July 23, 2021

Page 1

The Creemore

ECHO

Friday, July 23, 2021 Vol. 21 No. 30

www.creemore.com

News and views in and around Creemore

INSIDE

Fruits of their Labour Community Garden grant bears fruit PAGE 5

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Ag class, opposition hinders Lavender agri-tourism by Trina Berlo Technically, the approval of a lavender agri-tourism venture hinges on the agricultural classification of the soil at a Concession 8 farm but it is the opposition of neighbours that has put it in the spotlight. Property owner Jim Muzyka has applied to the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) for a development permit for an on-farm diversified use (OFDU) to allow for farm tours and the construction of a 50-car parking area and a new shed to process the crop and host visitors. Muzyka has planted 30 acres of lavender at the farm known as Fennario Meadows and is expecting 100 to 120 cars to visit each day at peak season, admitted through a reservation booking system. NEC senior planner Judy RhodesMunk reported to commissioners at a July 15 meeting that OFDUs are only permitted on prime agricultural land. Prime agricultural area is defined in the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP) as “an area where prime agricultural lands predominate. This

Staff photo: Trina Berlo

The burgeoning lavender crop at Fennario Meadows . includes areas of prime agricultural lands and associated Canada Land Inventory Class 4 through 7 lands, and additional areas where there is a local concentration of farms that exhibit characteristics of ongoing agriculture, reported Rhodes-Munk … “The Canada Land Inventory (CLI)

mapping classifies the soil capability for agriculture on the property as Class 7T, which is the lowest on the scale but still included in the definition of prime agricultural area if it is found within or in proximity to prime agricultural lands (i.e., Classes 1 through 3 soils).” Muzyka said he commissioned

a soil survey of the property which indicated the subject lands contain approximately 64 per cent prime agricultural land. The County of Simcoe is currently reviewing agricultural land mapping and any changes require approval from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Therefore, the NEC does not have the ability to determine if land should or should not be included in a prime agricultural area. For this reason, the subject lands are not, at this time, within an identified prime agricultural area, and OFDUs are not a permitted use,” reported RhodesMunk. “Although the subject property does not qualify for an OFDU, it is notable that the processing and sale of farm products is still permitted on the property, provided that it is done at a scale that is consistent with the NEP policies for home occupations and industries.” In the end, the commission voted to accept the staff report in support of that portion of the Fennario proposal (See “OFDU” on page 3)

Region lags behind in vaccination rates by Trina Berlo Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is working toward reaching the provincial goals for vaccination, having the third lowest second vaccine coverage of all health units. The target for Step Three of Roadmap to Reopen is for 80 per cent of the eligible population (12 and older) to have received a first dose and 75 per cent to have received a second dose. In Simcoe Muskoka, 77 per cent have received a first dose and 56 per cent have received a second. “Throughout the course of the pandemic we have received, on average, less vaccine than other health

units on a per capita basis because of the low infection rates,” said medical officer of health Dr. Charles Gardner. Bradford West Gwillimbury has been the only hotspot declared in the district, thereby receiving extra vaccine. “We have certainly administered all the vaccine we have received expeditiously. He said he supports the strategy of directing more vaccine where transmission is highest,” said Gardner. He said they have found an imbalance has emerged in that more individuals from out of the district have received immunization locally compared with

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local citizens who have travelled outside of the district to receive their immunization. “The net effect is that we have provided 11,500 doses to non residents than we have received for our residents out of district,” said Gardner. “This is a destination of choice for people for holidays, for secondary residences and I think that may be very well a part of what we are seeing with that and we are also in proximity to the Greater Toronto Area, allowing for that to occur.” To overcome that, the health unit has targeted appointment bookings to residents, and has begun offering pop-

up and walk-in clinics. In the past there was more parity between out of district vaccines and Gardner had encouraged people to take the first vaccine offered to them, regardless of where. “It’s important to note that almost a quarter of our population has yet to receive their first dose and with the Delta variant it’s really important that people come forward,” said Gardner. A new campaign is launching next week to address some of the vaccine hesitancy that exists in the community that have been informed in part by youth focus groups. (See “Walk-in” on page 5)


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July 23, 2021 by The Creemore Echo - Issuu