Loading...
Huron Expositor, 2006-07-26, Page 6Page 6 July 26, 2006 • The Huron Expositor Provincial guidelines protecting farmland create hurdles for Huron East rezoning plans News, Susan H u n d e r t m a r k 4111.2121111. Provincial guidelines meant to protect farmland is creating some difficulties for Huron East as it seeks to reclassify property that hasn't been used for agriculture for many years. As the municipality amends its official plan, it has proposed to rezone the Walton motocross and the Cranbrook golf course from agri- cultural land to recreational land to reflect the use of the land. -As well, a parcel north of Seaforth where the new well is planned to be located is proposed to be rezoned from agricultural to urban since new provincial wellhead protection legislation restricts farming near wells. But, objections from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs may require Huron East to launch expensive studies to prove the need to rezone agricultural land. "The Ministry says if we are going to take land out of agricultural use, we have to do a detailed study justi- fying it," Clerk -Administrator Jack McLachlan told council Tuesday "This is an already existing use. If night. the Ministry of Municipal Affairs Tuckersmith Coun. Larry wants a study done, they should McGrath asked how much a study write the cheque," said Mayor Joe Seili. "It's easy to sit in your ivory tower when you're not the one writing the cheque. This is a com- mon sense issue," he said. McGrath agreed, say- ing it was ironic that the province doesn't want to provide more financial aid to farm- ers but is insisting on the retention of farm- land. "By God, they don't want to help the farmer would cost and McLachlan guessed as much as $15,000 for each rezon- ing. Huron County plan- ner Cindy Fisher said a study proving the need to rezone the Walton motocross might be less costly since it's been established for many years. "It has a history of being there for 15 years or more," she said. The motocross is now zoned as agricultural (AG1-9) with a special designation that allows use of the - - out but they don't want any other track, parking for participants and use of the land," he said. observers, building required for the "It's a no-brainer. To make people motocross event and no more than spend that kind of cash when: a pic- three snowcross events in the win- ture will tell you you can't farm it, ter. it's ridiculous," he said. McLachlan says rezoning the McLachlan said the same situa- motocross to recreational use will tion is occurring at the nine -hole remove some of the restrictions. Cranbrook golf course, located north of Municipal Affairs wants a study done, they should write the cheque,' -- Huron East Mayor oe Sit Heywood Sports Retirement Sale all summer clothes 50-80% OFF 519-482-3030 166 Victoria Si., Clinton Perfect Designs STOREWIDE TAX FREE SALE excluding fresh flowers BSM Simmons Beautyrest HOT HOT SALE 519-482-8222 17 Victoria St., Clinton 519-482-9505 71 Albert St., Clinton Verbeek's Days of Summer Sale ALL PERENNIALS BUY 2 GET 1 FREE plus other in store specials 519-482-9333 22 Isaac St.', Clinton Groves SUMMER SALE 42" Plasma HD TV 411111P Reg $3199 Sale Price $2900 519-482-9414 10 Huron St., Clinton Crossroads 1.5-50% OFF STOREWIDE *Excluding layaways & special orders 519-482-5855 28 Albert St., Clinton My Fair Lady 1/2 PRICE SALE 519-482-7872 43 Albert St., Clinton Interior Rends EXTERIOR PAINT PRODUCTS NOW ON SALE! 519-482-3528 11 Victoria St., Clinton of the Maitland River for the past five years. "We all know it can't be farmed," he said. "That's (golfing is) all the land is good for but pasture. And, now it's a flood zone," said Seaforth Coun. Joe Stefller. "He's sure not going to make any money farming it," added McKillop Coun. Sharon McClure. "My suggestion was turf farming - they just never took the crop off," joked Brussels Coun. David Blaney. Fisher said a study justifying the golf course might be more important since the current zoning does not include a special designation for golf and the municipality's other golf course in Seaforth is designated as recreational. McLachlan argued that with the amount of land Huron East recently took out of recreational use along the Maitland River in Brussels and returned to agricultural, there should be some leeway with the three current proposals. Council agreed to proceedwith the rezoning Huron Eastman- - injured in ATV, bus collision An 18 -Year-old Huron East man was transported by air ambulance to Hamilton General Hospital after the all -terrain vehicle he was riding collided with a bus. The crash occurred at the inter- section of Michaels Road and McDonald Line in Grey ward of Huron East on July 23 at approxi- mately 2:30 a.m. Mitchell Blake, who was not wearing a helmet, went to hospital with unknown head injuries. A 16 -year-old Wingham girl, Tara MacDonald, who was also riding on the ATV, was also airlifted to London Health Sciences Centre for critical care due to life-threatening injuries. She was wearing a helmet. A charter school bus was travel- ling east on St. Michaels Road when it was struck at the intersection by the 1982 Honda three-wheeler ATV which was travelling south on McDonald Line and failed to yield. The bus was returning from Ripley delivering people to their res- idences. Passengers and the driver of the bus were not injured in the collision. The driver of the ATV has yet to be determined. The collision scene was closed for five hours as OPP technical traffic collision investigators attended the scene.