South Frontenac Council – Oct 4/16

Jeff Green | Oct 05, 2016

Council balks at Campground Proposal

The owner of Skycroft, a 65-site campground on Opinicon Lake in the north-eastern corner of South Frontenac (Bedford District) is seeking re-zoning in order to build a new campground on a lot that borders his existing campground.

The proposal calls for 170 sites on the new property, some of which would be in-ground so-called “cave houses with circular entrances that resemble hobbit houses”, and the rest trailer sites.

In his report on the-rezoning application, township planner Lindsay Mills said that all campgrounds in South Frontenac have their own specific zoning and a site plan that specifies in detail the number and size of the sites.

“For a proposal of this size, the septic approval is done by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and will require an engineering report on sewage treatment that satisfies the ministry. It is expected that the ministry approval will determine the number of lots that are permitted.”

Mills said that it will be important for the township to ensure that the new campground is completely distinct from the existing one in order to give it approval.

“This needs to be a new development unconnected to Skycroft. It is feasible that some of the usage of the new lot will access the lake. We have to be very sure that this is a completely separate business in order to approve the zoning. At this point I would recommend that we receive this report but take no position on approving it until we hear comment from the MoE and the conservation authority,” he said.

One by one, council members said they did not believe that those who use the new campground would not have access to the docking facilities and beach at Skycroft.

“I think it would be very naive to think that the two are in fact gong to be distinct,” said Councilor Mark Schjerning.

Deputy Mayor Sutherland said the township should seek legal advice.

“I would like to know if we can legally say we are looking at this one waterfront campground and refuse it entirely on those grounds. I'd like us to look at that,” said Sutherland.

Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Orr said staff would take that request as a directive from Council.

Neighbouring property owners were out in full force, expressing similar concerns as members of Council.

Many of them said their families have been using their Opinicon Lake properties for generation and always had good relations with the original owners of the campground and with David Hillhorst, the current owner as well, but the expansion would change the character of the landscape and the lake itself.

One of the added wrinkles to the situation is that the existing and proposed campgrounds abut land that is owned by Queen's University and used as a biological research station.

Skycroft operates some campsites on the Queen's property under an agreement with the university. Queen's Professor Steve Lougheed spoke at the meeting. He said the Queen's property was originally owned by the former owners of Skycroft. They built trails on the property and eventually donated it to Queen's as a research station.

“We have maintained an excellent working relationship with David, and residents of his campsites use our trails under an agreement with us.”

For his part, Hilhorst said he has always run a family campground, and “I have made the road and my beach and docks available to all the neighbors at no charge. I don't plan to cut trees or change the land when I build, just to create a rustic environment and expand my business to accommodate the demand I see in the market.”

The matter will come back to council in the coming months.

Harrowsmith Community Improvement Plan

The plan, which was discussed by Council at a Committee of the Whole meeting on September 27, was the subject of a public meeting, and received minimal comment. It will proceed to the Official Plan amendment stage under the expectation that it will be approved in short order. Businesses and residents in Harrowsmith will be eligible for grants and loans for projects aimed at creating a more attractive retail environment. The plan comes at a time of change in Harrowsmith, as road work to improve traffic flow and bring more visibility to the trail-head at the foot of the village is scheduled for next year as well.

Injunction sought to prohibit unlicensed events at Vezeau property on Sydenham Lake

Council passed a motion authorizing staff to seek a court injunction prohibiting unsanctioned events from taking place at the Vezeau property, the home of the Canadian Guitar Festival. While the guitar festival has been sanctioned by the township every year and the township noise bylaw has been suspended for the weekend-long event, other events at the property have not been sanctioned but have been held anyway. While the motion does not refer specifically to the guitar festival, Council indicated at Committee of the Whole that they are not likely to be willing to sanction even that event because the property owner has defied their bylaws at other times.

Road Rally to work in conjunction with Parks Canada Rideau Canal celebration.

The Harrowsmith Social & Athletic Club is taking the lead in organizing a road rally throughout the township in September next year to mark Canada's 150th anniversary. The club will be working with recreation committees and South Frontenac Cycles to get the event up and running. Parks Canada has contacted the township to say they are planning a musical event at around the same time and want to include the section of the canal that runs through the township in their planning, and the road rally organizers would like to co-ordinate efforts so the two events may be able to work together. Upper Brewers Lock on Canal Road is the proposed location for a concert as part of the festivities.