Adjala-Tos approves Everett growth

By Brad Pritchard Alliston Herald September 5 2013 h
ADJALA-TOSORONTIO – After several months of debate and meetings with residents, Adjala-Tosorontio has passed Official Plan Amendment 15 to approve the Everett Secondary Plan.
The amendment, which council voted for unanimously, will now make its way to the County of Simcoe for the next stage of approval.

Prior to casting their votes, each member of council stated why they believe the growth proposal is the right way to go.
“This council has always looked out for our residents,” said Mayor Tom Walsh. “We’ve looked for opportunities that are out there and always tried to get them.”
The plan was scaled back last month to reflect comments and concerns as to how it meets the provincial growth requirements.
While it was initially proposed the hamlet grow to nearly 10,000 people beyond 2031, it has been reduced to 6,620 people over the same time period. The community’s expansion boundaries and commercial area have also been reigned in.
Everett Coun. Tom Gauley believes the growth plan will secure the township’s financial future, but said it will “die a natural death” if it doesn’t have merit in the end.
“I feel the residents should be pleased that this council and this staff are being proactive in trying to forecast for the future,” he said. “It was recognized in 2009 that if we don’t have growth, there will be increases in our municipal tax rates just to maintain our current levels.”
Coun. Doug Little didn’t buy a lot of the criticism the plan has faced since it was made public earlier this year.
“I really feel saddened about some of the attitude that some our residents have come forth with here,” he said. “It seems a lot like NIMBYSM from some who have moved from other cities and jurisdictions and so on.”
He highlighted the need to do something to improve the community’s infrastructure before the provincial government makes legislative changes in the years ahead that will force communities to stop using septic tanks.
“It’s too bad we didn’t have a report attached to his showing the cost of sewers and water,” he said. “I suspect a lot of the residents who are not here are unaware of what those costs are going to be here in five years or 10 years without the help of some sort of development. And it will not be affordable.”
Director of planning Jacquie Tschekalin reinforced how the proposal ensures developers will be the ones that pay the cost of the community’s new infrastructure, including a new wastewater treatment plant. How much each developer will pay will be worked out as the plan unfolds, she added.
“That’s one of reasons why we are looking at getting this plan in place, rather than dealing with developers who are accusing us of not making a decision and taking us to the (Ontario Municipal) Board,” she said.
Eventually residents will be forced to switch their homes from septic to the new sewage system, a process that will cost a homeowner thousands of dollars and vary depending on the size of their lots. The township has stated it will do what it can to help residents with these expenses through a repayment schedule or by applying for government grants.
“It’s premature to say when it will happen, but it will happen within lifetime of plan or after 2031 as well,” she added.
At last month’s final public meeting on the growth proposal, residents threatened to take the township to the Ontario Municipal Board if they passed the proposal.
Coun. Scott Anderson also looked into a request made by residents to hold a referendum on the future of growth in the municipality.
According to provincial legislation, while questions can be added to a ballot come election time, if less than 50 per cent of eligible voters cast a vote, the question would be non-binding.
“In my opinion the question on ballot wouldn’t be practical on this issue,” he said.