The Creemore
Echo
Inside the Echo A Dream Come True Creemore native Chris Dodd writes for the big screen. Page 6
Flying the Colours
Friday, March 18, 2011 Vol. 11 No. 11
Creemore Hawk hits the slopes Page 7
News and views in and around Creemore
Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
LIMITED OPPOSITION AT SECOND BREWERY PUBLIC MEETING by Brad Holden Creemore Springs Brewery was back at Council for another public meeting Monday night, this one dealing with a second application to rezone two recently acquired additional properties to those in the brewery’s original application. Last July, Council approved Creemore Springs’ plan to rezone and redesignate three properties – what had been an adjoining lot on Mill Street as well as the former 3 Elizabeth Street East and 6 Edward Street East. Subsequently approved at the County level, that application was then appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board by brewery neighbour Paul Vorstermans, who claims to represent several other neighbouring families. Monday night’s meeting dealt with a new application, to rezone and redesignate 5 Elizabeth Street East and 8 Edward Street East as well. It was sparsely attended compared to the public meeting that dealt with the original application. As the brewery’s planning consultant Jim Dyment explained, the new application would not allow the brewery to expand further, but would allow a greater landscape buffer between the facility and neighbouring properties, as well as some amenity space for employees, an area for snow removal, and an opportunity for some extra parking spaces in the future. While the house on Edward Street would be torn down, the brewery does not intend to demolish the Edwardian brick house on Elizabeth Street, but rather use it as staff accommodation and/or office space. While Dyment said the company was confident defending the original application at the OMB, it was decided that acquiring the additional space would be a “good move.” Vorstermans put it in different terms, however, as he signalled his continued opposition to the plan. “The easy ride was over,” he said, referring to last year’s local approvals. “It appears they realized that at the OMB, they would have to defend the indefensible.” It’s Vorstermans’ position that a brewery is an incompatible use in a residential zone, and enlarging such a facility is a move without any planning merit. “I respectfully suggest it is time to start listening to the neighbours,” he said. (See “A solar” on page 3)
MARCH BREAK FUN This group of young magicians – Sarah Crawford, Shelley Hannah (who’s young at heart), Evie Schieman, Sola Menicucci, Tim Lusignon, Sarah Schallenberg and Sarah Miller (also young at heart!) had lots of fun building a Magic Kingdom at this week’s Mad & Noisy Gallery March Break Camp.
Application for Creemore dairy approved by Brad Holden Creemore Dairy Farmer John Miller received approval from Council Monday night to rezone a portion of his property to allow the construction of a milk processing plant. The night began with a public meeting regarding the application and, with staff correctly predicting a positive response from the public, Council was allowed to vote on the issue later on in the agenda. Miller began his presentation to Council by stating his excitement with this new direction for his operations. Clearview, he pointed out, had taken some heat from the province when its 2006 zoning bylaw allowed and encouraged such on-farm processing, and he was happy to be the first to take advantage of the Township’s initiative. Miller explained that while Quebec and Western Canada have a lot of on-farm processing, Ontario is lacking, and a lot of people, in the dairy industry especially, are viewing Miller’s plans as a sort of pilot project. “It’ll be a pretty great thing,” he said, “to produce
our own milk locally, to be sold locally.” As Township staff had predicted, no one from the public spoke in opposition to the application. Standing in support was provincial Green Party leader Mike Shreiner, who is a new resident of Dunedin. “This project further positions Clearview as a destination for agritourism and culinary tourism,” he said. Council’s response to Miller’s presentation was positive, with Mayor Ken Ferguson looking forward to the day he could give the Minister of Agriculture a personal tour of the new facility. Councillor Thom Paterson pointed out that the project is a good example of what he considers “balanced growth,” and Deputy Mayor Alicia Savage noted her excitement, given how hard Clearview had to fight the province to allow agriculture-related industry within agriculturally zoned areas. “Just ‘git’er done,’ John,” she said jokingly. With that, Council voted unanimously to allow Miller’s rezoning. Watch future editions of the Echo for more on his plans for a “Creemore Dairy.”
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