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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 44 Issue 29
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.05% 3 Year GIC - 2.80% 5 Year GIC - 3.05% Daily Interest 1.75%
Friday, July 22, 2011
County delays final decision on Drayton golf course proposal by David Meyer GUELPH - It’s a case of birds delaying birdies - and maybe some pars and bogies, too. County council has held off on a decision for an official plan amendment that would permit a golf course in Drayton until the fate of the bobolink is resolved. The official plan amendment would have redesignated an area from future development and prime agricultural land to residential and recreational, and permitted a nine hole golf course along with a subdivision. The property is described as Part Lots 17 and 18, Concession 10, in old Maryborough township. The land is located behind the existing phase one of the Glenaviland subdivision at the north entrance to Drayton, on the west side of County Road 8. The area affected by the proposal is about 122 acres. The county planning committee had recommended approval of the plan, pending any comments received from the Grand River Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Natural Resources. But planning committee chairman Shawn Watters announced at council the committee was withdrawing the recommendation for now. He told council that was “pending comment from the MNR. Development of that particular property cannot satisfy the ministry at this time.” Watters said the reason is the bobolink. It has been designated as a threatened species, and the Ministry of Natural Resources is undertaking studies of the bird’s habitat. “We gave tentative approval at the committee level based on satisfying the ministry requirements,” Watters said in an interview last week. “They’re not sure of the requirements of the bobolink.” The MNR is looking into habitat protection regulations for the bobolink, which does not qualify for status of critically endangered, vulnerable or near threatened. The bobolink ranges across 46 jurisdictions spanning North, Central and South America. Its plight in Ontario has led to a study that could affect the way farmers work. The bird nests in long grasses, and because there is little of that natural growth in Ontario, hay fields are its second choice. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has called on the Ontario government to inves-
tigate the situation leading to the bobolink being declared as “threatened.” As for the Drayton development, the planning committee heard the community is already under-serviced by 42 housing units for its 25-year population forecast. The planning report noted the 196 proposed units is higher than that deficit, but it still “makes sense to plan this block of land in its entirety and control growth through phasing as is proposed by the developer.” The report stated the block of land is the last that can be developed within the northwest quadrant of the Drayton urban centre. Different phases would be controlled through holding zones in the zoning bylaw. That means Mapleton council could control the rate of growth by releasing phases of development when it is satisfied there is sufficient servicing capacity available and there is a need for more housing units. The township has already allocated sewage capacity to service phase one (32 units), as well as the golf course club house. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs has already pointed out the sewage lagoon does not have enough capacity to service all 196 housing units. The report also stated a study of the area also turned up a single snapping turtle, and that species is now designated as one of “special concern.” The report said there were no snapping turtle nests observed, and Watters indicated the turtle is no longer an issue when it comes to the development. The county report stated the golf course could provide benefits for Drayton, including: - tourism and a complement to the Drayton theatre; - local economic opportunities for sub-trades and suppliers, employment for up to 10 to 12 people for ongoing maintenance and employment for 20 to 40 people in the clubhouse; - provision for a local banquet hall and catering facilities; - attracting newcomers to Drayton with residences associated with the golf course; - reduced driving distances and golf opportunities for Drayton and the local area; and - some potential off-season use of the golf course lands for such things as trails and crosscountry skiing. Watters said the county will wait for MNR comments before making a final decision on the official plan amendment.
Main St. W. Palmerston
Green Lantern
Starring Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. Rated PG times: Friday & Saturday 8pm and Sunday 7pm
For more info call 519-343-3640 or visit www.norgantheatre.com
A growing collection - Moorefield arm wrestler Tyler Robinson shows off his impressive trophy collection, including his most recent addition: the 2011 Ontario Rookie of the Year award from the Ontario Armwrestling Association, which he won last weekend. See page 8 for an article on Robinson. submitted photo
Sidewalk work, revitalization project picking up again by Chris Daponte DRAYTON - If all goes according to plan, this village’s downtown area could look decidedly different within a month’s time. The reconstruction of Drayton sidewalks resumed on July 15, which was surely a welcome sight for the owners of downtown businesses, some of whom had bemoaned the inconvenience - not to mention the delays. “We hope that will be wrapped up in a couple of weeks,” clerk Patty Sinnamon said when asked about the duration of the sidewalk work. She said areas around the
new streetlights were paved and the township’s contractor, GJR Construction Ltd., would complete work around the intersection of Wellington and Main Streets. Council originally approved the work as part of the downtown revitalization project in Drayton. Last year council okayed using $291,450 from reserves to finish the sidewalks and related work (in addition to a $100,000 Trillium grant awarded to the Drayton Festival Theatre and a $163,000 provincial Rural Economic Development Grant awarded to the township). The work was supposed to
be completed in 2010, but was delayed last November due to inclement weather. At that time, Public Works Director Larry Lynch estimated 70% of the new sidewalk was completed. The areas not finished were filled in with gravel and maintained by Mapleton staff over the winter. The plan was to resume the work this spring, but it was delayed yet again because of the wet weather in April and May. “Everything is being pushed back,” said Sinnamon. But things seem to be moving now, she added, telling the Community News downtown
“fixtures” - including benches, planter boxes and waste receptacles - are now ordered and should arrive in a couple of weeks. Also expected in “a few weeks” is the arrival of new Drayton signs. And in the fall the township will proceed with plantings in the green space by the municipal parking lot behind Wellington Street (due to ideal planting conditions in the fall, versus the summer). As per the conditions of the grant received by the township, all work on the Drayton downtown revitalization project must be completed by midOctober, Sinnamon said.
Two Cylinder Show, Fair, Festival to draw thousands by Chris Daponte MAPLETON TWP. Summer festivals and events are in full swing in municipalities across Wellington County, including Mapleton Township, which will host three of its more popular events over the next several weeks. Two Cylinder Show This weekend the annual Upper Canada Two Cylinder Show will take place at the Drayton Fairgrounds. It kicks off Friday - with the all-makes antique (35 years and older) stock tractor pull at 5pm and a ladies fashion show at 7:30pm - and runs until Sunday. The gates open at 8am on Saturday and featured events will include an auction (of
tractor-related items) at 1pm, a tractor parade at 3pm, John Deere and guest (AllisChalmers) tractor pull at 4pm, a beef dinner at 5pm, free corn roast at 8pm and a jamboree and dance with the Bill Beattie Band at around 9pm. On Sunday, a church service will start the day at 9am, followed by modified lawn tractor pulls at 11am and another parade at 4pm. During all three days, those in attendance will also be able to visit the mercantile building, witness live demonstrations, watch sawmill and threshing presentations, enjoy a variety of food and even camp nearby the action. The event will also feature draws for a specialty quilt, pedal tractor, wrench set
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and toy show tractor. Billed as a true family event, the show also features various activities for children, including crafts and toys, “kiddie” tractor pulls, a bouncy castle, slide and face painting clowns. For more information about the show, contact Brian Sharpe at 519-745-9712 or visit uppercanadatwocylinderclub.ca. Drayton Fair The 155th annual Drayton Fair will take place in two weeks - from Aug. 5 to 7 - at the Drayton Fairgrounds. The event, organized annually by the Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society, will this year employ the theme of “Farming Through the Years.” The festivities begin the
evening of Aug. 5, with the gates, the exhibits and the midway all opening at 5pm, followed by truck pulls at 6:30pm, which are definitely one of the highlights of the fair. On Saturday, Aug. 6, the gates open at 7:30am, with exhibits starting at 10am and shows - including heavy horses, goats and dairy cattle - beginning half an hour later. The midway opens again for the day at 12pm, while garden tractor pulls start at 1pm, followed by a pet show and arm wrestling tournament at 2pm, entertainment by the Amazing Captain Corbin at 3pm, a baby show at 4pm and tractor pulls at 6pm. Gates open at 7:30am on Continued on page 3