Feature Article January 29, 2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeOfficial plan finally coming to North Frontenacby Jeff GreenIm getting kind of excited about it, North Frontenac Township Clerk Penny Sharman told Council at the January 27 meeting. Sharman was referring to the pending adoption of the Official Plan for North Frontenac, which is now slated for the second council meeting in March.
The current version of the plan will be posted on the township website shortly and will be available on paper at the Township Office. The public has one more opportunity to suggest changes to the plan as it now stands. The township will be receiving submissions until February 15. According to Sharman, if a suggestion is made that council wants to use, it will still be possible to make changes to the Official plan in time for the late March meeting. Once the plan is adopted, there will be the opportunity to appeal any aspect of the plan to the Ontario Municipal Board for another 90 days. The new zoning bylaw, which accompanies the Official Plan, will be adopted by Council about 20 days before the Appeal period for the Official Plan ends, because it has a 20 day appeal period with the Ontario Municipal board. It would not be sensible to have the zoning bylaw in place before the Official Plan is approved, Sharman said, because the bylaw is dependent on the existence of the Official Plan.
What a great thing it will be to have an official plan, so that we wont have to look at different sets of rules for different locations any more, said Mayor Stan Johnston.
What a great thing for you? piped in township building inspector Ken Lindey, Im the one who's had to deal with all those sets of rules. I need this more than anyone.
Economic Officer gets new contract: Mayor Johnston reported that the Frontenac Management Board has come to terms with economic Development Officer Brain Ritchie for a second one-year contract. Councillor Bud Clayton asked why the township had been obligated to search out grants for the salt water brine roads project, when there is a full time economic development officer charged with looking for grants. Johnston replied I talked to Brian about that, and hes aware of that concern. Clayton also asked how much of Ritchie's time has been devoted to the proposed Frontenac Centre Resort development. Johnston responded that while he is keeping apprised of developments, the studies being conducted are being done by a committee, so hes not spending a lot of time on it.
Ambulance service: Mayor Johnston reported that the land ambulance service for Frontenac County, which is managed by the Frontenac Management Board, has been the subject of preliminary negotiations, as the City of Kingston wants changes. The councils in the townships of North and Central Frontenac, in particular, have been very pleased with the way the service has developed and are loathe to see the service moved out of the jurisdiction of the FMB to management by the city of Kingston. This issue may be the next flash point in the ongoing skirmishes between the FMB and the city over jurisdiction.
