Wilma Kenny | Nov 25, 2015


Developer Terry Grant has submitted a revised proposal for his Hartington subdivision, which scales the plan down from the original 47 lots to 13, all of which would be located within the hamlet of Hartington.

Hartington resident Michelle Foxton came as a delegate on behalf of her neighbours, many of whom were present, to express concerns about the current proposal. She thanked Council for their continued willingness to hear the community, and listed some questions which she said still have not been addressed.

Foxton focussed primarily on the ASC assessment of the nitrite/nitrate levels on the property. (ASC is the company hired by the developer to comment on the independently commissioned Macintosh Perry report, which in turn had peer reviewed the original Malroz environmental investigation/assessment of the site.)

ASC says that nitrate levels are high, but “Thirteen lots are proposed within the Hamlet, with the remainder of the property being vacant for the foreseeable future. On this basis and utilizing the full 45 hectare property for nitrate dilution, the anticipated nitrate loading for the proposed 13 lots would be well below the 10 mg/l (MOE) criteria.”

Foxton said that because there was no guarantee that the rest of the property would not be developed in the future, this was not a satisfactory answer, and recommended a maximum of 7 or 8 lots instead of 13. Signs held up by several audience members supported this.

Other remaining concerns included: lot frontages, uncertainty about hydrofracturing - has this been done, and if so, when and where, and what effect may it have had on the groundwater? Why has the provision for parkland been removed? Is there danger of future contamination from the corner of 38 and Holleford Road? Is there any way the community could be consulted about the aesthetics of the subdivision, i.e., the addition of a long stretch of chain link fencing and in one place, a high board fence, neither of which were seen to be compatible with the hamlet?

Planner Mills presented a lengthy revised report with a preliminary list of 27 draft plan conditions for the proposed 13-unit subdivision. He said that he had received more comments that day from Macintosh Perry, but had not had time to read them.

Council members seemed to prefer reducing the subdivision size to 7 or 8 units, and asked for a definitive answer about the question of whether or not fracking had taken place.

Mayor Vandewal reminded them that no matter what Council might recommend, final approval did not rest with South Frontenac, but would be based on the County’s interpretation of the recommendations of the environmental and engineering reports.

The County will not approve a plan that cannot be defended at the Ontario Municipal Board no matter what our Council recommends,” he said.

Harrowsmith Community Improvement Plan (CIP)

Anne Marie Young, the County’s Economic Development Officer, announced that Harrowsmith had been chosen as recipient of this year’s Community Improvement Plan. Although initiated by the County, the actual program will be carried out by the township, and will begin with public meetings and community consultations. The goal of the program is to provide seed money (total $70,000) which can be issued as matching grants to assist in projects chosen by the community. Last year, Verona used the program to improve facades, signage, and general “sprucing up” of the village. Harrowsmith is seen as the gateway to the Frontenacs for anyone travelling north on Road 38.

2016 Budget Report

Treasurer Louise Fragnito reported on some budget details that would need Council approval before the final draft budget is brought to the December 1st Council meeting.

Six items have been put on hold pending follow-up reports to Council in early 2016: radio communications, baler (for recycling), playground equipment for Bowes Park, Storrington Centre, Fermoy Hall and Glendower stairs. Fragnito assured Council that these projects, representing a total of $586,000, are included in the budget so they can be completed once Council has further information.

She also listed ‘updates and additional information’ that will provide the funding necessary to establish a SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) reserve with an initial amount of $40,000, as requested last week by the fire chief.

The adjusted budget now represents $28,061,653 in reserve transfers and $16,534,642 to be raised from taxation, for operating and capital expenditures. “These adjustments align with Council’s direction and amount to a 2.0% or $26.22 impact on the average phased-in residential property.

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