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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 46 Issue 19
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.05% 3 Year GIC - 2.20% 5 Year GIC - 2.50% Daily Interest 1.55%
Friday, May 10, 2013
Committee of adjustment decision on MDS measurement headed to OMB
Playground work crew - Members of the Drayton Kinsmen Club were busy on May 2 setting up the perimeter for a new playground in Drayton Kinsmen Park. The club is working in partnership with the Moorefield Optimist Club and the Township of Mapleton to create new playgrounds in parks in Drayton and Moorefield. The township is providing $30,000 through the municipality’s 50/50 fund, while the club’s will provide the other half of the funding, $20,000 from the Kinsmen and $10,000 from the Optimists. The parks are expected to be ready for the Victoria Day weekend. From left are: Corey Dobben, Jamie Bloemberg, Rick Becker, Wayne Mick, John Dyer, Garry Becker, Gary Van Ankum and John Klaassen. photo by Patrick Raftis
Mapleton adopts strategic plan by Patrick Raftis Mapleton - Council here has formally adopted a corporate strategic plan that has been in development for over a year. The process of creating the plan began in January 2012 and Mapleton residents provided input through participation in a “conversation cafĂŠâ€? at the PMD Arena, as well as an online survey. Approval of the plan in draft form at the Feb. 5 council meeting set in motion a public consultation period that ended March 23. The plan, adopted at the April 9 council meeting, will be used as a tool to guide the municipality in providing municipal services, annual budgets and long-term planning. “The Township’s strategic plan should be a living document, continually being referred to by both council and staff that will guide our day-today activities, budget process and long term planning, but more importantly will create an opportunity for ongoing dialogue between council, staff and the community,â€? stated CAO Patty Sinnamon in a report to council at the April 9 meeting. Sinnamon said staff recommends council and staff meet semi-annually to review the plan and determine whether objectives are being reached. She also suggested council consider hosting an annual town hall meeting “as one way to ensure public feedback
on whether the actions being implemented truly meet the public’s expectations.� Top priorities outlined in the plan as result of public consultation included: - a more friendly community with everyone working together (young and old). “Residents would like to see opportunities where multi-generations work together on township initiatives such as recreation planning and community projects,� the plan states; - engage the community to take ownership of the community. “Residents indicated that they often do not know what is (going on) with various projects and often don’t know until the shovel is in the ground - they would like to more informed and be more engaged in decision making. Residents also indicated better relationships need to be built between the public, council and staff;� - co-operative approach in business development. “Participants at the community engagement meeting identified the need for the municipality to be more proactive in supporting local business. Business owners expressed frustration with the processing of development applications;� - maintain and enhance services, facilities and infrastructure. “Residents feel the current level of service they receive is good, but are concerned about costs in replacing infrastructure in the future. Concern was expressed about our aging
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halls. They need to be updated if we want to rent them out. Washrooms at our halls were identified as particularly needing upgrading. Participants identified the need to balance growth with the rural community that they currently enjoy;â€? - develop a township where people of all ages have a place to live, work and play. “The township has a good mix of housing and welcome the addition of the new apartment building for seniors. More needs to be done to keep younger generation in the community and not move to larger centres;â€? and - promote and develop an active community (biking, trails, golf). “Residents in the urban areas make good use of the township’s various walking trails. We need to promote them to the rural residents ‌ Mapleton is a relatively ‘young’ municipality according to the 2011 census data. Residents wish to remain active in numerous types of recreation activities. The township has recently adopted a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Consideration of that plan should also be given when adopting long range plans.â€? Prior to passage of the plan, councillor Andy Knetsch questioned the inclusion of the phrase “a more friendly community,â€? in the priority list. Knetsch said the statement leaves the impression the township is not a friendly place. “I see all these volunContinued on page 3
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - An Ontario Municipal Board appeal has been filed on a decision by Mapleton’s Committee of Adjustment to allow a minor variance reducing the Minimum Distance Separation requirements between an existing barn and a planned new residence near Moorefield. Alywn and Lori Woodham, owners of a farm property on Wellington Road 10, which includes a currently unoccupied hog barn, filed the appeal on April 29. The minor variance, which reduced MDS distance required from 180 metres to 159 metres between the barn and the new residence on a lot owned by Chris and Brittany Huber, was granted by the Ma-
pleton Committee of Adjustment on Jan. 9. While no appeals were filed following the original decision, the Woodhams have now filed an objection to an April 10 resolution of the committee, which endorses the committee’s decision to allow the MDS measurement to be taken from the centre of the Woodham barn, rather than the nearest corner to the residence. Mapleton CAO Patty Sinnamon said the April 9 resolution resulted from a request for clarification from the township’s building department. She said the township is still in the process of gathering the records regarding the decision to forward to the OMB, along with the Woodham’s appeal.
She said it is not known when a hearing would be held. Asked if building on the lot would be halted pending the appeal, Sinnamon said “that’s a question for our solicitor.� MDS 1 waiver in bylaw The Hubers’ lot is one of several created in the 1970s within MDS distance of the Woodhams’ barn. MDS restrictions prevented development on the lots until recent changes were made to Mapleton’s comprehensive zoning bylaw. The new bylaw waives MDS 1 requirements for existing lots that are less than 9.9 acres. The bylaw was originally passed in July of 2010, but did not come into effect until June of 2012 due to an OMB appeal on an unrelated matter.
Councillor feels committee ignores concerns by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Councillor Mike Downey feels the township’s committee of adjustment isn’t giving enough weight to objections from council on applications with which the committee deals. Downey expressed concern after council received notification a committee of adjustment decision at it’s April 23 meeting. The committee approved a minor variance allowing an oversize home industry on
Wellington Road 86. Mapleton’s zoning bylaw permits a maximum size of 2,500 square feet for a home industry, but the committee approved a variance for a 3,220 square foot shop, and an additional 396 square feet for a room to park wagons to collect sawdust on the R.R. 1, Wallenstein property. In March, council advised the committee it objected to the variance, stating councillors felt the zoning bylaw lim-
its should be adhered to. In January, the committee approved minor variance applications from owners of several lots along Wellington Road 10, despite council’s objections that the properties did not meet Minimum Distance Separation requirements and the requested variances were “not minor in nature.â€? “I don’t want to spend a lot of time on these ‌ our comments are being ignored,â€? said Downey.
Barn destroyed by fire - A bank barn on the property of Neil and Barb Driscoll was destroyed by fire on Sunday. Firefighters from the Drayton and Moorefield stations responded to the blaze, after a neighbour called to report seeing flames around noon on May 5. Mapleton Fire Chief Rick Richardson said the barn, which contained farm equipment, including antique tractors, was completely destroyed. The cause of the blaze is undetermined. Richardson said firefighters were on the scene for about five hours and prevented the fire from spreading to surrounding buildings. submitted photo
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