South Frontenac Council - Mar 1/16

Jeff Green | Mar 02, 2016

Hartington subdivision – once more with consultants

Even though the proposal to build a 13-lot subdivision in the hamlet of Hartington is already the subject of an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) because it has taken over six months for the approval process to be completed, the matter came before Council anyway on Tuesday night, and opponents of the project were there to view the proceedings as well.

Council considered a report from Planner Lindsay Mills that recommended they communicate support for the project to Frontenac County, subject to 28 conditions.

This did not deter Council from considering the matter at length, or from ordering a new consultant's report on the proposal.

In response to Planner Lindsay Mills' recommendation, Councilor Alan Revill said that after reading all the reports on the project, he remains concerned about the impact of the project on the water supply for those within the subdivision and those in the vicinity of it.

“It occurs to me that the aquifer in this area is relatively sensitive, and taken as a whole, I'm not comfortable with the reports we are basing our decision on. They do not convince me of the volume or the quality of the water supply,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Ross Sutherland proposed an amendment, an eight-lot subdivision in place of the 13- lot proposal. “At that density I think the project is appropriate,” he said. Council did not agree and Sutherland's amendment was defeated.

Councilor Mark Shjerning then moved that the entire matter be deferred. He said that since there are many sets of conflicting reports on the water situation in the vicinity of the proposed subdivision, “What we need to provide us with clarity is a consultant's report that looks at all the existing reports and gives us some answers before we make our decision. It's also important to listen to our constituents.”

Council passed Shjerning's motion to defer.

As to who will pay for the consultant that will be hired by the township, the planning consultant for the applicant, Terry Grant, said that his client will not be paying.

“He's already appealed this to the OMB; the township will have to pay for this,” he said.

Zoning approved for group home for youth

Council approved a zoning change to permit a house on Campbell Road near Sydenham to be used as a group home for 8 to 12-year-olds.

Petworth Mill to become township property

Council decided to accept the transfer of the land and the remains of the former Petworth Mill on the Napanee River from a resident as a contribution to parkland in the township.

The township's insurer said that in order to mitigate against risk it would be wise to erect a fence around the property, at a cost of between $18,000 and $20,000.

Councilor McDougall gave an impassioned speech in support of taking on the property in order to preserve some of the history of Petworth. For effect, he even brought copies of literary works that reference Petworth, Bellrock and the Napanee River, including “In the Skin of the Lion” by Michael Ondaatje, which begins with the description of a log run from Bellrock down the Napanee.

Everyone on Council expressed a desire to take ownership of the property. They did not want to spend $20,000 on a fence, however.

“Our tolerance for liability is all over the map,” said Mayor Vandewal. “I think we can handle this. It's been a liability for someone for 40 years already. I do think we should remove some trees, clean up the property and shore up the building, however, so it looks like something”.

Council decided to take the property for now, and will worry about whether fencing is required at a later date.