[New] Bill 23 – A Sledge Hammer To The Guardrails, Pender

By Jeff Green

Frontenac County Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Pender prepared a relatively short report, for members of the new Frontenac County Council’s January meeting, about how Bill 23 –the more houses more quickly act –could change the way the county, and their own municipal councils, deal with development proposals of all kinds.

Pender said that one of the reasons he did not go into a lot of detail in his report, even though the issues are extensive, is that he does not know what the real impact of the changes will be.

“I think it is going to take a lot of decisions from the Ontario Land Tribunal before we know what the process will look like going forward,” he said in a phone interview early this week. “I just wanted to let members of council know what Bill 23 says. “Councils don’t really have the right to say no under the bill.”

One example of the lack of clarity in the bill relates to “natural heritage issues”. Until Bill 23 came into effect, municipalities relied on Conservation Authorities to comment on the impact a proposed development would have on the lakes, streams and wetlands using a watershed-based approach.

“Not only do Conservation Authorities have the expertise within their staff to evaluate the impacts, they have archived data about the watersheds and how they operate as natural systems” he said.

“Even though the Conservation Authorities are no longer permitted to make comments on these issues, the municipalities are still obligated to review for natural heritage issues because they need to make sure any development that they approve conforms with what the Provincial Policy Statement says about preserving Natural Heritage.”

Another major change in Bill 23 are new limitations on who can appeal planning decisions to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Lake Associations, and neighbouring property owners can no longer appeal planning decisions.

Only municipalities, the applicant, the provincial minister, First Nations, utility and energy companies and railways can appeal decisions.

“The change to the way we have been operating are extensive. It’s kind of like the province is taking a sledgehammer to the guardrail.”

One potential consequence of Bill 23 could be an increase in the pressure on municipal council members than before, Pender also pointed out.

In South Frontenac, for example, the proposals for the Hartington Subdivision, the Johnson’s Plan of Condominium on Loughborough Lake, and more recently, the proposed expansion of Skycroft Campground on Lake Opinicon, have resulted in more boisterous and contentious public meetings than any other issue before council in recent memory.

Members of council end up in the middle of disputes between developers and opponents of the developments, but until now they are at least able to tell everyone involved that Council decisions on the matters can be appealed to a provincial tribunal that is independent.

Now, only the applicant can appeal if council turns down a proposal.

“The tendency will be for a council, let’s use the example of Lanark Highlands [since they are not in Frontenac County] to say no to a proposal to keep their constituents happy, and let the Land Tribunal overrule them. But how that will save time is unclear,” said Pender.

Under Bill 23, municipalities will no longer be required to even hold public meetings before approving a draft plan of subdivision, but Pender advises that Frontenac County, which is the approval authority for plans of subdivision for all Frontenac municipalities, should hold them anyway.

“Public meetings provide an official channel for nearby residents to provide their input and local knowledge and identify issues that may not be known by the applicant and/or reviewing staff,” he wrote in his report, adding that county and township official plans may need to be updated to identify when public meetings are required.

Another tool that municipalities make extensive use of when considering a development proposal is called ‘site plan control’ which is expressed through ‘site plan agreements’ between the municipality and developers. These agreements can stipulate where buildings can be located on a site, where septic fields can be located, what kind of vegetation needs to be maintained or established, and more.

Bill 23 does away with site plan agreements, as well, for most developments in Frontenac County.

“Any projects that propose 10 or fewer residential units are exempted from the site plan process, and architectural details and landscape design are also exempt” Pender said in this report.

Pender said that “municipalities may need to amend their zoning bylaws to ensure that specific land use issues can be addressed”.

In fact, with the planning process in a state of flux, Pender said that municipalities will rely more than ever on their Official Plans and Zoning Bylaws to steer development within their jurisdiction

He said that the work that has been done in recent years by the Frontenac townships, to update their Official Plans and Comprehensive Zoning Bylaws will stand them in good stead under the new planning scenario brought in by Bill 23.

Official Plans are policy documents that set out the goals of municipalities, in regard to land use issues and economic and residential development, and Comprehensive Zoning Bylaws are the documents that attach rules to those policies and apply them on every property within the municipality.

None of that changed under Bill 23.

Central Frontenac has a new Official Plan in place, and late last year adopted a new Comprehensive Zoning bylaw as well.

North Frontenac also has a new Official Plan in place, and is working on a Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw, with a view to having one in place by the end of 2023.

South Frontenac has done most of the work on its new Official Plan, and last summer decided to defer completion until the installation of a new council. The new South Frontenac Council is now engaged in the Official Plan process, and if all goes well the plan will be approved by the end of 2023, and work on a comprehensive zoning bylaw will follow. ■

COMMUNITY REPORTERS (613)

Arden Wanda Harrison 335-3186

Battersea / Storrington Amanda Pantrey 353-6653

Cloyne / Northbrook Stepanie Regent

Denbigh Gail Fritsch 613-333-2224

Godfrey Kelli McRobert

Harrowsmith Gregg Hamelin 613-376-6665

Henderson Jean Brown 336-2516

Inverary Judy Borovskis 353-1768

Maberly-Bolingbroke Karen Prytula 325-1354

Mississippi Pearl Killingbeck 278-2127

Ompah Linda Rush 479-2570

Marily Seitz 479-2855

Parham-Tichborne ........Colleen Steele 375-6219

Christine Teal 375-6525

Perth Road Peter Bird 353-7303

Plevna Rhonda Watkins 613-264-5325

Sydenham Karen Brawley 376-9848

Verona Debbie Lingen

VE r O n A

debbie@lingens.com

"Winter Warm-up Breakfast" is this Saturday in Trinity Unit- mended to everyone who want to continue enjoying their active life style. Please note, this is a Zoom program.

• ed Church in Verona, from 830am to 11am (January 21). The breakfast will feature Frittatas as well as scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs, bacon, ham or sausage, home fries, toast, muffins, juice, tea or coffee. Admission is by donation. For take out orders, please call 343-422-4110 by 9am Saturday to reserve your breakfast pick-up or email vca@xplornet.ca by Friday by 11am.

If it is January 2023, it must be time for the Lions' all you

• can eat breakfasts! Held at the Oso Hall 8am to 11am, January 28, this community event is in support of the Special Olympics.

The Arden United Church restarts coffee hour on Thursday

• morning 10am in the Church social room. Bible study continues Wednesdays at 630. There will be a trustees’ meeting Wednesday, January 18, at 2pm and a board meeting January 24, at 1pm.

A big thank you is extended to Kelli McRobert who gath-

• ered many of the Community Columnists together for lunch and sharing. Because of various circumstances some could not attend but we’ll try again later in the year. As last weeks “page one” article stated, if you have any news, please get in touch with your local representative. Their contact information is at the top of the column.

B ATTE r SEA /S TO rr I n GTO n

amanda Pantrey

613-353-6653 amandapantrey@outlook.com featured menu. For take out orders, call: 343-422-4110 by 9am Saturday morning or via email at vca@xplornet.ca by Friday 11am.

Volunteers are still needed to help with income tax at Ru-

• ral Frontenac Community Services. Call Joyce at 613-2793151 ext. 100 for more details.

Feb 25th there will be a Chinese Dinner and Quarter Auc-

• tion at OSO Hall in Sharbot Lake. 5-11pm. Tickets are $20.00 with proceeds going to support the Community Project Fund. Limited tickets will be available.

SFCSC is still accepting donations to the Food Bank located at 4295 Stagecoach Road from Monday to Friday 830-4pm. If you are in need of groceries, please call 613376-6477 to arrange for a food hamper available Tuesday to Friday.

February 19th there will be a kids fishing derby on

• Sydenham Lake, FREE to kids 18 and under. Hotdogs and chili to warm them up (11-1). Event runs from 9am - 5pm. Registration is required in advance. Email toomechanical@ gmail.com for details or to donate to this fundraising event.

From South Frontenac Township:

• Where did all the snow go?! The Snow Social will be going

Be sure to join in on the fun at the first ever Snow Social.

• This event will be a celebration of the winter season and will feature activities at The Point Park and throughout the village of Sydenham. Dress like a well prepared Canadian and plan to take part in all sorts of winter fun including snow tubing (weather conditions permitting). Admission is free, but plan to bring cash for the vendors. Visit www.southfrontenac. net/snowsocial for more information. Volunteers are wanted! Email recsupport@southfrontenac.net to get involved.

• ahead as scheduled, but with modified programming where needed. We will not have enough ice on the lake, but we are excited for lots of other land-based activities!

We're still looking for some volunteers to help out with the

• event. If you are interested and available, please email recsupport@southfrontenac.net to get involved!

Check out our website for the full event itinerary.

• Congratulations to those living in and around Sharbot

• Lake on the opening of their new outdoor rink!

Do you enjoy helping seniors? Have PSW experience?

Style Revival will be open Saturday, January 28 from

• 10am to 1pm. It will also be open, as usual, Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm. Style Revival, which is located in the Verona Free Methodist Church at 6804 Hwy 38, offers free gently used clothing and footwear for all ages.

Join Senior's Diner Lunch on Thursday, February 2nd for a • hearty beef stew lunch with dessert and beverages at the Verona Free Methodist Church . After lunch, Wilma Kenny will be sharing some rarely heard stories about South Frontenac and the people who settled here. 55+ $10 per meal. To register, please call 613-376-6477 ext 303 or email joanne. silver@sfcsc.ca.

Check out the live music line up at The Creek this week.

• Wednesday, Jake Unger is rocking from 7pm – 9pm. Jordy Jackson will be on Thursday evening, 7pm – 9pm, too. Then Scott Owen brings us into the weekend from 6pm – 8pm.

Chris Murphy will be playing at the Battersea United

• Church on January 22nd starting at 7pm featuring Scottish songs to celebrate Robbie Burns Day. Admission is by free will offering with proceeds going to the Church.

• Want to help build a stronger community? Rural Frontenac Community Services is looking for reliable PSW workers for in home respite for seniors in the rural area. Flexible hours, reimbursement for travel, ongoing/professional development.

Check out our website www.rfcs.ca under employment op-

• portunities or email laurah@rfcs.ca.

H A rr OWS m ITH

The Verona Free Methodist Church is hosting an inside

• family movie night on Friday, February 3 at 630 pm. This is a PA Day. They will be showing The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The canteen will be open until 7pm. There is no charge for admission but donations are always welcome.

•

Free Public Skating at Frontenac Arena! Wednesdays

• from 9am to 1030am and Sundays from noon to 130pm. It's free all winter long thanks to a Queen's Platinum Jubilee grant.

There

• Zoom program “Deep in the Bones”. Held 9am to 1030am, Wednesday and Friday, this wellness program is recom-

•

Storrington Lions Club is collecting food and items for a

• Community Food Drive from 1 to 5pm on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Lions Club Hall in Sunbury. Donations will support the food bank at Battersea United Church. In addition to food items, the club is asking for personal hygiene products for men and women. Thanks for your support!

What do you call a slightly slow skier? A slope-poke.

DEnBIGH & VEnnACHAr

Gail Fritsch 613-333-2224 tonygailfritsch@sympatico.ca

Hopefully you are enjoying the more seasonal cool weath-

• er we had this past weekend. It brings fond memories of winters past!

The Vennachar Free Methodist is holding their first ‘Open

• Mic’ of this year. It will be held on Friday, February 20th (this Friday) at 7pm at the church. All are welcome. Bring your musical instruments and friends and enjoy a night of good music and fellowship.

The Denbigh Wellness group meets every Tuesday morn-

• ing at 9am at the Denbigh Hall in the basement. We have weight loss exercises and a social gathering. Please feel free to join us any week.

The Denbigh Community Foodbank is open the 2nd and

• 4th Tuesday of every month from 1030 to 11am.

The community sends it’s condolences to the family of Herbie Keller who died recently.

• would like to share.

Please let me know if you have any news or events you

GODFrEy

Breakfast

Gregg Hamelin 613-376-6665 ghamelin3585@gmail.com

Wednesday, January 18, 2023 there is a painting work-

• shop with a still life theme from 1- 3pm at the Sydenham Legion Hall (4361 Amelia Street). Materials will be provided but bring an apron, paper towels and a sense of fun! There is a $5 donation for beginners to experienced (55+). Please register a few days before with Denzel at the South Frontenac Community Services 613-376-6477 ext 310.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023 there is a COVID-19 Vac-

• cine Clinic from 1230 to 530pm at The Grace Centre, 4295 Stage Coach Road, Sydenham. ID is not required for the vaccine.

Friday, February 3, 2023 there will be a Youth Dance at

• the Golden Links Hall in Harrowsmith 7 - 930pm for public school children. The cost is $6.00. For information please call 613-372-2410.

February 11, 2023 is the next monthly euchre night at the

• Harrowsmith S and A Club. Members $5 and Non-members $7. Email harrowsmithsanda@gmail.com for questions or to book a spot! Everyone is welcome.

Sunday, February 12, 2023 the Ole Tyme Fiddlers with • an Open Mike will be hosted at the Golden Links Hall in Harrowsmith 1 - 5pm, followed by dinner. The cost is $12.00 and please bring a dessert to share. For info call 613-3722410.

Sunday, February 19, 2023 there will be a TAKE OUT • turkey dinner at the Golden Links Hall in Harrowsmith. Advance tickets only with a cut off date of Wednesday, February 15. The cost is $20.00 and tickets are available at the gas station in Sydenham, Harrowsmith, Hartington and Asselstine Hardware in Verona. For info, call 613-372-2410

•