Rizzardos pull OP, zoning file ahead of County decision on Beeton woods

New Tecumseth Free Press Onlne

Tecumseth Estates (Rizzardo) has withdrawn its official plan and zoning bylaw amendment application attached to its 9th Line property in Beeton that’s been “active” since 2008.

The move comes two weeks ahead of the May 12th Simcoe County council meeting when a verdict is expected to be announced whether Rizzardo’s can resume clearing trees on their property by special permit, or the stop work order extended and permit cancelled.

Tecumseth Estates appealed the stop work order, and a hearing was held April 14th. At the end, County council reserved a decision to May 12th.

The OP and zoning bylaw amendment file was raised by the Town in its opposition to the special permit. It was advanced by its solicitor, Jay Feehely who argued the special permit route bypassed the New Tecumseth’s planning approvals process. Mr. Feehely called it a “fundamental flaw” due to “the failure to disclose the nature of the owner’s interest in this property as having active development application before the Town of New Tecumseth.”

“(I)f you want to be a farmer, withdraw your development application. … If they cease to be developers, if they withdrew those applications today, I would have to say that’s the end of my argument, because now they’re farmers. They’re only going to be farmers.”

Rizzardo’s solicitor, Ian Rowe, declined to comment this afternoon. “Because of issues of confidentiality, I would prefer that you direct the enquiry to the Town’s Planning Department.”

Lawyer’s letter rizzardo appeal withdrawn