SERVING MAPLETON AND MINTO
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 51 ISSUE 47
1 Year GIC - 3.02% 3 Year GIC - 3.28% 5 Year GIC - 3.60% Daily Interest 1.50%
638-3328
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2018
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Construction set to resume in Glenaviland subdivision By Patrick Raftis
Christmas crafts Country Christmas- The annual Country Christmas Craft Show was held at the PMD Arena on Nov. 17. ABOVE: Addison Claussen, left, and Josie Claussen admire the soft and fluffy handmade animals at the CarMic’s Crafts booth. RIGHT: Vill Valen, left, examines one of the handmade cutting/cheese boards crafted by John Stevens on display at the event. Photos by Jennifer Goertzen
Council ponders structure for committee of adjustment MAPLETON – The township is looking at a return to an arms-length committee of adjustment structure. Since the beginning of the current term, Mapleton council members have acted as the committee of adjustment for the township, which was previously made up of citizen appointees. Council directed staff to explore the creation of an arms-length committee after receiving a report from CAO Manny Baron on Nov. 13. The committee is a statutory tribunal with authority delegated by council under the Ontario Planning Act to hold public hearings and make decisions on applications submitted to the township for minor variances. Baron’s report suggests the committee of adjustment would also be the municipality’s property standards committee. While noting he has no problem with council operating as committee of adjust-
ment, councillor Dennis Craven said he would be comfortable moving to a citizen committee. However, he said it is his impression from a training session a few years ago that council should not operate as the township’s property standards committee. “One thing I took away from that ... they emphasized that councillors should not sit on the property standards committee,� he said. “Or committee of adjustment,� said Ottens, who attended the same training session. Councillor Michael Martin agreed with the proposal to go back to a citizen committee. “I think for the committee of adjustment to go back to a citizen group is important,� said Martin. “It’s certainly been an educational and interesting experience for me, but I think it’s important that we provide our citizens the opportunity to be involved.� Martin added, “We’ve got
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lots of people, in my opinion, that are capable, it’s just finding them and getting them to sit on the committee.� However, Craven pointed out, “we deal with similar things almost every week so we are a little more familiar with the situations as they come up as far as minor variances and so on are concerned and we might be better off to continue as committee of adjustment, but not for property standards.� Councillor Marlene Ottens pointed out the resolution before council called for staff to explore the option of a citizen committee. “I would think a report could come back looking at the different aspects,� she said. Baron’s report indicated there would be no financial impact from a change, as the per diems currently paid to councillors would be transferred to new members. The per diems are: $50 per evening meeting, $70 for an afternoon meeting and $120 for an all-day meeting.
“We noted that the limited number of houses being planned and the concept of the agrihood and the values it embraces to incorporate agriculture and housing is refreshing.â€? Folcher added, “We recently left a community where a massive amount of residential growth in a short period of time caused traffic chaos, noise, pollution, a crumbling infrastructure and the reduction of the existing residents’ quality of life. “We would be very disappointed to see this happen in Mapleton even though the appeal of the added tax dollars enhances the township’s budget. Slow and responsible growth in a well-planned neighbourhood is what will continue to attract new neighbours to this largely rural community and will keep us here.â€? On behalf of the group, Folcher requested consideration be given for an allowance of land between existing residences and the proposed development. “A section of green space would allow for some privacy and allow neighbours to move lawn mowers etc. via the existing easements. Perhaps a row of trees or fencing would provide some privacy,â€? he stated. The group also requested the elevation of the proposed development be at the same elevation as existing units “as a higher elevation would reduce our privacy and SEE REZONING Âť 6
Dancers on parade - The Minto Dance Academy float in the Nov. 17 Harriston Santa Claus parade encouraged parade-goers to sing along. Photo by Patrick Raftis
WEEKLY WAG
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By Patrick Raftis
MAPLETON – Township council will consider a rezoning bylaw to facilitate the construction of a cluster townhouse development in a Drayton subdivision. Council directed staff to present a bylaw for consideration following a Nov. 13 public meeting on the proposal to rezone Block 90 in the Glenaviland subdivision from future development (FD) to high density residential (R3). Council will also consider a request to remove a holding symbol on the 7.12-acre Block 91, as well as Lots 11 to 37 and 49 to 64, to allow for development of additional residential dwellings. A report from Wellington county planners Curtis Marshall and Jessica Rahim indicated no concerns with the application to permit cluster townhouse development “as it is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, the Growth Plan and meets the criteria of the County Official Plan.� The report notes the cluster townhouse block provides a mix of density and housing types in the community. The removal of the holding provision from the various lots will allow for the issuance of building permits once all draft plan conditions have been met and the subdivision is granted final approval. “We do note that the site plan approval process will, in
the future, provide the township with the opportunity to review the more specific details of the development,� Marshall noted at the meeting. He also pointed out the planning department anticipates a condominium application will be filed and the townhouse development will operate as a condominium. Trevor Prior of Glenaviland Development Corporation said the developers were “excited� to be approaching the stage of further building, which has been delayed by a long-standing moratorium due to a lack of wastewater capacity. “It’s been a long time coming,� he stated. “We’re not home builders per se,� Prior explained. “So we’ll be looking for homebuilders to build on this block, so we’re just here tonight to get the land rezoned.� Several residents of the developed portion of the existing subdivision expressed concerns about the project proceeding. “Although, we are not looking forward to partially losing our breathtaking view and the years of construction noise, dust and traffic and washing windows, the developer has purchased this land with the intent to develop and receive a return on their investment and we are fully aware of this,� said Peter Folcher of the Drayton Ridgeview Townshouse Neighbourhood Group.
“There are two great days in a person’s life: the day we are born and the day we discover why.� - William Barclay
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