Feature Article July 29, 2004
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North Frontenac finally passes Comprehensive Zoning Bylawby Jeff Green
It took only a couple of minutes to pass at the North Frontenac Council meeting on July 22, but the Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw for North Frontenac has been in the works for the past seven years. The bylaw provides a set of regulations that conform to the townships official plan, which was approved last year. It was prepared, as was the Official plan, with the help of a committee of volunteers, township staff, and councillors as well. The Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw will be posted on the townships web site, and is available at the township office as well.
Delegation John Wiley John Wiley, a seasonal waterfront resident of the township, presented a highly critical analysis of the activities of Council. Chief among his criticisms was the delay in preparing the budget for 2004, and he asked that seasonal residents, who represent 77% of taxpayers paying 80% of the taxes be able to discuss the following years budget in July or August when they are in residence within the township.
Wiley also criticized: the hiring of an efficiency consultant; Council considering an ATV bylaw; the Request for Proposal for compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act; and those Councillors who did not attend the June 12 meeting with Cottage Association Representatives. He said, We took that as an insult.
At the end of his remarks, Mr. Wylie said I would be happy to apologise for my criticism when I see a zero tax increase for 2004, a 2005 budget at a nominal inflation rate and the budget process put on a rolling three to five-year basis, with debate and decisions in July/August of the year preceding the year up for debate.
Subsequent to the meeting Mr. Wylie expressed hope after finding out that a plan to begin a three-year rolling budget process is being undertaken by Council, and that pre-budgeting for 2005 will be taking place later this summer.
Septic Reinspection: In two separate reports, Mayor Ron Maguire reported that the Kashwakamak Lake Association (KLA) and the West Pinnacle Point and South Pinnacle Point Associations of Big Gull Lake have all expressed an interest in the Township taking a lead role in encouraging septic re-inspection programs. While septic inspections are required by the Health Unit for new construction and when renovations to properties take place, older systems are not subject to any regulation. Forty and 50-year-old septic systems often used oil tanks as holding tanks, and the Cottage Associations are concerned about their impact on water quality in lakes. According to Maguire, the KLAs verbal proposal called for the municipality to pass a bylaw requiring property sellers or buyers to bring their septic systems up to a standard as a condition of the transfer of ownership.
Maguire recommended that septic reinspection be on the agenda at the next Council-Cottage Association meeting on August 28. Deputy Mayor Gleva Lemke informed Council that she has researched this issue in the past and has quite a bit of material on the various issues related to septic re-inspection. The first matter to determine before considering a bylaw will be whether septic re-inspection falls under the purview of a municipal council in the first place.
Services Fair: Councillor Cybulski reported on the success of the Services Fair held in Plevna on July 12. Of the 43 service organizations who had made commitments, 39 attended, and while the attendance from the public was not as high as we might have hoped, it was reasonable for a first time event, Cybulski said.
Concerns over Misissippi-Madawaska Land Trust Conservancy Councillor Betty Hunter expressed fear that the Conservancy launched by a group of Lanark County citizens at The Art of Being Green Festival in the Village of Lanark could have a detrimental effect on economic and recreational developments in North Frontenac. The Conservancy encompasses the vast majority of land within North Frontenac. The Conservancy intends to encourage private landowners, according to their recent press release, to help landowners safeguard Nature on their lands for generations to come through an easement agreement that is legally binding on future owners. Councillor Dick Hook said something like this had been attempted in the past and had been thwarted, but that the progress of the Land Trust /Conservancy should be monitored closely by Council.
