South Frontenac Council - A bit of a primer on public meetings

Wilma Kenny | Feb 05, 2020

Public meeting procedure clarified

At the opening of a public meeting to hear a rezoning application, Claire Dodds, Director of Development Services, presented an update on the procedure for appealing a Council decision in respect to zoning. (This reflects the provincial decision to replace the Ontario Municipal Board with more accessible Local Planning Appeal Tribunals).

In brief: “If a person or public body does not make oral or written submissions at a public meeting about a zoning by-law application, or make written submissions to South Frontenac Township before a by-law is passed, they may not be added to the hearing of an appeal before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal ,unless, in the opinion of the Board, there are reasonable grounds to do so.

If one wishes to be notified of the decision of Council in respect to any of the applications, they must submit a written request to the Clerk or sign the attendance list provided at the public meeting. This will also entitle them to be advised of a possible Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

Anyone may appeal a council decision to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal by filing with the clerk within not later than 20 days after the notice of decision, and the appeal must set out the objection to the by-law and the reasons in support of the objection, accompanied by the required fee.”

This evening’s public meeting was to hear comments on an application to rezone a waterfront property on Hewett Lane, Dog Lake, from Resort Recreational to Limited Service Residential, in order to permit construction of a single detached dwelling. There were no comments from the public, and have been no written comments, so the application will come back to council for formal by-law approval.

Support of Conservation Authorities

Councillor Revill brought a notice of motion requesting Council to endorse a resolution supporting the work of the local (Rideau Valley, Quinte and Cataraqui) Conservation Authorities. Currently, the Province is reviewing the mandate and operations of conservation authorities, with the intent “to improve efficiencies, consistency, transparency and oversight of conservation authorities.” Revill noted that smaller municipalities do not have the capacity or the financial resources to employ staff with the technical expertise that conservation authorities have to monitor floods, manage source water protection, ensure the integrity of the watersheds and conserve the natural environment within our township and county. “(In summary,) we have been well served by our Conservation Authorities; they are responsible, transparent and accountable.”

There was full Council support, and the resolution will be forwarded to Premier Doug Ford, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Conservation Ontario, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and all Ontario municipalities.

In the absence of CAO Carbone, Clerk Angela Maddox asked that the February 11 Committee of the Whole meeting be cancelled, for there are no staff reports pending. Council agreed, and Mayor Vandewal brought Carbone’s regrets that he was not able to be present for the current meeting.

Coming Events

Councilor Morey extended an invitation to the South Frontenac Museum’s annual meeting, at the Museum (Road 38, at Hartington), Tuesday February 11, at 10 am.

Deputy Mayor Sutherland reminded everyone of the Family Fishing day Saturday Feb 15, 1-4, at the Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre, 1400 Hewlett Packard Lane, Perth Road.