Central Frontenac Council – concern over proposed road closing

Jeff Green | Jun 22, 2022

A proposal to “Stop up and Close” a portion of the unmaintained “heritage” road, known as Oso Road, which runs from Bell Line Road to a short section of the maintained Oso Road, that still exists off of Road 509, ran into some opposition from neighbouring landowners at Central Frontenac Council last week (June 14) and has been deferred for further study.

The deferral was proposed based on written submissions to the township that came in even before a public meeting took place, as part of the regular Central Frontenac Council meeting.

The application is part of an effort by the township to enable two property owners to obtain building permits. The properties do not have direct access off of nearby Bell Line Road. They are located 75 metres or so north of Bell Line Road, off the K&P Trail.

On May 24, Council agreed, in an in-camera meeting, to grant the property owners a temporary easement over the K&P Trail, allowing them to use the trail to bring construction equipment onto their properties, with the promise of a permanent easement once their new homes are built.

Cindy Deachman, Deputy Clerk and Planning Coordinator for Central Frontenac, said that Frontenac County, which manages the K&P Trail, did not object to the plan, even though the trail is intended to be a recreational trail and not an access road for property owners.

There are a number of properties which are accessed via the K&P trail south of Bell Line Road, but they have all been in place long before the current effort to upgrade and promote the K&P Trail got underway.

The matter being discussed at this public meeting was the necessity to stop up the Oso Road, because according to a township zoning bylaw, building permits along “heritage roads” are not allowed. The township will then retain the road but grant the property owners an easement allowing them to make improvements to the road in order to gain the access they need in order to build.

A staff report included photos of a pond to the northwest of the proposed building sites, which renders the Oso Road impassable.

Among those who objected to the plan were neighbours Trevor and George Conboy, who said they do access some of their property by using the Oso Road.

A proposal to “Stop up and Close” a portion of the unmaintained “heritage” road, known as Oso Road, which runs from Bell Line Road to a short section of the maintained Oso Road, that still exists off of Road 509, ran into some opposition from neighbouring landowners at Central Frontenac Council last week (June 14) and has been deferred for further study.

The deferral was proposed based on written submissions to the township that came in even before a public meeting took place, as part of the regular Central Frontenac Council meeting.

The application is part of an effort by the township to enable two property owners to obtain building permits. The properties do not have direct access off of nearby Bell Line Road. They are located 75 metres or so north of Bell Line Road, off the K&P Trail.

On May 24, Council agreed, in an in-camera meeting, to grant the property owners a temporary easement over the K&P Trail, allowing them to use the trail to bring construction equipment onto their properties, with the promise of a permanent easement once their new homes are built.

Cindy Deachman, Deputy Clerk and Planning Coordinator for Central Frontenac, said that Frontenac County, which manages the K&P Trail, did not object to the plan, even though the trail is intended to be a recreational trail and not an access road for property owners.

There are a number of properties which are accessed via the K&P trail south of Bell Line Road, but they have all been in place long before the current effort to upgrade and promote the K&P Trail got underway.

The matter being discussed at this public meeting was the necessity to stop up the Oso Road, because according to a township zoning bylaw, building permits along “heritage roads” are not allowed. The township will then retain the road but grant the property owners an easement allowing them to make improvements to the road in order to gain the access they need in order to build.

A staff report included photos of a pond to the northwest of the proposed building sites, which renders the Oso Road impassable.

Among those who objected to the plan were neighbours Trevor and George Conboy, who said they do access some of their property by using the Oso Road. Another neighbour, Julie Druker, between the K&P Trail and Bell Line Road, could become a potential liability for her if the proposal goes through.

After the meeting, Council passed a motion that said “in light of the comments received at the public meeting, Council deferred the recommendation to proceed to stop up and close a section of the Oso Road pending further legal advice.”

New Fire bylaw

Fire Chief Chris McDonough appeared before Council to discuss a replacement Fire and Rescue Enabling and Regulating bylaw. Among the changes that were proposed is an added focus on public education.

“Public education is the number one defence we have against fire. It used to be the three pillars of the fire service were suppression, enforcement, and public education, now the three pillars are public education, enforcement and suppression is the last, especially in a rural area like this where you cannot provide instant services of being there in a five minute time frame,” Chief McDonough said.

Several members of council asked detailed questions about the proposed bylaw, and in the end, there were no serious objections raised, and the new bylaw was approved later in the meeting.

Changes to site plan agreement process

Sonya Bolton, the township planner, discussed how site plan control applications will now be an administrative process that will no longer be brought to Council, by provincial edict.

Construction slowdown, not.

The dollar value of new construction permits, issued in the month of May, was half of the amount in 2021, even though it was over $2.4 million, and the year to date number is lower as well. Councilor Tom Dewey asked Chief Building Official Andrew Dillon if this was because of the cost of materials and a general slowdown because of the impact of inflation on the economy.

“I had a week of vacation, and then I had COVID,” Dillon said. “I checked before the meeting and I have 80 applications, year to date, and I'm a little bit behind. Numbers will be up, next month.”

After the meeting, Council passed a motion that said “in light of the comments received at the public meeting, Council deferred the recommendation to proceed to stop up and close a section of the Oso Road pending further legal advice.”