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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-09-14, Page 7Apartment rezoning delayed again... • front page 1 missioner, Ken Hunter, who Dzus said Is not qualified to formulate bylaws but in this in- stance was just trying to expedite matters. Hunter told council that if Dzus raised some doubts about the validity of the bylaw it would hurt the developers chances if it was passed on to the Ontario Municipal Board for approval. He suggested that council table the bylaw until Monday. Councillor Stan Profit reiterated 'Hunter's _ _- statements saying there was no useful purpose served by sending a technically incorrect bylaw to Toronto for approval. He added that council should trust the planners judgement. Shewfelt again said he would like to see the project go ahead but council passed a motion to deal with the bylaw at a special meeting of council next Monday. Dzus said Wednesday that the planning department had investigated the 1972 bylaw that laid out regulations for a development like Freeman planned ando discovered several discrepancies between the bylaw and the project Freeman had planned. He said council would have to detail the variances between the site plan Freeman offered and the terms of the bylaw and agree to exempt the developer from meeting the bylaw stipulations. The planner said the exemptions were necessary 'for the project to •receive Ontario Municipal Board approval. He said had council Goderich town hall renovations will have '116,545 price tag Architect Nick Hill presented plans to council Monday night that call for revamping the town building at a cost of $116,545, to accommodate several municipal departments in a central location. :__HilL-presented-hiw,revam p ing-schemeoothe-- 98-year old building to council but any decision on the proposal was delayed until the matter is discussed at the next meeting. Hill explained that the town simply doesn't utilize the 7,130 square feet available in the building to full advantage and recommended that the apartments on the third floor and the dentist's office on the second floor be eliminated. The third floor would be used for offices by the bylaw control officer and the town building department. The second floor would ac- commodate a new council chamber and the mayor's office. His plans also included remodelling of the first floor so the town clerk would be able to make efficient use of the present council chambers at the rear of the building. The major task involves the basement, where. he proposed that the town's service and recreation departments be located. The recreation and building departments are currently in a building on Waterloo Street next "The 20 per cent is a standard figure in restoration work with older structures," Hill commented. "Unlike new construction, when costs can be accurately forecast there is always ' GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1978—PAGE 7 not agreed to waive terms of the bylaw the 01$.413 would have just sent the projeCt back to council possibly tying it up en additional three to six months. Dzus said one of the major stumbling blocks was the size of the lot. He said the bylaw required a two acre lot for such a development and Freeman had only 1.3 acres. He said the experience has shown that economics don't permit the amount of open space provided for in the original bylaw because of land costs adding that the 1.3 acre parcel was adequate size for the building proposed. The planner pointed out that neighboring properties permitted council to allow Freeman to use the smaller lot because of open spaces surrounding the building. He said the sideyards on the site plan were only six feet and the bylaw required they be 25 feet but a 35 foot walkway on one side of the building and a huge com- mercial lot on the other would still give the open space desired without having the required distance from the building to the lot line. tuthe police and fire station but the town is also unfireseen work with older buildings." „considering-plansAwrepolice_„--m -1(12:44:..zorevia--to-prl:antacludad=fitgAhen;;:- -" - project are for handicapped persons using the facility and the work may qualify for some provincial funding. Hill emphasized the point that the town offices would be accessible for handicapped people with the renovations making government offices available to all town people. The town hall has been designated a historic building but Hill \ claimed that because it is a soundstructure that doesn't require extensive renovations it is unlikely it would qualify for Ontario Heritage Foundation grants. Funding Ts made available for buildings in immediatedanger but there is very little ex- terior work required at the town hall. Council began considering a major ren.ovation project due to • crowded conditions • and a desire to centralize municipal services, headquarters. Hill said the proposal was a desirable one from a viewpoint of centralizing many of the town's departments under one roof. "The whole process would be more efficient and beneficial for the public knowing that government is in one area," Hill explained. "I think it is a general desire of council to move departments into one building to provide an efficient municipal operation in one location." The cost of interior renovation to the town hall was estimated at $43,121 and an additional expenditure of $54,000 would be required for an elevator, ramp, stairs, fire escapes and elec- trical work. The remaining amount, approximately $19,000, was a 20 per cent contingency that Hill said was needed on renovations with older buildings. GEDC want park properly zoned BY JOANNE WALTERS ' The Goderich Economic Development Committee (GEDC) has agreed to leave the idea of advertising land availability in the town's Industrial Park in abeyance until the Park is properly zoned; its roads paved and its entranceway improved. • In accordance with this, the GEDC further agreed to inquire as to the status of a report on ° the Park being prepared by a subcopimittee of Planning Board. "Itshould be hurried up, finalized and sent to town council," said Councillor Elsa Haydon who sits on the GEDC. -The subcommittee -was -formed some time t ago to assess the planning and disposition of the Industrial Park area. The subcommittee is ' looking at about 13 different reports prepared on the area, most of them oriented toward land use and zoning. The GEDC agreed that a letter should be written to Tom Jasper, chairman of the sub- committee, in order to find out how far the report had advanced and also agreed to recommend to town council that the proper zoning be instigated on the land in Industrial Park as soon as possible. _ "The whole secret is proper zoning. This would save us scurrying around at the last minute whenever someone in,quires about purchasing land in the Park," said Mayor Deb Shewfelt, a member of the GEDC. He went on to say that the committee hadn't exactly been overrun with people wanting to buy land in the Park. He reported that there was even a rumor that the Tri County Brick Company which hadoance expressed an interest in buying some land'in the Park, was no longer interested. Shewfelt said he couldn't see the purpose of spending a lot of money advertiiing the Industrial Park yet. , "I'd sooner see the money spent on giving something to offer to people who want to locate in the Park," he said. "I'd sooner get the entrance to the park improved and dolled up a bit, the zoning through and then try and get people!to locate," he continued. Ken Hunter, Commissioner of Works reporte4, to the GEDC that the 200 foot road extension on Huckins Street in Industrial Park had been completed and the services put in: He said there could be enough money left out of the $25,000 budget to pave the street this fall at a cost of about $10,0#0" Once paved, he said, the committee could eet the MTC to assume it and perhaps get subsidized to do other work in the Park. An improved appearance for the Park he agreed would perhaps help attract industries. Only three members of the GEDC, along with THE KIDDIE CORNER *Like new childrenclothing on consignment. Week -days 9:00-12:00 noon ' Any other time by appointment -site tviokatily ~dogs es1 THE KIDDIE CORNER bbfi Gibbers Street Ph00.- S2444112 Town Clerk Larry McCabe and Commissioner of Works, Ken Hunter, were present at last Wednesday's meeting. They were Councillor Haydon, Mayor Shewfelt. and Harry Worsen. They discussed the attendance problem and new ways to notify members of meetings. Stained glass .wiriclow.. i&dicated*.Chiist... Christ Church services have returned to the regular hour of 2 p.m. This Sunday, Sep- tember 17 will be the dedication service for the new stained glass win- dows. A social hour with- . lunch. will follow in the basement. SOCIAL NEWS Mr. Frank Sheldon who has been hospitalized in Westminster in London is progressing -favorably. The community wishes him well. Best wishes for a quick recovery also to Mrs. Ruth Brown. Mr. Frank Pernak of , St. Petersburg, Florida and his brother John of Detroit, visited recently with Mr. and. Mrs. Ray Barker of Goderich, and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Tigert at Port Albert. With the cooler tem- peratures some fishing action has started again. Big season at Playhouse The 1978 season for the Huron Country" Playhouse has proved to be a record year in terms of attendance according to artistic director James Murphy. According to Murphy, over 20,000 people had attended the Playhouse by the time the curtain fell for the final time. This compares to a final attendance figure for 1977 oi 15,000 Murphy said. He stated he was very pleased with the overall increase as this year's season was one week longer than last year's. The biggest hit in terms of attendance was "!Oklahoma!" which had over 7,000 theatre goers at its two week run. -"Oklahoma!" also set the record for the largest attendance for one week . with the last week of the musical attracting 4,000. The biggest surprise of the season said Murphy was "Parlour, Bedroom and Bath" which at- tracted the second largest crowd of the season. He said the Playhouse was somewhat leery about "digging up this old play" but that popularity of the show, which featured former CFPL radio and TV personality, Judy Savoy, was a bonus for the season. Murphy added he was pleasantly surprised with the response that- "Two Below," the new Canadian play by George Robertson received from the audience. R.J. NEPHEW PHOTOGRAPHY Opening SEPTEMBER 15,1978 OPENING SPECIALS IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS GIVING COME IAND ASK ABOUT ' • PORTRAITS • FAMILY GROUPS • WEDDINGS 65 Montreal Street Goderich Phone 524-2029 CLOSED MONDAYS Ted Johns' THE SCHOOL SCANDAL Returns Blyth Memorial Hall Sept. 26-30 , 8 p.m. INpfthee 2 p.m. Sept. 28 Reserve by calling 523-9300 TICKETS AVAILABLE AT CAMPBELL'S ON THE SQUARE ENJOY YOURSELF AT EXETER FAIR. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22 & 23 *TALENT CONTEST * EXHIBITS & 4-H COMPETITIONS *HORSE SHOW * LIVESTOCK *TUG OF WAR *SKATEBOARD CONTEST AND MUCH, MUCH, MORE SEE YOU THERE Itadm Mac* Another exemption council has to give is the percentage of land set aside for children's play area and park land. The bylaw requires four percent of the lot be designated park, but Dzus said a neighborhood park next to the apartment complex should permit council to waive that stipulation. He added that the developer has agreed to provide some playground equipment for the neighbOrhood park in exchange of the four percent requirement and council agreed to that deal. Dzus said that the amended bylaw will be ready for council today if council wanted to call a special meeting to expedite matters. He said once the bylaw is passed it must be circulated and a 21 -day waiting period gone through, to allow for any objections to be lodged before it can be sent to the OMB for its approval. He said the process takes about six weeks if no objections are filed. He pointed out that if objections are raised and the project sent to an OMB hearing there is no way ta'determine how long it will be held up. save $2500 eam- on casual tableware 16 pc. starter sets Now on sale 'til Oct. 14 Stonecraft Reg. retail Special Consumer value retail savings 16 pc. Starter Set 4 fruit nappies 4 tea plates ,. 4 soup/cereals 4 onion soups and stands 5 pc. Completer Set Creamer, cov'd sugar Platter open vegetable $69.95 $44.95 $25,00 26.40 17.99 31% 26.40 17.99 31% 32.00 17.99 33% 53.00 9.99 68% 43.95 32,49 26% PATTERNS ON SALE Stonecraft collection: ButterSdbich Chestnut '• Greenwood Honeycomb Sundance Midas Origin Reflections Snowden Dynasty collection: Dragon Of Kowloon.; Exotic Garden - Kismet Mandalay Orient 1// • ,IM.755..- 12atheifitaek Radio/Me BE AUDIO SALE 1----)ER!4 Z._ Astir—. 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