Lakeshore Advance, 2013-05-08, Page 22 LakeshoreWednesday a
Coucilosuggests, there was a land use trade for cash in Ileu
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
it was another lesson regarding cash in
Neu at the May 2 l,tunbton Shores council
meeting. Downtown business owner Matt
Relouw was again in the gallery as council
battled out the trials and tribulations of
cash in lieu. At a town hall meeting Satur-
day, councilor Dave Maguire suggested
there was a trade made for the Brad Oke
property suggesting the cash in lieu for 59
Main (Sunbaked) was because of property
at 29 Main (a parking lot) in an exchange. In
a dill to the municipality, Acting CAO Janet
Ferguson said, "The parking lot on Main
Street (59 Main) was rented in 2010 and as
per CA() report 16-2010 the contract was
with 1655659 Ontario inc and signed by the
president Carol Brunelle. Similarly in 2012
when it was renewed. 'ihe ownership at 29
main street as noted below was correct at
the time - the current role return reflects
another owner under a numbered com-
pany." Ferguson said she was not aware of
any "deal" between the two prep ertles.
Councilor Doug Bonesteel said he did
not think this issue was complicated. "Do
away with cash in lieu and get on with it" he
said. Ile saki he agreed with the Planner's
original agreement to look at exemptions
but that fell through the cracks. Mayor Bill
Weber said they agreed after the meeting in
2011 to have a public meeting and let the
people decide. iionesteel said they did not
have all the information. With that in mind
they agreed through the council process to
remain status quo in regards to the $1,((X)
fee.
"Why diel we go through the public proc-
ess then?" asked councilor 1 )oug ( ;cx>k add-
ing even the Chamber of Comments agreed
with the fee, which becomes an asset to the
property. Bonesteel said they looked at
options but did not look at exemptions.
Councilor Martin Underwood said they
made an exemption and later they made a
different recommendation. Ile said they
needed to follow their policies. Councilor
Dave Maguire felt the cash in lieu was
visionary and Bonesteel disagreed stating it
is short sighed.
Planner Patti Richardson and Maguire
cautioned by exempting cash in lieu if a
parking lot was to be built, it would not he
on the backs of the benefiting businesses -
but 00 the tax base- meaning everyone
would pay. l )p until now all the parking lots
have been paid for in a "cash in lieu" proc-
ess. Cash in lieu of Parking was created that
called for those businesses that were inten-
sifying use and therefore the need for more
parking to make a contribution to the capi-
tal costs.
"Parking is a key issue for business. Over
time municipalities have attempted to
address parking issues in different ways.
Typically municipalities have what is com-
monly referred to as "Core Business Areas"
or "I )owntowns': 'these areas tend to con-
sist of a cluster of old established businesses
centralized on a stain street and some
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adjoining streets.'lhese areas wens
often established prior to flits advent
of the automobile and because
communities tended to be small,
customers often walked to and from
their shopping" said Richardson.
"Over time these areas became
surrounded by residential areas,
limiting growth and expansion in
the core area, forcing new business
to locate on the periphery of the
town. These satellite commercial
areas catered to new customers
who relied on their automobiles to
shop and as a result, provision was
made for parking of these vehi-
cles. This placed pressure on Core
Areas to acclaim property to accYml
ipodate parking and municipalities
ended up purchasing and develop-
ing parking areas"
"In respolnse to the parking issue
municipal zoning pry -laws began to
establish standards for parking in
various zones, often times based on
the type of businesses being pro-
posed i.e. restaurants tended to
draw a lot more customers than a
single retail store.
In addition this pressure to pro-
vide parking for commercial areas
displeased residential taxpayers
who objected to seeing it portion of
their taxes go to support the busi-
ness community, as a result busi-
ness were required to provide, at
their own expense, parking for their
customers. This was difficult to do
in the core commercial areas,
where businesses were
already established and space was
at a premium. '1 he solution was for
local businesses to partner with the
municipality to acquire and
develop parking lots. 'lb fund these
property acquisitions and parking
lot developments, business areas
often time had their own special
levy to raise funds for this purpose.
This was sometimes facilitated by
a Chamber of Commerce or Busi
ness Improvement Area hoard. As
the intensification of "core areas"
continued pressures for parking
grew and in response, a special
levy.
At the meeting Relouw told the
media he has been held hostage
because he could not get his per-
mits without paying the fees. 1 it
said he would be watching this
carefully to make sure if the fees ate
exempted- he wants his money
back.
it was agreed that the Nitwits
would come up with a parking pol-
icy for the first meeting in October.
'phis was carried with Werra; Cook
and Maguire voting against.
Two crosswalks and a sidewalk going in
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
Merrywoods resident Justin
Speake is not happy with council's
decision to put in a sidewalk that
was never asked for.
Pedestrian safety 00 1 lighway
21 itt (rand Bend has been an
issue for many years.
in August 2011 the residents of
Merrywood Meadow, a subdivi
sion just south of Grand Bend sent
a petition to Lambton Shores
council signed by 52 people
regarding safety measures at
crossing the busy highway, located
south of No Frills. 'I hat same year
the Grand Bend Chamber of Cern
tnerce drafted a report for council
stating safety measures needed to
be addressed in this sante arta as
well as the Tim 1 lotions arra. Mer
rywood Drive residents are
extremely concerned with the
growing challenge to safely cross
from the east/south side of 1ligh-
way 21 to the west -north side of
the highway. There art no side
walks on the east side and no salt
zones to cross or walk to the west
sale," said the petition. They
worried about the speed of traffic
and those people not adhering to
the speed limits. in their report to
council, the Chamber suggested
three pedestrian crosswalks over
1lighway'21 at Merrywood, the
L(:BO and Tim 1 lorton.
Council agreed to two of those
wishes at the May 2nd meeting
and to put in a sidewalk from Mer-
rywood going north. Councilors
Louie Scott and Doug Bonesteel
were concerned about the trek
from Merrywood to No Frills.
(: unrilor Martin Underwood
said they had a tender go out for
sidewalks and now two coun-
cilors were questioning that deci-
sion. "Either we stick to our plan
or we don't,' said l Inderwood.
last year Speake, sept it letter to
the 111 IO with his concerns
regarding pedestt ian.crossing on
highway 21 and Ann Baldwin,
Regional I )irector wrote back stat-
ing highway 21 within Grand
(tend is under the jurisdiction of
Cambior Shores and they should
contact Ihr Director of Conant
pity Services. In a call to the Mf l'O,
I.iane Fisher explained to the
Lakeshore Advance that, "If the
municipality chooses to proceed
with a ne v traffic signal, the nein
istry reviews and approves the
design before h installed. At last
week's meeting Kintner recon
mended against installing this
type of crosswalk at the Merv'
woods location as it dots not pro
vide the maximum amount of
safety, and it's his concern that
drivers may tail to stop at the Niel
rywoods location as their speeds
are typically above the limit and a
the markings do not staled out as
well. "11'e recommended a side
walk first its a sate malls of con
%eying pedestrians towartts down
town so that they can cross at a
safer location. It the pedestrian
traffic increases at the location he
(text step Is it wiltritltt 1t'vIt'w, tlet'It
an application for fully signalised
crosswalks." he said. Council
agreed in their budget process to
go though the budget process for
the %wr'k.
Speake' said they never asked
for a sidewalk they want ,i sat('
passage to go from Nlet 1 wDods to
the Rotary trail in the summer
months ‘vithout the danger of
bring hit.
Drive and Jive adds exciting events to 2013 roster
Gar show dinner
and 50s -6()s
dance
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
The (rand Bend Optimist is
proud to announce new fun for
the whole family events to their
annual Jive and Drive on Joite
15th in a tent on the beach.
From 1-3 p.tn. there will be a
Soap Box Derby in two catego
ries; one open with no age
restriction and the second 12
years and under which includes
wheels and axles for each soap
box racer and a light lunch. Pre •
registration for both with a
$25.00 fee. "Imagination is the
only limitation, says organizers.
(For Rules 8.1 Registration Email
Scott at: srottwl)q((Ithotntitil.
cont)
The popular car show is get-
ting bigger every year and a sure
fire wiry to ttteet and greet others
with the sante love for the show.
Registration is 8-11 a.m. and is
$10. A silent auction is being held
tram 5 I 1 put
Cocktails are at 5 and dinner at
6 p.m. with dancing to the
sounds of Radio Band at 8 until
midnight. There will he prizes
for the best dressed 50s / 60s
table.
Proceeds support (rand Bend
Optimist (:101) youth projects
If you go:
(rand Bend 1)rive and live
June 15th, 2013
Main beach
For dinner tickets or informa-
tion call 1 008-338-2001
www. grandbendoptintistclub.
ca/drive 0 ji%e