North Frontenac Council - Sept. 30/09

Jeff Green | Oct 01, 2009

Opposition mounts to Woodcrest expansion

Woodcrest Resort has room for 94 campsites (suitable for trailers) on a 40-acre site on Mitchell Bay, Kashwakamak Lake in North Frontenac, and the resort owners have applied to expand their operation by adding 200 more sites, to be located further from the water than the existing sites.

Early this past spring, in line with a report from planning consultant Glenn Tunnock, council informed Woodcrest's owners, the Colton family, that a site plan agreement, including detailed drawings outlining the location of the sites and the septic system, etc. would be required before the township would approve the expansion.

Since then, opposition to the plan has been brewing, and last week council received a letter from Kashwakamak Lake Association President Mary Larson requesting that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be done before approval is granted.

The letter pointed out there are already “approximately 100 family cottages on the bay” in addition to 94 trailers, “and with 200 more campsites proposed and the corresponding increase in boat traffic and noise pollution, we believe that a broader and more thorough lake impact assessment is warranted before a planning decision is made.”

“There seems to be a larger opposition to this than I can remember when we were reviewing this,” said Mayor Ron Maguire.

“As is set out in the Tunnock report, according to the existing Official Plan we have covered all the bases. There are certain criteria that must be met for us to order an EIA because the proposal is for lands that are located behind the setback,” said Clerk/Planning Co-ordinator Brenda Defosse.

“The fact that it is not required does not mean that we cannot require it,” said Deputy Mayor Jim Beam. “I see from the letter about this written by the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority that they recommend an impact study as part of the site plan.”

Defosse reported that Tunnock has gotten back to the Coltons, asking for more information, but has not received a response, nor has there been a site plan submitted.

“As yet, we have nothing to consider,” Defosse said. “We have not heard from them since April, and what they brought to Glenn Tunnock at that time was not complete.”

“So there is nothing for us to do until we hear back,” said Maguire.

“Looking at dots on a map will not show you what is really at stake,” said Kashwakamak Association former President Alma McLachlan, who was in attendance and was given leave to address council. “I think council should visit the site.”

Councilor Fred Perry, who said he is familiar with the location, agreed. “I know that spot because I fished there as a kid. We should all go and take a look,” he said.

Other items from Council – Mary Kirkham and her brother Tom Millar addressed council concerning their family property, the Millar farm near Snow Road, next to the Snow Road Snowmobile Club.

Their mother Margaret died earlier this year. Ownership of the 600-acre family farm, which was established by the family around 1850 and has passed from father to son until now, is being established through a probate process. After that it is the family’s intention to sell.

Mary Kirkham came to council because it turns out that the Gemmill Road, a township road that passes through the property, has never been deeded to the township.

Officially the road ends at one end of the property and starts up again at the other end. The road is also very narrow at points, as narrow as 34 feet in one spot.

Mary Kirkham proposed an arrangement. If the township will kick in some money towards the required $4,500 survey, the family will agree to a 66-foot road allowance, using the most suitable pathway for a road among the granite outcroppings at the location, and give it to the township. The road issue needs to be settled before the historic property can be sold.

Council seemed amenable, but the matter was referred to staff for comment.

County council composition questions deferred – Council discussed a questionnaire about County Council composition from Warden Janet Gutowski.

“I can't see how this can work; it will lead to four new proposals. I urged the warden to appoint a committee with representation from each of the townships; at least a single proposal could come forward for consideration, but that was dismissed out of hand,” said Mayor Maguire.

A meeting with the lower-tier municipalities in Frontenac County was scheduled for later the same afternoon (see “Joint Council Meeting” on page ???) and council decided to wait until their first October meeting, which precedes the next county council meeting, before answering the questions.

Award for Robson – CAO/Treasurer Cheryl Robson has been acknowledged by the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario for her contribution to the profession over 20 years, and she was congratulated by Council.

AAFNA - Mayor Maguire said that he received a call from David Hill, who has been appointed by the Family Heads Council of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation (AAFNA) as their liaison with the township.

Hill informed Maguire that AAFNA is planning to put a portable office near the Pine Lake boat launch, where a land use permit has been issued to AAFNA by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

“They plan to get on with building a Cultural Centre across the road,” Maguire said. Maguire also said that AAFNA was receptive to an offer of office space in the proposed multiuse building the township would like to construct in Plevna.

MVCA office decision finally coming – Deputy Mayor Jim Beam, the township representative to the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA), said that a facilitated session is set for October 9 to finalise a decision on the location of a new office. The current office in the Village of Lanark is too small. There is pressure to move the office closer to Ottawa.

“I had suggested they move it to North Frontenac, where the headwaters are, but with the City of Ottawa paying 95% of the budget, they weren't that receptive,” Beam said.