January 17, 2002 Special Planning Meeting
M I N U T E S
OF THE CORPORATION OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF WEST ELGIN
SPECIAL PLANNING MEETING
WEST LORNE TOWN HALL
TH
JANUARY 17, 2002
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Duncan McPhail, Deputy Mayor Graham Warwick
Councillors: Trudy Balint, Brad Bandeen,
Mike Mooser
STAFF PRESENT
: Linda Cranston, Clerk/Deputy-Treasurer
ALSO PRESENT
: Ted Halwa, Community Planner
Mayor McPhail welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that the meeting was
being held to review where we stand with our present Official Plan and discuss some
aspects of what we hope to achieve by making changes for a new revised Official Plan,
and comprehensive zoning for the whole municipality. The process of compiling the
necessary information for a new Official Plan requires a number of Public Meetings to be
held as well, to prove to the Ministry that the Municipality is taking into account the
wishes of the general public, before they make their final decisions.
The location for these meetings would be held somewhere other than the council
chambers, and the reason for the change in venue, was to make the meetings more
conducive to dealing with planning matters only. The meeting minutes will consist of a
list of ideas and comments made during the meeting, with the goal being to create a
newly revised Official Plan and Comprehensive Zoning for the municipality.
SUBJECT: NEW OFFICIAL PLAN
Ted presented a map of the area north and south of the Village of West Lorne and also
the Village of Rodney areas. These maps show in various colours the different trends in
residences.
Retirement lots must have been in active farming operation for at least the last ten
years. Since 1989 there has been a total of 29 retirement severances in our municipality.
If a municipality doesn’t have residential lots available to offer, then any future
development will not take place.
The Fordham development area across from the old school to the north-west of Rodney
was surveyed into lots several years ago, however due to the capital costs to have the
sewers extended at that time, the project grew dormant.
The area to the north of West Lorne on Graham Road may open up to development now
that the Glencoe Waterline talks are taking place.
The topic of “estate” lots was discussed extensively. It was felt that this would be a great
possibility along Furnival Road south of the village, down to Talbot - on both sides of the
road.
Putting some restrictions on intensive livestock farming in the general areas of these
proposed “estate” lots was also discussed.
It was generally thought that residents are looking for larger sized lots that have paved
roads access to the villages and also the 401 to provide safe, clean routes to work.
Our Municipality has many things to offer:
- easy access to the city
- access to golfing, hiking trails, the lake
- medical services available
- recreational facilities
- clean air, lots of open space
- good paved roads, winter maintenance
- personal touch retail dealers
- schools in the area
Many informal discussions took place to gain a better idea of the differing views of
neighbouring municipalities and to see what the trends were. One unique idea, that is
taking place to the north of Lucan, is an “equestrian” owners development area. A large
area is being allowed to sub-divide into several building lots surrounding a huge
boarding stables, barns area in the middle. Anyone who wants to build a house in the
area, is able to board their horse in the common stable and have the animals looked
after when the residents are gone to work. It is a very unique idea, which has caught on,
and apparently the lots are selling very quickly.
SUBJECT: SUMMARY
It was decided that the information gathered here would be compiled and organized to
be presented to council at the next meeting. Once council is comfortable with the ideas
and the concepts presented, then the area real estate agents will be invited to attend the
next meeting to give input and comments on what on what we have compiled thus far.
SUBJECT: ADJOURNMENT
RES. NO. 17 Moved by Bandeen
Seconded by Balint
RESOLVED that Council do now rise and adjourn from the Special
th
Drainage Meeting at 3:30 p.m. to meet again on October 11, 2001.
DISPOSITION: Carried
th
These minutes were adopted on the 14 day of February 2002.
__________________________ __________________________
MAYOR CLERK
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