Thanks but no thanks Council says to offer to pay for Official Plan amendment

Craig Bakay | Feb 12, 2020

While appreciative of the offer, North Frontenac Council declined a group of property owners suggestion that the owners would pay to amend Frontenac County’s Official Plan at its regular meeting last Friday in Plevna.

In a letter to Council Jan. 28, resident Steve Dunham wrote: “I was pleased to see general agreement on Council regarding the need for the County to change this unreasonable OP provision (treating regional Areas of Natural or Scientific Interest as Provincial ANSIs). The reason for not proceeding with the request appeared to be the cost was to wait 1 ½ years until the next scheduled OP review at the County.

“I represent a large number of private property owners impacted by the current County ANSI provisions and we find the restrictions on our private properties for that period of time is unreasonable and unacceptable.

“In order to assist the Township to move forwards on the OP request promptly, our group of property owners are offering to compensate the Township for the $750 fee associated with the OP amendment request. Please advise if Council finds this acceptable and I will ensure payment is provided promptly.”

“These people have been waiting a long time,” said Coun. Vern Hermer.

However, Clerk-Planning Manager Tara Mieske said that if the Township were to initiate such a request, the County would “require a study as to why we want the change.”

She also said that such a study would likely raise the overall cost to the $1,750 range and that in all likelihood the actual change wouldn’t happen before the scheduled OP review anyway.

“The County already has two resolutions on this from this Council,” said Mayor Ron Higgins.

“To me, the process would still take 18 months,” said Coun. John Inglis.

“The County Planner acts like this (ANSI restrictions) is cast in stone, (and) I don’t trust him (to act on such a request in a timely manner),” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin.

“And County Council listens to him,” said Inglis.

“And if we go ahead, it will be more work for our staff, which we’ve said we’re trying to not add to,” said Higgins.

“We’re here to represent the residents,” said Hermer. “Somebody dropped the ball way back when.”

“I’m not sure spending money is representing,” said Higgins. “I don’t wan to take their money.”

“We’ve spent more for a lot less,” said Hermer.

Higgins said he and Martin would bring the matter up at the next County Council meeting and try to get a feel for “their feeling on removing regional ANSIs.

“God save us if we get a lot of rain, they’re going to make everything a wetland,” said Hermer.

• • •

Coun. Fred Fowler has just learned a lesson all new councillors learn early on — if you miss a meeting and there’s an assignment nobody wants, you’ll get drafted.

Fowler wasn’t at Friday’s meeting and sure enough, he was voted in to be the Township’s representative at Solicitor General Sylvia Jones’ OPP reasonable Roundtable Sessions.

Of course there were the expected comments about how he’d be the man for the job because of his background in law enforcement.

• • •

Council discussed ending the practice of selling off road allowances that lead to water in a future bylaw.

“I’m against selling access to water,” said Coun. Vern Hermer.

“And we’ve been doing it for years,” said Mayor Ron Higgins.

“I’ve been trying to get access to the Mississippi River for years but we’ve sold off all of those,” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin. “It was a mistake.”