SERVING MAPLETON AND MINTO
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 52 ISSUE 01
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019
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Campaign aims to ensure use of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Mapleton Fire and Rescue wants local residents to think of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as “heroes” in their homes. The local fire department is embarking on a campaign to ensure local residents comply with requirements to have working alarms. “Our ‘hero’ is named after an Ontario Fire Marshal brochure showing that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in our residences are the heroes,” states Fire Chief Rick Richardson. “Our goal is to have every property owner determine the number of alarms required in their home, make sure the proper amount are installed, then check them with the ‘test’ button,” said Richardson. After conducting the test, residents can go to the Mapleton Township website to verify they have completed this task. Another option is to mail in a form that will come with February’s tax bill, or phone the township office with confirmation. “We hope that a majority of the residents perform this function, so they can be taken off our non-compliant list. After the end of March, we will conduct phone calls and emails to encourage
Santa’s seasonal finale in Alma Santa parade - The Alma tractors and toys Santa Claus parade made its way down Elora Street North on Dec. 23. It was the final Santa Claus parade in the county for the season. Tinsel was hung on tractors with care and Santa Claus arrived with his reindeer atop a disc harrow. Photos by Aryn Strickland More photos on page 8.
them to be taken off our list,” Richardson stated. The fire chief points out the provincial offence charge for non-compliance is $295 plus costs for every missing or a non-working alarm. “We will take our ticket book to homes not completing their test after all efforts have been taken to complete the project,” Richardson said. However, he added, “Make no mistake. We do not want their money - we want them to be compliant.” The fire department notes that landlords are responsible to install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Officials are urging renters with concerns to contact their landlord. Information provided by the fire marshal’s office indicates that one in three fire deaths happen in homes with no working smoke alarms, and over 65 per cent of carbon monoxide deaths and injuries occur in homes. Provincial legislation requires a smoke alarm on every storey of a dwelling, as well as the hallways of each sleeping area or within the sleeping room. Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed outside all sleeping areas if a home has a fuel burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage. Alarms should be tested SEE SAFETY » 2
Council approves Harriston Heights zoning amendment MINTO – Council has approved a zoning amendment for the Harriston Heights townhouse development to facilitate a Plan of Condominium application from the developer. Council passed a bylaw approving the amendment on Dec. 18. A public meeting was held on Nov. 6 regarding the amendment to the George Street North property, the former site of the Harriston Senior School building. The change is designed to create a common element condominium, to permit the
units and associated parcels to become freehold ownership and to permit frontage for each lot to be accessed by a private road. On Nov. 6, council deferred the proposal to the Dec. 18 meeting after questions were raised about the proposal’s compliance with conditions imposed by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). George Street residents Kerri and Rolf Schuttel, along with the town and a previous owner of the development, signed onto minutes of settlement to an OMBbrokered agreement in 2016. At the Nov. 6 meeting,
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Kerri Schuttel expressed concern the development, as currently proposed, doesn’t meet all of the conditions. Among the concerns, she noted, is a request for a rear yard setback of five metres. She said the minutes of settlement specify a 5.64-metre setback. The developer agreed to review the concerns. On Dec. 18 a report from Wellington County planner Linda Redmond noted the applicant amended their drawings and their initial request to remove the reduction to five metres. “The proposal will now meet the minimum 5.64m
rear yard setback and the amending bylaw reflects this setback as per the OMB settlement,” Redmond stated in the report. “I think all our concerns on the zoning issues have definitely been looked after,” said Mayor George Bridge. In a letter to the municipality, the Schuttels agreed the concerns they raised have been addressed in the revised bylaw. However, the letter notes, “While the rear yard setback issue is fully resolved to our satisfaction ‘on paper,’ we have yet to receive confirmation that it’s been resolved in the structural development
WEEKLY WAG
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By Patrick Raftis
“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” - Oprah Winfrey
that has occurred.” The letter indicates the Schuttels are awaiting a response from the chief building official asking for confirmation the rear yard setback for the first permitted building met the required 5.64 metre distance, “as footings were prepared and poured in the days immediately following the public meeting.” The letter also indicates the Schuttels are concerned about the development meeting a one-storey building height maximum requirement which is also included in the minutes of settlement. “We want to ensure that
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we share the same understanding of the provision as council,” the letter states. “To achieve this, we feel strongly that clarification is needed on the interpretation of the one-storey ... maximum as presented in the proposed bylaw,” the Schuttels add. “With that, we have no further concerns with the proposed bylaw and as we previously expressed, we feel that this development is an asset to the community and a welcomed addition to our neighbourhood.” Council acce pted Redmond’s report and approved the bylaw amendment as presented.
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