• Protecting Water and Farmland in Simcoe County

Shining light on county’s Official Plan? New council, new attitude

By
In Agriculture
Jan 29th, 2015
0 Comments
2503 Views
AWARE Simcoe supporters at start of OMB hearing into Simcoe County Official Plan -Kate Harries photo

By Sandy Agnew AWARE News Network

We saw a refreshing change of attitude at County Council’s Jan. 27 meeting toward the Ontario Municipal Board hearings into the Simcoe County Official Plan (SCOP).

In response to a staff report intended to be received only (not discussed) Springwater Mayor Bill French raised issues about lack of public information and argued that the 2012 version of the SCOP is a new Official Plan and should treated as such. The public has a right to know what is going on and how the many changes will affect their municipalities, he said.

Staff responded that the county is in a process (which started in March 2013, with the first Ontario Municipal Board preheating, and is expected to drag on through 2015) and is not allowed to go outside the process.  Additionally the OMB hearing is the public process in which members of the public has the opportunity to state their case and be kept informed.

French continued to press for a public information session. Planning Director Dave Parks maintained that the county is bound by the process and deviating could be “a little dangerous.” Finally, staff agreed that they could get a legal opinion to see what was allowed if council wished.

AWARE Simcoe supporters at start of OMB hearing into Simcoe County Official Plan -Kate Harries photo

Springwater Deputy Mayor Don Allen asked for more detail on what has been approved as a result of the closed expert mediation meetings. This was then incorporated into the motion tabled by French.

In response to a question from Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes about costs, staff said the legal costs are running about $300,000 per year but that the cost of a public information session would be minimal.

Innisfil Deputy Mayor Lynn Dollin was concerned about raising the public’s expectations that they were being consulted rather than just being given information.

Midland Mayor Gord McKay called the process “broken,” and pointed out that it has taken the better part of a decade and his municipality still does not have direction on planning matters. He stated that the house (County Council) really can’t direct its own planning.

Ramara Mayor Basil Clarke called the process a disgrace that’s dragged on for six years and said the people need to be informed

In the end a motion was passed (maybe unanimously, it’s not recorded) that a legal opinion be sought regarding what information could be released to the public during the OMB process.

Then McKay tabled a motion stating that there is a structural process flaw in planning in this province and that County Council seek the province’s assistance to correct it so that County Council can exercise its necessary due diligence. This motion also passed with none opposed.

This is in contrast to the last County Council which, in September, 2012, defeated a motion from Penetanguishene Mayor Gerry Marshall (now the newly elected warden) seeking to have public information sessions.

Other media

County Official Plan process a disgrace

Previous coverage

OMB refuses AWARE’s 150 applicants for particiapant status 

County committee nixes Marshall call for OP public consultation

AWARE Simcoe calls for public participation in Official Plan process 

Leave a Reply

Commenters must post under real names. AWARE Simcoe reserves the right to edit or not publish comments. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *