April 26, 2001 Public Meeting Feasby
M I N U T E S
OF THE CORPORATION OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF WEST ELGIN
PUBLIC MEETING
WEST ELGIN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
APRIL 26TH, 2001
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Duncan McPhail, Deputy Mayor Graham Warwick
Councillors: Trudy Balint, Brad Bandeen,
Mike Mooser
STAFF PRESENT:
Joanne Groch, Administrator-Treasurer
Linda Cranston, Clerk/Deputy-Treasurer
ALSO PRESENT
: Ted Halwa, Planning Consultant
SUBJECT: PUBLIC MEETING
Also in attendance: Mrs. Jean Feasby, property owner, David Lipson, Planner, Valerie
Clark, LTVCA, and Thelma Kalita, neighbouring property owner.
Mayor McPhail called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. The Clerk informed those
present that notice of this meeting had been given under Section 34 of the Planning Act
by prepaid first class mail to all assessed owners within 150 metres of the subject
property as well as provincial agencies and ministries as prescribed by regulation.
Correspondence was received from the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority,
with no objections. Correspondence had also been received from Ministry of Municipal
Affairs, with regard to the Official Plan, that Council should take special consideration for
certain sections of the Provincial Policy Statements regarding the Natural Hazards,
Natural Heritage and Agricultural Policies and they also felt it would be helpful if the
Conservation Authority undertake a preliminary environmental evaluation of the
property.
Ted explained that the proposed amendment to the Official Plan would grant an
exception to the policies of the Plan which do not otherwise permit the creation of a
residential lot on lands designated “Agricultural” except for certain prescribed purposes.
The creation of a residential lot under this designation is permitted only for the purpose
of disposing a dwelling declared surplus to the needs of the farm or for retirement
purposes by a “bona fide” farmer. The lands affected, being part of Lot 16, Concession
XIV, are situated on the Lake Erie shoreline on the south side of Gray Line, south of the
Hamlet of Eagle. They comprise an irregular-shaped parcel having an area of
approximately 8.1 hectares (20.6 acres) and a frontage of 303 metres (994 feet). An
existing single unit dwelling occupies the parcel. The remainder of the parcel is wooded.
The applicant intends to dedicate the parcel, save and except for the dwelling and the
lands around it comprising an area of 0.5 hectares (1.3 acres) and a frontage of 72
metres (236 feet), to the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) for
conservation and public purposes. Up until March 1998, the remainder of the lands
constituted a managed woodlot under an agreement with the Ministry of Natural
Resources.
January 18, 2001…Page 2 of 2
The proposed amendment to the Zoning By-law would change the existing zoning of the
subject lands from Agricultural (A1) to Rural Residential Three(RR3) and to “site
specific” Open Space (OS#). The lands occupied by the dwelling and the adjacent lands
would be zoned RR3 while the lands proposed to be dedicated to the LTCVA would be
zoned OS#. The “site-specific” OS# zoning would restrict the permitted uses off the
woodlands for the purposes of a conservation area.
Jean Feasby, the property owner explained that her deceased husband had been a
conservationist for many years, and it was his wish to have the property maintained in a
like manner, so that was the reasoning for the decision to dedicate the property to the
Conservation Authority. She then introduced, David Lipson, a Planner who is working
with her on this application. Mr. Lipson passed around a site plan that showed the area
in a more relevant form. He proceeded to give a little background history on the property
and the reasoning for the stewardship for preservation in on-going perpetuity.
Deputy-Mayor Warwick asked if the Authority had the resources to maintain this property
in the proper manner, and Valerie Clark, representative from the Authority stated that
they plan to have a forester do the documentation of the trees, by type, condition, etc.
They also plan to continue Dr. Feasby’s plan and maintenance records which were
meticulously detailed over many years. The Authority has committed to this project and
the lands will be maintained in the manner in which they are intended.
Council requested that the Conservation Authority provide a letter of response to the
Ministry of Municipal Affairs, in regard to their request for assurance on the
environmental issues and the Provincial Policy statements. Once this has been done,
Mayor McPhail stated that Council agreed in principle, and it would be the intent of
council to proceed with the application, unless anyone had any objections.
Mrs. Kalita stated that she had no objections to the application and that she was in
attendance for observation only.
SUBJECT: ADJOURNMENT
RES. NO. 1 Moved by Bandeen
Seconded by Balint
RESOLVED that the Public Meeting concerning a proposed Official Plan
Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment for land in Part Lot 16,
Concession XIV of West Elgin be hereby adjourned.
DISPOSITION: Carried
These minutes were adopted on the 10th day of May, 2001.
__________________________ __________________________
MAYOR CLERK
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