SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 50 ISSUE 28
DRAYTON, ONTARIO
1 Year GIC - 2.55% 3 Year GIC - 2.80% 5 Year GIC - 3.00% Daily Interest 0.90%
638-3328
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
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Developer offers surcharge to get subdivision moving By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – A local developer eager to see the municipality expand its water and sewage capacity to end a development freeze is willing to contribute financially to a solution. Representatives of Glenaviland Development Corporation (GDC) attended the June 27 Mapleton council meeting to indicate the company is open to working with council and contributing funding assistance for proposed wastewater capacity and water service upgrades. “Our proposed contribution would be through a ‘special surcharge’ development charge, paid for by GDC, on a per lot basis as future building permits are issued. This special surcharge would be in addition to the current development charges as set out by the township,� states a written proposal from GDC president Fred Prior. The company has a registered plan of subdivision for 88 single family homes and 101 town homes and condos on 30 acres of a 118-acre property. The plan was approved in December of 2013. Design, zoning and environmental approvals have been in place since 2012 for a planned golf course, club house and golf academy on the remaining 88-acre parcel. However the project has been in a holding pattern as
no wastewater or water service capacity has been available. At one point, a plan to utilize the golf course as a location to spread effluent from the municipal sewage treatment plant was under consideration. However, the authors of a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) conducted to evaluate alternatives to expand the capacity of the Mapleton Wastewater Treatment Plant did not recommend the township proceed with the plan. GDC officials noted timelines for a capital project for an upgrade of the wastewater plant and water service capacity presented at a stakeholder meeting in September of 2013 were “particularly positive and encouraging.â€? However, they stated, “like all previous meetings regarding this critical project, the approximate 18-month timeline for the projects to come on stream have come and gone.â€? While recognizing a number of hurdles and approvals are required to move the project forward, the company requested council “find a way to move ahead ‌ without further delays.â€? To date all 45 of Glenaviland’s lots with allocated sewage and water capacity in the Drayton Ridge subdivision have been sold. Forty homes are com-
Canadian sports program scores with youth at local library
pleted, sold and occupied, while the remaining lots are sold or under construction. “We’ve sold our last lot and ‌ the builders have built on everything that can be built upon,â€? Prior told council, adding the development’s future relies on obtaining further allocations. While interest has remained strong from builders, the company is concerned that could waver with future delays. “We want to be able to keep that momentum. If we don’t, then we put the project on hold and we start all over again sometime in the distant future. I think you should know that,â€? said Prior. “We’ve had, in the last year, a tremendous amount of contact of people from as far as the GTA, certainly from the Oakville, Hamilton, Ancaster and the London area to come build here in Drayton. “A lot of people thought it was very foolish in the beginning, what we set out to do, but it’s proven that plans that we set were certainly worth it and the only hurdle that we have now is the sewage and water capacity.â€? “Nothing would please me more than to see 140 houses being built up there,â€? said councillor Marlene Ottens, who asked for more details on how the surcharge would work.
Sports enthusiasts - We Shoot, We Score was the theme of the Drayton Library Summer Children’s program on July 5. This program featured Canadian sports stories and games. LEFT: Alicia and Brando Kramer practice their table top curling skills. BELOW: from left: Madison Fillion, Judah Snider and Kandice Roth shoot for points in table top basketball. Children rotated to various sports stations including golf, volleyball, table top hockey, basketball and curling. Photos by Caroline Sealey
SEE SURCHARGE Âť 3
Moorefield public works facility declared surplus, offered for lease By Patrick Raftis MOOREFIELD – The township’s former public works building here will soon be offered for lease, Mapleton council has determined. Council directed staff to
prepare a bylaw to declare the building surplus to the municipality’s needs at the June 27 meeting and authorized staff to proceed with the listing of the building for lease through Royal LePage RCR Realty. The building is no longer
needed since the completion of the new municipal maintenance facility on Sideroad 16. The new facility, located at the site of the municipal administration centre, was officially opened on May 24. The previous public works building was destroyed by
fire in 2013. The township operated out of its Moorefield facility until moving into the new eight-bay shop last December. The move consolidated the township’s public works maintenance operations into one facility. A staff report from CAO
Brad McRoberts indicates Royal LePage has proposed a lease rate for the entire building, with a reasonable amount of yard space, in the $4,000 to $5,000 per month range. Tenants would be responsible for utility expenses. The property tax
allocation for the building, as subsequently assessed by Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), would be the responsibility of the tenant. “As Moorefield’s municipal drinking well is located SEE MOOREFIELD Âť 4
‘Buy me some peanuts and Crackerjack ...’ sorry - maybe next year By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – There will be no hot dogs at local ball parks this summer. Due to lack of bidders, the township was unable to award a contract to run concessions stands at sports fields in Drayton and Moorefield for 2017. The concession stand has
been operated through lease agreements for the past two sport seasons. A request for proposals to establish a new lease to run the concession services for Drayton and Moorefield sports fields from May to October for 2017 and 2018 closed on April 12. One proposal was received to run only the Moorefield
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stand, but not the one at the Drayton park. However, on May 8, township staff received correspondence from the bidder withdrawing their proposal due to personal commitments. As there were no other submissions staff recommended the municipality not pursue a concession services lease for the 2017 season and
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re-issue an RFP for services for 2018 in the spring. A staff report from public works director Sam Mattina notes that due to the lack of food services at the sports fields, any licensed events under the township’s liquor license will require the proponent to provide food as part of the event. Council reluctantly
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“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.� - J. K. Rowling
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approved the recommendation on June 27. Mayor Neil Driscoll noted the lack of interest in operating concession stands might be partly due to the large number of people who bring their own food to the ball parks. While noting she hated to see the parks operate without food available, council-
lor Lori Woodham stated, “Maybe it will take one year with absolutely nothing for people to change.� Woodham wondered if inviting operators of mobile food trucks to provide services might be a solution. CAO Brad McRoberts suggested that option could be included in the 2018 requests for proposals.
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