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.