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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1975-04-17, Page 18PAGE 10A—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1475 Residents concerned about recreational sprawl . -Residents of C6lhorne Township expressed a concern -ov'er their obligations to provide public recreation areas and the private acquisition of recreational and natural en- vironment lands by non - township re idents. The sixtir workshop towards the adoption of a secondary, planfor Colborne sparked some discussiqn over the township's obligations to the preservation of natural environment and development of recreational areas. Also there was a general concern over non-residents purchasing natural environment and ..recreational lands. Since, the area is primarily agriculture 'and •contains some of the best farming land in the province, township residents . were wary of this land being developed for recreational purposes.. Naturally their first concern is to restrict too much development Which naws away at the farming land. The major natural en- vironment and• recreation areas in, Colborne include almost seven` miles of k,t • .�u4 �Ill.^.1titi ',MIJby'�wu • `41 7F `0 1 -- Discuss Colborne's obligations to recreation,- environment, lakeshore, Sharps Creek, Point Farms Conservation area, 4 Falls Deserve and other small woodiuts and lakes that dot the township. Huron County planner Gary Davidson pointed out that areas designated recreational on a plan cover a wide range of uses from intensive development to land simply used for hiking paths. It was suggested that• small cottage groupings and lot holdings in natural en- vironment areas could be zoned to restrict building. The residents did however agree that the preservation of natural environment ° lands such as- swamps and wooded areas was important for the prevention of erosion and the r 1aintainance of water table levels. Colborne Township coun- cillor Russell Kernighan then raised the point that there should be no need for 'no trespassing', signs in the township and people should be free to' roam on 'the beautiful natural surroundings. He, ex- plained that the number of cottages has increased and Sky Harbor airstrip location change toqualify for grant The Sky Harbor airport committee learned at their last meeting that no government. funds will . be available to upgradA the main existing paved runway at the airstrip unless some major changes r.re undertaken. The strip is too close to the buildings at the airport and either the strip or the buildings will have to be moved. • The Ministry of Transport told the committee develop - the town investigate the possibility of constructing a 5;000 foot runway .at Sky Harbor', They pointed out that runway 15-33, -a grass strip running SE -NW, could be considered for extension and paving under the grant structure. The total amount available for such a project is $100,000. a.s the airport exists now. The present ceiling is available to menti chairman --Dick Wright airports -with 'facilities such as th:atfor-the government to issue Sky Harbor has now, servicing, a -grant for runway con- fuel and flight . training. The struction or improvement the ceiling would be raised to , runway must be at least 750 feet $175,000 if a• charter service c --a 11-13uiidings:-Mr-Wrrghl<:-mere-ailable was in Toronto last week with Mayor Deb Shewfelt ' to ,meet with ministry officials. . The main runway at Sky Harbor (10-28) is within the minimum 750 foot requirement " and is not available for a grant. Mr. Wright told the committee that te, meet the ministry' standards the runway would have to be moved north or the buildings on the southern ex- treme of the airport 'property moved closer to the road. The ministry officials... .suggested ,to Mr. Wright that Charter service is normally associated with airports having runways at least 5,000 feet long. The feature is not a 'necessity for a charter •license but is preferred by the ministry. "With any kind of jets or Sky Harbor are available for grants if they are used solely for airport 'use. 'The govern- ment will pick up half the cost of construction under these conditions but if any individual or company wishes to rent or own part of the terminal, that . part" will have to be paid for by the town or the user. The extension of a runway to 5,000 feet also rules out the main runway existing. The strip is3,800 feet in total paved - len-g'thbu-t prrape rtytitrees d- trees at the westend of it make ' it impossible to lengthen. Of the 3,800 feet of pavement only. about 2,700 or 2,800 feet of it is usable because of the a - L and using a bigger section- of floor for machinery. "We don't wait to expand the business and then be told we have to get out," said Mr, Scruton. The businessmen explained that they feared eviction since the airport was -beginning to be developed.. They said that when they moved out there no one seemed interested in any major changes and the future seemed br rght •mn their buildiig t bough# the - building thinking everything was going to remain as it had for years and then all of a sudden everything being done," " said J erry ox. The committee explained that they -had no certain plans for the future of the airport but would be . certain to work closely with all business located at Sky Harbor to prevent them from suffering as a result of being moved. ' farmers were having difficulty last two years. with the cottagers, - Mr. Davidson told residents County planner Nick Hill that trailers and mobile homes added that cottages were;.,. cannot simply be ignored since destroying , the beauty of thg escalating prices in the housing river valley area • and they indu§try have made- them a should be clustered. in definite viable alternative. However 'he areas and urban development added that the residents should of these areas should be not rule out establishing some discouraged. Mr. Kernighan restrictive criteria on the stated that in several cases parks. whole farms have been pur- Colborne Township Reeve 'chased by outsiders in order to Doug McNeil said that the local obtain river frontage and in this people do not use the case, the township is losing recreational areas as much as . valuable farmland. outsiders and that further • A delegate of the Ministry of recreation sites should not +be Natural Resources explained developed in a haphazard the Ministry's long range plans manner; in 'the township. The 20 year Residents also expressed plan calls for � ,the .possible their displeasure at the shot - acquisition .of lands in such tage of beach " area for the areas as Sharps Creek, the township people and that there Maitland River Flood Plain and were simply not enough access lands for hiking trails. areas to the beach. But it was The Ministry has studied indicated that access to most various proposals for hiking areas of the lakeshore` was trails down the Maitland Valley almost impossible accept for a and around the Falls Reserve and last year finished a study on a 28 mile trail but abandoned it bec, use of lack, of local in- terest and demand. There have also been problems 'with con- structing a trail in the township since uncooperative lan- downers refuse access to their property because of a fear of abuse and damage. Whenthe discussion turned to trailer parks it was suggested that _they, be very„ tighter con- trelIed by the planand -not be allowed to spring up in every farmers field. The idea behind this is to restrict recreation to Was ening one, areas where the agricultural land is not so productive. Mr. Davidson then pointed out that during the past year there were four million visitors to the area and there must be a place to accommodate them. Also the number of cottages in the township has increased by almost 100 percent during the p proaches. • The committee intends to ask council to have the town engineer do a survey on the site to update theirs and the ministry's file of Sky Harbor. In other business the airport committee instructed town turbo props using the airport clerk Harold Walls to apply for we 'w'ould need a 5;000 foot re -licensing of Sky Harbor, as. a runway but for smaller craft municipally dwr ed airport, By we would not have to have one law, the license must be applied to ' get a license," said for within two weeks after a development chairman '.Dick change of ownership or it Wright. • becomes invalid. Any terminals constructed- at: -.:t . Sac>Cuton Jit and 4erry Cox.p<, • 7 '" came before ,the committee to WNAT'S NEW AT HURQNV:IE1 The Over 90 Club met on *Wednesday afternoon's with 20 members present. William Govier was 'welcomed to the club and following games of euchre and crokinole, -lunch was served by the Walkerburn Club volunteers from Auburn. The Family Night program was provided by Albert Craig of Bayfield assisted by Mrs. Henderson and Norman Speir - - of the Home. Albert sang several country and western favorites and..led a sing -a -long of requests:" Mrs. Buchanan thanked the entertainers on behalf ofthe residents. By the way, the Home staff has been attempting to find a more suitable night in the week for Family Night program and 1' BRIDGE :CLUB NEWS Jean Cooke and Cathy r1*Donald took top honors .in the April 8 meeting of the Goderich Bridge , Club amassing a total of 77 points. There were six tables in play. Verna Worthy and Kay Duncan were a close Second with a total of 76,'points while Mary Lapaine and Jean Papernick. 'settled for third • place with 751/2` points. Fourth place went to Joe Martin and Aelian Weerasooriya with 721/2 points.' inquire about the future of their businfss at the airport. The partners operatecrating business in one of 'the airport buildings and wish to expand their shop to permit „more business. The expansion Would not has decided beginning May 1st require any change in the to change to the Tuesday structure of the building, only evening., increasing. the hydro capacity IN'S vQU , zPlaTaµ' » y*. OR HEAD, TV •ROGERS MAJESTIC TV •EXPERT TV SERVICE • ANTENNA, & TOWER INSTALLATION 162 MARY ST. GODERICH 524-9O39. mountain goat. The seventh workshop in the program will be a general workshop -to discuss- all the areas of concern. It will be held in the Carlow Township Hall April 15 at 8 p.m. e AUTHORIZED SALES & SERVICE • Vacuum Cleaners • Washer/Spin. Dryers • Portable Dryers 'available on easy terms HUTCIIIN$ON. APPLIANCES TRADE INS ACCEPTED 308 HURON RD, LOWER INTEREST RATES Now Available• On. 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