More time needed for commenting on OP says AWARE Simcoe

By Maija Hoggett Barrie Advance Sep 05, 2012 

SIMCOE COUNTY – AWARE Simcoe is calling for public meetings before Simcoe County council approves its updated official plan. 

A new version of the county’s official plan was released in June and brought the document up to speed with the final amendment for Ontario’s Places to Grow Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe announced in January, as well as with provincial changes to the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan.

The public had until Aug. 22 to submit comments on the document to Simcoe County, but the Simcoe County citizen’s action group is calling for the public consultation period to be extended.

“Let’s tell the public what’s really happening with this thing,” said Sandy Agnew, chair of AWARE Simcoe’s subcommittee on growth.

Penetanguishene Mayor Gerry Marshall, who is also a member of county council, acknowledged the process has been rushed.

“Our staff had to work through the official plan and the changes over the summer months – which is problematic as staff had a lot of things on the go,” he said. “The timelines were tough on the municipalities to deliver their responses, and AWARE Simcoe is 100 per cent correct. We didn’t give time for public consultation.”

Marshall added with nearly 300 people having signed a petition, the county should consider opening the issue up for public discussion.

“It’d be worthwhile to listen to their voice,” he said. “In Penetanguishene, we (have public consultations) on everything from the smallest things, like a dog park. All of a sudden we’re talking about a plan that goes from now until 2031. Do I want to listen to citizens’ voices and concerns? Absolutely.”

While the document has been available online since June, Agnew said there was never any effort to get the document to the public and seek input. With comments being taken over the summer, he said a lot of people were on holidays or preoccupied with other activities.

“There’s been no opportunity for the public to ask questions even,” he said.

AWARE Simcoe is calling on the county to hold at least two public information sessions, which Agnew said could be held in September and October.

The updated official plan was talked about at county council in June. While county council meetings are open to the public, and people can make a 10-minute deputation, Agnew said the public can’t ask questions at a council meeting.

“That’s not the forum to discuss the details of this. The forum to discuss that is the way they normally do it,” Agnew said. “Hold public meetings, have information available and have staff available that people can look at various displays and mapping and ask questions, you can’t do that at a county council meeting.”

AWARE Simcoe has sent a letter to county council asking for public meetings. As it was sent in this month, the item should be included on the agenda at the Sept. 24 county council meeting.

At that time, New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern doesn’t know how he’ll vote, but said people have had an opportunity to participate in the process up to this point.

“I support an adequate amount of time for people to provide their comment, and I don’t think we’ve been rushing it,” he said.

The updated official plan includes seven urban growth nodes: Alliston, Bradford, Collingwood, Midland/Penetang, Barrie, Orillia and Alcona. According to the county, the intent of the official plan is to focus growth in settlement areas and protect areas for green-land, farmland, and the environment.

Overall, Simcoe County’s population is expected to reach 667,000 by 2031. While much of that population has been allocated to the urban nodes, the Places to Grow amendment included an additional 20,000 population. Where those additional numbers go is up to Simcoe County council to decide.

The official plan also includes four economic areas: Bradford West Gwillimbury along Highway 400, Innisfil Heights near Innisfil Beach Road and Highway 400, Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, and Rama Road.

Simcoe County’s official plan was adopted by council in November 2008 and was then sent to the province for approval. When the province didn’t make a decision on the document, the county appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) because of the province’s non-decision.

Once the document is approved at the county level, it will be sent to the OMB and the county will have to wait for an OMB hearing for a decision on it.

To date, the county has received about 100 comments on the updated plan.

It can be viewed at http://www.simcoe.ca/dpt/pln/index.htm .