South Frontenac Council - Sep 6/16

Wilma Kenny | Sep 07, 2016

Former Harrowsmith cheese factory site to be re-zoned

There was no opposition to a proposal to re-zone the Sapputo property in Harrowsmith to permit commercial car sales and other urban uses. Planner Mills noted that much of the 4.4 hectare lot is wetland, and will remain under wetland protection. Commercial use will be restricted to the higher land at the northwest corner of the property. The public works manager has advised that a traffic study may be necessary.

Mica Lake re-zoning

Darryl Silver’s application to re-zone two waterfront lots on Mica Lake from Rural to Waterfront Residential was passed. This is possible because both severed and retained lots have frontage on Little Long Lake Road, which has recently been categorized as a fully maintained public road.

Subdivision monitoring proposal

Councillor Sleeth brought a notice of motion that Council consider the hiring of a consultant on a monthly basis to monitor the status and development of existing subdivisions, saying that Council lacks the manpower to do this.

Deputy Mayor Sutherland agreed: “There is clearly an appetite in the community for appropriate monitoring and enforcement.” He described this as an interim measure until a planning manager is hired.

Mayor Vandewal and Councillor McDougall disagreed, on the grounds that the proposal was too open-ended, and the new position had already been agreed upon. The motion was deferred.

Recent Sydenham parking appalls public works manager

“It looks like we’re not going to get there with moral suasion; we’ll have to resort to enforcement. It’s absurd anyone would be boneheaded enough to park in the high school crosswalk, but they did.” Segsworth reported that in spite of signage, and discussion with the high school principal and Tri-Board Bus Line, illegal parking in front of the high school is seriously compromising accessibility to the school, pedestrian safety and sight lines at the corner of Wheatley and Rutledge roads. Also, parking on the sidewalk in front of the village post office seems to have resumed. More signs will be added to clearly delineate parking stalls in front of the high school, and their message will be enforced.

Lukewarm reception to county proposal

Council received, but did not endorse a shared communications proposal from the County. Councillor Revill asked if there was interest from any of the other townships.

Recreation committees’ amalgamation encouraged

Several motions from area recreation committees were shelved, pending the September 27 release of the township recreation survey. Also, Deputy Mayor Sutherland and Mayor Vandewal reminded Council that it was not appropriate for motions to come directly to Council from district recreation committees. These are to be forwarded to the South Frontenac Recreation Committee, which will in turn bring proposals to Council.

Fire ban report requested

Deputy Mayor Sutherland suggested that Council should ask for a brief written report from Fire Chief Chesebrough clarifying his timing of the fire ban this summer. Council agreed.