Meet the Mayor

We are pleased to announce that  Mayor Wayne Fitzgerald  will be our guest speaker at the 2012 AGM. There has been significant change in the vision for Grey Highlands, since the municipal election, and we encourage members to come out and hear what the new Council of Grey Highlands has planned, especially as it affects the Beaver Valley. In particular, learn more about the Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan, which proposes to bring municipal-style services to the area surrounding Hutchisons Corners.

Not a member? No worries - you can still attend the meeting.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, January 21 at the Kimberley Community Hall at 3 pm.

The Bigger Question

The facts are that the County considers our area to be a "focus of growth" and "akin to a settlement area", the Municipality has zoned the area as "development" and the NEC designates the area as Escarpment Recreation, the least restrictive designation and in fact the area of the escarpment where growth should occur. The position of the BVRA is and has always been sustainable development, which protects the quality and quantity of groundwater in our neighbourhood.  If, as has been suggested by the Municipal planner, there will be a concurrent secondary plan for the area along with implementation of municipal servicing, then the concerns raised by the BVRA will have been addressed. Planned growth and protection of the water supply are fundamental to our position on the Beaver Valley Village proposal. The BVRA has officially supported the Grey Highlands Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan Study. 


No one, not the public, nor the BVRA nor the proponent anticipated this Grey Highlands initiative, announced last spring. It changed the game for us and for Mr. Kiener. If servicing goes ahead, the vision for the area changes significantly. Mr. Kiener or any another developer could then make a new proposal for the balance of the Beaver Valley Village site as well as the remaining undeveloped portions of this Escarpment Recreation Area. The future of our neighbourhood is growth. The BVRA, its members and all residents have an opportunity as well as a responsibility to participate in this process. This is a different and potentially much larger issue than Mr. Kiener's Beaver Valley Village proposal and one that, as an association, we need to talk about at the 2012 AGM on Saturday, January 21 at 3 pm in the Kimberley Hall.

Beaver Valley Village

While there is nothing brand new to report, there continues to be a persistent lack of interest from the proponent, Mr. Kiener, in accepting the compromise supported by the County of Grey,  Grey Highlands, the MOE, the MMAH and the BVRA. The Municipality, the County and the Province are unwilling to approve or support this scale of unserviced development, given the Municipal undertaking of the Master Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan Study, which is reviewing the feasibility of bringing water mains and sewer lines to the Beaver Valley Village area in approximately 5 years. Conditional approval of 16 lots on individual servicing does not appear to be enough for Mr. Kiener. If he continues to push for conditional approval of a three-phased development on individual wells and septic systems, it sounds like an appeal to the OMB is his only option.

Have Your Say

Would you like the opportunity to have your say about the future of our community, whatever name it goes by? Whether it be Hutchison's Corners, or Beaver Valley or Vandeleur or Bowles Bluff, we live here in a part of Grey Highlands, in Grey County and on the Niagara Escarpment that has been identified in all three jurisdictions, as a growth area. Within five years, there could be municipal sewers and water. One thing is sure - change is coming. What can we do?  Until now, we have been reacting to development proposals already underway - first the Beaver Valley Woodlands and most recently the Beaver Valley Village. We have put up a good fight and we have had an impact, but wouldn't it be so much more rewarding to put that same energy into creating the community in which we choose to live. The Have Your Say initiative provides that opportunity. The process began over the summer of 2011, but it is not too late to be included. Ed O'Neil and Cathy Little would like to have a meeting of interested individuals  to get this ball rolling here and preferably before November 15. There's nothing to lose and so much to gain. We thought BVRA members would like to be involved, but this is not a BVRA activity; it is an ad hoc group of local interested property owners. If you are interested, contact Ed or Cathy sooner rather than later. 

Cathy Little: 519-986-4369

Ed O'Neil: 519-986-3392

WORLD TOWN PLANNING DAY Right Here in Grey Highlands

The Grey Association for Better Planning is hosting a World Town Planning Day Event on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 7 pm and YOU’RE INVITED. 

How does the planning process work in Grey County? in Grey Highlands? in Southgate, Chatsworth or any other municipality? Is the process the same for a severance as it is for a quarry or a subdivision? How does an individual find out what's going on before the process is already well under way? What voice does an individual or a group of neighbours have in the process? Where is the means for a community to articulate and guide its vision for its future?

Event speakers will have the answers to those and other questions you may have about planning. Scott Taylor, professional planner with the County of Grey, Dan Best, Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality of Grey Highlands and Peggy Hutchison, founding member and past president of GABP are our speakers and all bring abundant knowledge and experience from their different perspectives. There will be a Q&A after the speakers present and you can ask questions yourself or submit your question(s) in writing. 

The Grey County World Town Planning Day Event is an amazing opportunity to learn more about the planning process and how it affects you, your neighbours, your community. 

Hope you can make it to the Flesherton Kinplex on Tuesday, November 8th at 7 pm.

See the Event flyer.

Sustainable Development for Grey Highlands

The Municipality of Grey Highlands submitted a brief  to the Minister of Infrastructure, Bob Chiarelli  dated July 22, 2011, regarding SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FUTURE OF GREY HIGHLANDS THROUGH A WATER WASTEWATER SERVICING MASTER PLAN.

Highlights
General

• Grey Highlands is well positioned to establish its industrial/commercial base in Markdale, a cultural base in Flesherton, development in the Beaver Valley and maintain the strong agricultural base that has been the foundation of Grey Highlands.
• On March 28, Council approved Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan to determine future infrastructure needs to service the study area of Markdale, Flesherton, Kimberley, Eugenia and the Beaver Valley Area.
• A water quality survey conducted in 2001 in the Beaver Valley Ski Club area demonstrated that 36 out of 64 homes surveyed failed to meet Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards. Servicing would provide better quality and safer drinking water, fire flows and protection of the Beaver River and its tributaries. 
• The one public meeting held so far met with favourable response. Two more public meetings are planned. One session will be held on a weekend to ensure that seasonal residents have an opportunity to participate.

Development in the Beaver Valley

• There is development pressure in a designated development area not linked to urban style servicing.
• Of concern to the Municipality and the Ministry of the Environment is the cumulative impact of development in the absence of appropriate servicing.
• Development vital to the local economy must be approached cautiously in order to ensure that the environmental safety and the integrity of the Beaver Valley area is retained.
• While development can provide much needed revenue for a small rural municipality, it is important that concerns of current residents can be alleviated by ensuring that the way of life that they have come to know will not be negatively impacted as a result of development.
• By working with the various Ministries on a collaborative and proactive approach, we will be able to plan and develop the Beaver Valley area responsibly and maintain the integrity of the Beaver Valley for generations to come.

To see the complete brief, click here.

Beaver Valley Village - the latest

According to the Municipality of Grey Highlands CAO, Dan Best, Mr. Kiener is working with the Grey Highlands planning consultant to come up with an adjusted plan of a maximum of 16 units that would fall within the existing development area. "The idea is to ensure that we have a suitable development that maximizes the site for future development once services are available in the valley", said Mr. Best. He also emphasized to Mr. Kiener that the concern of the BVRA is sustainable development that is respectful of the environment, including "the protection of water in the valley in the absence of services coming out to the valley." Mr. Best went on to say, "it appears there is common ground from all parties on this point."

The BVRA's submission to Environmental Defence and our proposal to Dr. Beth Parker of the University of Guelph are on hold, pending Municipal decisions on the servicing plan for our area.

BVRA Progress re: The Beaver Valley Village

March - we wrote a letter to Environment Minister, John Wilkinson expressing BVRA concerns about risk of cumulative negative impact to water quality and quantity from increasing development pressures in our area.

March - the Municipality's Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan Study was unveiled.

May - we received a response from Minister Wilkinson acknowledging that our concerns are shared by the Ministry and suggesting we contact Ian Kerr, Water Resources Supervisor, at the MOE regional office in London. We were able to set up a tele-conference to discuss concerns.

June - A tele-conference with Ian Kerr, Bill Armstrong (Environmental Planner) and Angela Homewood (Supervisor of Air and Pesticide and Environmental Planning) provided some assurances, including a promise by Bill Armstrong to do his best to arrange a meeting with the Municipality, the County, the Province and us.

August - Ed and Cathy attended a meeting held in the Council Chambers of the Municipality of Grey Highlands. The meeting was chaired by Grey Highlands CAO, Dan Best (DB) and in attendance were Randy Scherzer (RS), County of Grey senior planner, Bill Armstrong (BA), MOE, Dwayne Evans  (DE) Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as well as Kristine Loft (KL), Grey Highlands planning consultant. Included here are the notes from that meeting.

BVRA Comments on Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan

Comments from the Beaver Valley Ratepayers Association (BVRA)

(as submitted to Chris Wilson of Genivar on July 19, 2011)

We commend the vision of Grey Highlands Council in undertaking this Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan Study and support this initiative, especially Phase 1, as it includes the Beaver Valley Recreation Area.

Both the Niagara Escarpment Plan and the County of Grey Official Plan identify the Beaver Valley Area as a growth area; as such the MOE has consistently stressed the need for municipal servicing of the area given existing residential water problems, increasing development pressure and the ignorance of the cumulative impact of more and more wells and septic systems in this fragile karstic environment. Completing feasibility and environmental assessments, leading to some level of municipal servicing in the future makes good planning sense. The BVRA anticipates that this Grey Highlands initiative will go a long way toward addressing the concerns of our members about water quality and quantity.

It also makes good planning sense to us, that by doing the groundwork now, the Municipality will be eligible in the future to take advantage of government infrastructure funding opportunities; this shows great foresight.

The BVRA affirms the need for the development of a secondary growth plan for the area as was mentioned by the planner at the March 28^th Council Meeting, coinciding with the Servicing Master Plan and we look forward as an organization to being part of that process.

Of course there are at this stage, many questions that concern BVRA members.

·      What is the cost? Who pays?

·      Will property owners be required to hook up to municipal servicing if they don’t experience water problems?

·      One alternative suggests a pumping station or stations in the area of Windy Lane and Bowles Bluff Road. Naturally this has residents there worried about noise, smell, and traffic.

·      What effect will this initiative have on current development proposals?

·      What effect will this initiative have on future development proposals?

In conclusion, the BVRA congratulates Council on this bold move, applauds the planning vision and looks forward to actively participating in the process.

Cathy Little (President) and Ed O’Neill (Vice-President)

Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan

On Tuesday, June 28 Grey Highlands Council held a public meeting to outline the rationale and the process of the Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan. Ross Slaughter, engineer with Genivar made a powerpoint presentation which can be viewed on the Grey Highlands website.

This initiative affects all of us and we urge you to become familiar with the Plan and take advantage of the opportunity to comment. Comments must be received by Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Your executive will be submitting comments which reflect the mission statement and the membership concerns of the BVRA.

No News is Good News. Right?

Well, after asking you to keep checking the blog, as you can see, there have been no new posts for a couple of months. It seems to be the nature of this process, from our perspective, that bursts of intense activity are interspersed with long stretches of wait and see. What's happening is that nothing is happening as far as we can tell.

The County has not received the requested revised plan of subdivision from the proponent at this time.

We have received Dr. Smart's report and you can read it here. We are in the process of sharing the report with the relevant agencies, politicians and planners as well as the proponent.

Environmental Defence was to consider our submission in late May and we are still waiting to hear from them.

Also, Dr. Beth Parker has responded with interest to our suggestion of the potential for a small groundwater research project in our area, but we have yet to sit down and talk to her. We will continue to try and arrange a meeting with Dr. Parker.

In March, we wrote a letter to Environment Minister, John Wilkinson. He has responded positively, with the suggestion to contact the Water Resources Supervisor of the Southwestern Regional Office. We will be doing this in the next few days.

Thank you to everyone who completed and sent in their survey. If you have not done so, you still have time.

You may have seen the notice in the paper or on the Grey Highlands website. There is a public consultation scheduled for Tuesday, June 28 at 7 pm at the Centre Grey Complex in Markdale to outline the Water and Wastewater Master Servicing Plan.

Perhaps of interest to some members of the BVRA, is a town hall meeting on Saturday, June 18 at 2 pm at the Centre Grey Complex in Markdale called, Truth About Industrial Wind Turbines.

Please, if you have any suggestions or comments, you can add them here or email or phone one of your directors. We will continue to keep you posted when we have news to share.

Revised Beaver Valley Village Subdivision Plan

Martin Kiener has sent a revised subdivision site plan and revised draft plan conditions to the BVRA board.

Have a look at the original site plan for comparison. (The NS orientations are completely opposite. Rotating one of the plans will make comparison easier.)

The proponent's  revised set of conditions have come a little closer to matching the recommendations of peer reviewers; it also outlines the recommended development phasing order and process.

Your board will be assessing whether these revisions adequately address the concerns of the membership. Please contact any board member to share your views on these recent changes to the plan and conditions.

More Information: Water and Wastewater Master Plan

I have fact-checked my notes from the March 28 Grey Highlands Council meeting, with the Chief Administrative Officer, Dan Best. He cautions that the master plan initiative is very conceptual at this time. However, here are the details of that plan as presented. Council voted to designate $96 800 to cover the first step: a study investigating feasibility and environmental impact of the plan.

Grey Highlands Water and Wastewater Master Plan

Municipal services for the Beaver Valley? That is the vision of Mayor Wayne Fitzgerald. It is just one phase of a grand plan to pipe water to the Beaver Valley Ski Club recreation area, Flesherton, Eugenia and the lower valley and take waste from these locations to one of the three existing treatment facilities.

At the Grey Highlands Council Meeting today, Council approved the expenditure of $96 800 to proceed with the Regional Water and Wastewater Systems Plan which includes the Class B Environmental Assessment. This followed a presentation of the master plan concept from Ross Slaughter of Genivar, the firm undertaking the assessment and plan.

For details of the Grey Highlands Public Utility Report and the Genivar budget and timeline of the assessment and master plan, check the links.

Watch here for more details about the plan and how this affects the Beaver Valley Village proposal.

WHEN THE WELL IS DRY

 WE KNOW THE WORTH OF OUR WATER

(Benjamin Franklin)

Annual General Meeting

Kimberley Hall

Saturday March 19, 2011 3-6pm

Registration/Fee Payment 3-3:30pm

Meeting Begins: 3:30pm

Plan to Attend


Your directors will be reporting on the detailed activities/correspondence undertaken on your behalf to affirm        


THE WORTH OF OUR WATER

www.beavervalleyratepayers.ca

www.beavervalleyratepayers.blogspot.com   

GH:BVV - Planning Report

Here is the corrected link to the Grey Highlands Planning Report on the Beaver Valley Village. It was originally presented to the Committee of the Whole in October (old council) and recommended acceptance and forwarding to the County. The committee voted to defer its decision. The same report was on the agenda for the December 13 Council Meeting (new council) for discussion purposes only.

The BVRA and the Beaver Valley Village: A History

For a good overview of our concerns, see our PPT most recently presented to our membership on January 8, 2011. At that meeting, the membership gave the BVRA executive the green light to continue its advocacy and in addition to provide the membership with an estimate of the cost of retaining legal and/or hydrogeological expertise.

Background

The Beaver Valley Village (BVV) subdivision, planned for the top of the escarpment near the Beaver Valley Ski Club, is to be serviced with individual wells and septic systems.  This 45-lot development proposal is in the Municipality of Grey Highlands (GH), in the County of Grey (GC). Google map.

The entire, surrounding 230 ha area, Beaver Valley Village Settlement Area (BVVSA), is designated Escarpment Recreation Area in the Niagara Escarpment Development Plan and deemed by GC to be a focus of growth and “akin to a settlement area”. The NEC has handed over development control to GH. ERA map.

There are 125 approved lots and residences in the area now, and the theoretical potential for 130 – 180 more; this does not include the existing and potential development below the escarpment, which is also part of the Escarpment Recreation Area. Currently, there are no municipal water or sewage services and none planned for the foreseeable future.

Special Members' Meeting - January 8, 2011

See the minutes of our Special Members' Meeting.