Provincial Policy Statement Review

The Ontario government is conducting a review of the Provincial Policy Statement, 2005 (PPS). The PPS outlines policy direction for land use planning and development. Municipal planning decisions must be consistent with the PPS. The government is asking for input on how the PPS is working and whether any changes are needed.

Groups and individuals may comment. For more information and to access an online survey go to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website.

Click  online survey to immediately access and submit comments electronically.

Letter to the Editor

This letter will be published in the July 13 issue of the Markdale Standard.

Dear Editor

I was happy to see coverage in the Markdale Standard of the Beaver Valley Ratepayers presentation to the Committee of the Whole of Grey Highlands. I would like to correct an inaccuracy in the reporting of density.

The single biggest issue for the BVRA is the density of this development. To set the record straight, the proposed lot size of 2000 square feet is half the 4000 square feet recommended in the Grey Highlands Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw. In addition, the proposed density contravenes the Ontario Provincial Policy Statement, the planning guideline for municipal planning decisions.

For anyone interested, the BVRA has published the complete presentation and speaker's notes on the blog, www.beavervalleyratepayers.blogspot.com.

Respectfully

Cathy Little

Markdale Standard, July 7

There is an article in this week's Markdale Standard reporting on our presentation to Grey Highlands Committee of the Whole. Press coverage is a good thing but there were some errors particularly about lot size and density. I guess a letter to the editor is in order.

We're in the Sun Times

The Owen Sound Sun Times ran a well-written and balanced story about the BVRA presentation to Grey Highlands Committee of the Whole, June 21, 2010. Reporter, Don Crosby interviewed Ed and Cathy a few days later for another article to appear in the Markdale Standard, June 30.

If you are a member and would like an email copy of the Sun Times article, leave a comment below and we will be happy to send you one.

Update

Regarding the proposed Beaver Valley Village subdivision, according to a recent email (June 23), from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to the planner at the County of Grey, the Ministry of the Environment continues to believe,

• that there are risks associated with this development 

• and that the fundamental issue of cumulative impact has not been addressed.

BVRA Presentation, June 21, 2010

Here it is: a slideshow of our presentation to the Committee of the Whole of Grey Highlands on Monday, June 21, 2010. There are some minor omissions, For a thorough appreciation, read the speaker's notes and the addendum posts below. To view the presentation full screen, click on menu in the bottom left corner of the presentation window and click on full screen.

Bvra Presents

Addendum to Presentation

We gave councillors a copy of the slideshow and these supplementary pages. The BVRA supports the peer reviewer statements and recommendations including but not exclusively: