Central’s Official Plan revision “coming to the end of the process”

Craig Bakay | Oct 25, 2019

After more than two years in revisions that have included five open houses that collected 28 comments from the public, the Central Frontenac Official Plan revision is “coming to the end of the process,” Joe Gallivan, director of planning and economic development for Frontenac County told Central Frontenac Council at its regular meeting Tuesday in Sharbot Lake.

“We’re (Gallivan and manager of community planning Megan Rueckwald) here to get direction on several points before we complete the final draft (which should be ready in the first quarter of 2020),” Gallivan said.

In a resolution passed by Council, planning staff were directed to include policies in the OP that would deal with food trucks, enable site plan control policies for waterfront protection, permit backyard chickens and hobby farms with appropriate provisions to be determined in a separate bylaw, policies to regulate the placement of recreational vehicles and a special policy corridor area from Sharbot Lake to Tichborne for review as part of the next iteration of the draft Official Plan.

Council essentially approved all of the inclusions, however some will be dealt with in their own separate bylaws.

For example, food trucks are already covered in the Zoning Bylaw.

“Backyard chickens and hobby farms are my favourites,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “A postage stamp property shouldn’t have chickens but a one-acre lot should be able to support a few chickens.”

When it comes to RVs, Dep. Mayor Victor Heese said whether permitted or prohibited, it comes down to enforcement.

“If we prohibit, we’d have to start cracking down,” he said.

Rueckwald suggested a separate licencing bylaw, such as the one North Frontenac has just adopted, as a way to regulate where RVs can be placed and/or parked.

“MPAC considers RVs seasonal dwellings and they don’t assess lots with RVs on them the way they do if a cottage were there,” she said.

“OK, we’re having a (licencing) bylaw,” said Smith.

Gallivan said there is still much work to be done, such as coming up with policies to protect the White Lake Fish Hatchery.

But there was general agreement that the Sharbot Lake to Tichborne corridor would be good development planning.

New communications tower

Council gave acting Fire Chief Jamie Riddell permission to look at a new communications system (tower and battery backup) following an incident last weekend.

“The storm last weekend did some damage to our solar backup system and we went 4-5 hours without radios,” Riddell said. “During that time, we actually had a structure fire north of Henderson.

“We jumped on South Frontenac’s repeater and Kaladar/Barrie also responded.

“It was an eerie feeling to be without radios.”

New Fire Chief to be recruited

Council received the report from consultant Terry Gervais, conducted at the request of Clerk-Administrator Cathy MacMunn on the current status of the Central Frontenac Fire Department.

The report recommended continuation of working on the gaps identified in a previous study (also by Gervais), filling the vacant position of Fire Chief, begin the process of a Fire Master Plan which will include a station location study, response areas and apparatus deployment and review administrative support to the fire department.

“With the support of Council, Central Frontenac Fire & Rescue has made tremendous strides in enhancing the level of service to the residents, reducing the liability for the municipality and providing a safe environment for staff,” the report concluded.

Council approved Frontenac Community Arena manager Tim Laprade’s request to apply for a grant to pay for major renovations to the the arena. South Frontenac, Central’s partner in the arena, has already given its approval.

Myers appointed PW Manager

Council passed a bylaw naming Tyson Myers as Public Works Manager, retroactive to Sept. 20.