December 05, 2002 Special Planning Meeting
M I N U T E S
OF THE CORPORATION OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF WEST ELGIN
SPECIAL PLANNING MEETING
ELGIN INTERNATIONAL CLUB
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DECEMBER 5, 2002
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Duncan McPhail, Deputy Mayor Graham Warwick
Councillors: Trudy Balint, Brad Bandeen, Mike Mooser
STAFF PRESENT: Joanne Groch Administrator/Treasurer
Norma Bryant Clerk
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:
Ted Halwa Planning Consultant
Marc Bancroft Community Planners Inc
SUBJECT: NEW OFFICIAL PLAN
In attendance were 57 ratepayers.
The Mayor opened the meeting and welcomed those in attendance. He noted we have
been working with three official plans since amalgamation. Tonight, we are seeking
input from the ratepayers in the preparation of one official plan. After a presentation
from Mr. Halwa we will break into four focus groups for further discussion.
Mr. Halwa, by way of a PowerPoint presentation, presented the results of the research
conducted. Information was provided on the following topics:
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Growth rates
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Natural features
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Industrial activity
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Agricultural trends
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Prohibited and restricted livestock areas
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Settlement areas
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Housing and location of housing starts
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Existing land use map – Graham Road
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Summary of farm-related residential lot creation and rural residential lots
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Hamlets
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Lakeshore
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Highway 401
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Emerging Goals & Objectives
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Preliminary Land Use Plan
Those assembled broke into four focus groups. Questions for discussion were provided
to each group and were chaired by a member of Council.
December 5/02 …….Page 2 of 3
REPORT OF FOCUS GROUPS:
1. VILLAGE/HAMLET
Chaired by Councillors Mooser and Bandeen, 18 participants
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Growth in West Lorne and Rodney
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Strip development is easier and cheaper to develop
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Improve main street – desirable and necessary
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Need to select specialized services in villages, e.g. accommodate
lakeshore/marina users
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Need for social/health services – improvement of Health Centre will help
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Need for seniors housing in community
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More industry
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Need for more families to support schools
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Encourage future industrial development – zone correctly, locate outside
residential area, closer to 401, keep traffic out of villages, “how can we help”
attitude
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Economic development committee
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In hamlets, sewer servicing an issue
2. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Chaired by Deputy Mayor, 9 participants
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Intensive livestock, logging, human activities threaten natural environment
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No enforcement provisions for wetland conservation
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Harvesting of woodlots – done carefully and by horses
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Clearing of road allowances by municipality – type of equipment used
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Erosion control of cliffs
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Maintain wetlands difficult under Drainage Act
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Not monitoring manure in creeks
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Forest management – we should be involved with county
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Recognize locally significant wetlands in OP
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Take care in issuing of building permits in sensitive areas
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Plant a Tree program
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Environmental Committee should meet with Council once a year
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Don’t cut windbreaks, keep brush piles for wildlife
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Groundwater protection.
3. LAKESHORE
Chaired by Councillor Balint, 11 participants
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More development between Furnival and Eagle
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Friendly for tourists and residents, keep natural heritage, compromise with
development
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Snowbirds want to stay longer in campgrounds
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What size of residential lots?
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Trespassing on private land a concern
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Improve access to beach area
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Wooden pier for fishermen, safety
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Campgrounds west of Port Glasgow – logical to keep in area where already
exists, traffic concerns.
4. RURAL
Chaired by Mayor, 23 participants
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Agreed with preservation of agriculture
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Prohibit livestock in certain areas
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December 5/02 …….Page 3 of 3
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Agree with 401 industrial area development, away from residential area a good
idea
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More work needed to determine where development should go – more detail
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Review severance policies
Questions were raised from the floor:
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How consistent is our Official Plan with the rest of Elgin County?
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Why are other municipalities stopping large livestock operations and we’re not?
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What cannot we not include in the Official Plan?
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Are we using the study completed by the University of Guelph?
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What is happening at the proposed church property?
The Mayor thanked those for attending and noted that another meeting will be called in
the near future.
SUBJECT: ADJOURNMENT
RES. NO. 1 Moved by Mooser
Seconded by Bandeen
Resolved that this Special Planning Meeting of Council shall adjourn at
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10:00 p.m. to meet again on December 10, 2002.
DISPOSITION: Carried
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These minutes were adopted on the 9 day of January, 2003.
_________________________ _________________________
MAYOR CLERK
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