napier St. in Goderich. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Isenburg said that property owners can test the accuracy of their assessments by simply asking (hcmscives if they could have sold their property at its assessed value on Jan. 1. 2005. MPAC can be reached al (519) 524-5874 or 1-877-215-0043. for landowners near such facilities. The group proved that when landowners are unified and have one voice they can accomplish a lot, said Marilyn Broadfoot. OFA regional director in presenting the award. In accepting the award on behall of the group at the Oct. 20 annual meeting of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture in Holmesville, Fred Dutot with his wife Carol said there should be 50 people accepting the award including those from the Federation (section 8.2.5.6) requires a minimum rear yard setback of eight metres. There were three letters sent to council commenting on the zoning bylaw amendment for this area. Sharon Holthuysen of Brussels sent in a letter stating "my concern is (that) the safety of my four small children will be compromised when the traffic volume in my residential area increases if this proposal is passed. “My other concerns include the likelihood of increased movements / , • BRUSSELS »r aiRDt^TT carry 887-6851 Cell phone service coming to Brussels. We sell Rogers and Bell. OLDFIELD *7nu£l/aflu£ Hardware I----------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Enter &nr draw (&r tew pedat carf boEft fo be drawn &n Wednesday,, December 2M 0NS10YST0YS * Watch for our Christmas Toy Flyer coming out on Friday, October 28th and advisers from Lambion County who helped in the fight. "Sixteen landowners stuck with us." he said, adding wryly. "1 hope they stick with us when the lawyer's bill comes in.” In all. the group spent 11 days arguing their case before the Ontario Energy Board. Their concerns about the possible effects of the high- pressure underground natural gas storage on their water wells resulted in an order that water wells in the area will be tested up to 20 times in of unfamiliar tenants in the area.” Holthuysen also stated that she was concerned about the effect the proposed structure/building would have on her own personal property value. The applicant for the change. Laurie Campbell of Brussels, proposed to build a one-storey triplex on the property, each to have their own garage and driveway fronting onto King Street. The rear yard proposed is deficient by two metres (6.5 feet). The closest residence is 27 metres (90 feet) to the next five years with the results ol the testing to be released to the landowners (the company wanted to keep it private). The gas company was ordered to increase its liability insurance level to $5 million and compelled to cany pollution insurance. The company is responsible for cleaning up old gas and oil production facilities in the area. The company had wanted to simply abandon the facilities, including leaving pipes in the ground across the west. It was recommended by Cindy Fisher, senior planner and Carol Leeming. planner, that an application by Laurie Campbell be approved and that site plan control apply. The planning and development department report stated that the subject triplex is minimizing its impact by: remaining one storey in height; providing front porches for street appeal; providing planting or fence in its north and west lot lines; and providing appealing one Boor the fields. Compensation for the landowners was raised 100 per cent from the original offer and the GST will be covered by the company, not deducted from the landowner payments. That can mean $45,000 to the landowners. Landowners will gel half the payment up front, a change from the policy used by Union Gas to the south where nothing is paid until the project is actually developed and in use. rental accommodations with yards. Council approved the bylaw amendment with the further amendment to make the area site specific, meaning restrictions will be in place as to the type of dwelling that would be allowed on that property. The conditions would be upheld in the future unless someone applied for another zoning bylaw amendment. The amendment added that the structure must be limited to a single storey triplex or duplex at the request of Holthuysen.