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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 44 Issue 35
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.05% 3 Year GIC - 2.80% 5 Year GIC - 3.05% Daily Interest 1.75%
Friday, September 2, 2011
Councillors shoot down proposal to rename PMD Arena - for now by David Meyer MAPLETON TWP. Councillors here are leery of changing the name of the PMD Arena until they hear from citizens. Consequently, they shot down a recommendation from the township’s parks, culture and recreation committee on Aug. 16. The recommendation was that council “rename the arena to the Drayton Community Centre.” Councillor Mike Downey, a member of the committee, first teed off on the proposal, noting nobody had been consulted. “I don’t like renaming the arena ... I don’t support that motion at all,” he said. Mayor Bruce Whale wondered why the arena cannot be named PMD, which stands for the former municipalities that built it: Peel and Maryborough townships and Drayton. Councillor Neil Driscoll said, “We’re Mapleton now.” Downey said the argument at the committee was the building was getting a new sign after major renovations, so why not a new name. Whale asked, “Where is the old sign?” He said it was taken out for the renovations, but he hopes it was not thrown out. Downey said of the old name “You’re looking at three letters.” Councillor Andy Knetsch said he could agree “with both councillors.” Council then defeated the
motion. Councillor Jim Curry was absent. But the discussion did not end with the vote. Whale said council should inform the committee of its decision. He added staff should find a way to get people involved in choosing a name. Downey wondered, “Is it an issue out there?” Whale said some people may feel that Alma and Moorefield each now have their own community centres, and “Drayton has nothing.” He said the township should “see if we want a new name.” Downey said it might be good to erect a sign so visitors from out of town can find the community centre and arena easily. Driscoll noted there are larger buildings in that area. Whale added there was some discussion about having a lighted sign, but he has heard nothing further on that issue. The committee also noted the naming rights for the arena were vested with the Mapleton Arena eXpansion (MAX) committee, which did the fundraising for the renovations, and the MAX committee would have to formally give up the naming rights to council. The MAX committee had been willing to sell the naming rights to the arena for $75,000 but there were no takers. Public works director Larry Lynch told the committee he has asked for a cost to place the old name back on the building.
Optimist car show - Mark Reynolds of Mapleton Township proudly displays his 1966 Ford Shelby Cobra at the annual Alma Optimist Car Show. Traditionally held at Wallace Cumming Park, the show moved from the south to the north end of the park to make use of the new community hall and paved parking area to showcase the vehicles. More photos on page 2. photo by Mike Robinson
Fire department to start training for water rescues by David Meyer MAPLETON TWP. Council has approved a request from its fire department to begin training its volunteers to do water-based rescue work. Fire Chief Rick Richardson told council in a report on Aug. 16 that until now, the Mapleton Fire Department has been lim-
ited to land-based water rescue. “With the large water area within the township (Conestogo Lake and River), the fire department is willing to train to water-based rescue if provided with the proper equipment and training,” Richardson said in his report. He noted in another report
to council the county has hired training officer Jack Karnes, of the Centre Wellington Fire Department, to work with all lower tier municipalities. Mayor Bruce Whale asked Richardson how the new training officer feels about adding water training. Richardson said Karnes is
well schooled in water rescue training, because the Centre Wellington Fire Department has been doing water rescue for some years now at Lake Belwood and in the Grand River. “He’s already helped with training and set it up with the Continued on page 3
Developer and planner clash over provisions for proposed subdivision
by David Meyer MAPLETON TWP. - A subdivision application that has been on council’s radar for several years will require a legal opinion before a decision is reached. The issue at hand is a subdivision at the northernmost part of the Moorefield urban boundary on land described as 83 McGivern Street, Concession 9, on the east half of lot 9. The land is just under 12 acres or 4.8 hectares in size. The Murray Group is hoping to build a subdivision on the property, which was the subject of an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing in 2008. On Aug. 16 county planner Linda Redmond told council the township completed a zoning amendment that year for all of Moorefield to allow smaller lots. The Murray Group had some lands under draft plan of subdivision for residential and
industrial uses at the time. Redmond said one item of contention was the industrial block, because the owner wanted to change that to residential use. She noted the official plan amendment could not be completed because of a supply study that was being done then for employment lands. She said the delay led to the appeal by the company to the OMB. Redmond said there is a “significant woodlot” on the property the township wanted to preserve and convert to a greenfields designation. That issue was considered at Mapleton council in March. Meanwhile, the county hired a forester to assess the woodlot. Redmond said two stands were identified in that study, and one was “significant enough to retain and preserve.” The other was not worth preserving. She cited the tree cover in
Main St. W. Palmerston
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Wellington County and noted it is 15 per cent, while Mapleton Township in general is the lowest in the county at 10%. She added the county Green Legacy program, which specifies 30% as ideal tree cover, is leading to new policies to recognize smaller wood lots. Redmond explained that in 1999, the county incorporated a greenlands designation into its official plan, but planners later discovered it did not include smaller woodlots. She added the county is now trying to preserve areas with one or two hectares (like the one owned by The Murray Group). She said in Moorefield there are only two woodlots of that size that need protecting. Murray Group vice-president Richard Seibel told council the current guidelines for protection is 10 hectares as a “significant woodlot.” He said the Moorefield woodlot does not fit in the cur-
rent policy and, further, “This is not what we applied for.” He added there was never an attempt or request by the company to redesignate the woodlot to greenfields. He also noted the woodlot would have no protection at all under an industrial designation. Redmond said the county and township could seek “tree saving measures in the site plan agreement.” Seibel replied, “I really think you’re violating the spirit of the agreement.” He said it is “unfair” the township might apply future county policies to a current application, and added the Grand River Conservation Authority had stated the entire parcel could be designated residential, and there was no objections when the move was made to redesignate the lands. Redmond said it was only a draft amendment sent to the GRCA, not a final one.
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But Seibel said her proposal is not what the company has asked for, and he urged council to obtain a legal opinion before it makes a decision. To be clear, Mayor Bruce Whale asked if the Murray Group wants the entire woodlot to be residential lands. Seibel said it does, and it would incorporate trees into backyards of new homes as a selling feature. Whale noted the forester has stated, “That’s not the best way to handle a woodlot.” But Seibel argued studies could have indicated Moorefield does not need more residential lands, but that did not occur. Whale agreed council should defer its decision until it hears from a lawyer. Councillor Andy Knetsch asked if the Murray Group is allowed to proceed, the woodlot would not be protected. Redmond said it would not,
but the township could try to protect it through a site plan agreement. Councillor Neil Driscoll said “Moorefield is practically surrounded by trees.” Redmond said her study included only the urban boundary. Driscoll noted the report to council said there would not be a lot of environmental impact if the woodlot is removed for houses. Redmond said the second stand of trees is insignificant. Seibel told council the county was doing a study on employment lands (now required for housing developments) and that was the reason the Murray Group waited for its application (the county had asked it to wait). He added the county policy protecting woodlots is 10 hectares (this one is two) and that is “stretching” the policy “a bit.” Council agreed to defer its decision.