COMMITTEES LOOKING AT SERVICING OPTIONS
WAINFLEET
POLITICIANS AND PUBLIC STAFF MEMBERS FROM WAINFLEET, PORT COLBORNE AND THE NIAGARA REGION ARE NOW WORKING TOWARDS SPECIFIC DETAILS FOR LAKESHORE SERVICING ALONG THE SHORELINE BEFORE A DECISION COMES BACK TO TOWNSHIP COUNCIL IN AS LITTLE AS 18 MONTHS.
TWO OF THE THREE COMMITTEES THAT WERE CREATED AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL LAST DECEMBER TO EVALUATE CRITERIA SUCH AS COST, DESIGN, SOCIAL IMPACT AND PUBLIC CONCERN HAVE BEGUN TO MEET, MAYOR BARBARA HENDERSON CONFIRMED IN A INTERVIEW AT TOWNSHIP HALL ON FEB. 15.
THE MAYOR DESCRIBED THE CURRENT STAGE OF THE PROCESS AS "PRELIMINARY." THE JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF HENDERSON, PORT COLBORNE MAYOR VANCE BADAWEY AND SEVERAL OTHER REGIONAL COUNCILLORS AND STAFF MET FOR THE FIRST TIME ON FEB. 14 IN AN "INFORMATION MEETING."
THE GOALS OF THE JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE TO LOOK AT FUNDING OPTIONS, DIFFERENT DESIGNS AND EVENTUALLY CREATE SOME DRAFT REQUEST-FOR-PROPOSALS, SAID HENDERSON, AS WELL AS REVIEW THE TOWNSHIP'S OFFICIAL AND SECONDARY PLANS, WHICH WILL HELP DETERMINE A WAY TO FACILITATE "SMALL, MODERATE, WELL-PLANNED DEVELOPMENT."
"THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK HASN'T OCCURRED AT THE LAKESHORE," SAID HENDERSON, CALLING DEVELOPMENT THERE "RANDOM" AND DESCRIBING A NEED TO LOOK AT THE "BIG PICTURE."
AS WELL AS HELPING WITH THE EVENTUAL COST, SOME DEVELOPMENT COULD CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CERTAIN BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS IN THE LAKESHORE AREA TO STAY OPEN YEAR-ROUND, SO RESIDENTS WON'T NEED TO GO OUTSIDE OF WAINFLEET FOR BASIC COMMODITIES, SHE SAID.
THE PROJECT TEAM, COMPRISED OF STAFF FROM THE TOWNSHIP AND THE REGION, HAVE ALSO BEGUN TO MEET, SAID HENDERSON. THE PUBLIC LIAISON COMMITTEE HOWEVER, IS CURRENTLY NOT FINALIZED AND HENDERSON COULDN'T COMMIT TO A TIMEFRAME ON WHEN APPLICATIONS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE.
"IT'S TAKEN A LITTLE LONGER TO GET THESE COMMITTEES UP AND RUNNING THAN I ANTICIPATED," SAID HENDERSON, ADDING THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME FORWARD TO HER AND EXPRESSED INTEREST IN JOINING, BUT THE PROCESS IS "JUST NOT THERE YET."
ALTHOUGH THE TIME TO DEBATE ALTERNATIVES IS OVER, SAID HENDERSON, THE PUBLIC LIAISON COMMITTEE WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE PROJECT TO HAVE THE "BROADER INPUT" AND ALSO TO ACT AS A "SOURCE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC."
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COMMITTEE WILL ALSO BE INVOLVED DURING SEVERAL OPEN HOUSES TO TAKE PLACE DURING THE COMMITTEE PROCESS, SAID THE MAYOR, AND THE NON-WAINFLEET MEMBERS, FOUR OF AN EIGHT-PERSON COMMITTEE, WILL BRING JUST AS MUCH TO THE TABLE BECAUSE SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN NIAGARA, SUCH AS ST. DAVIDS, WILL HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AS CITIZENS OF RECENTLY-SERVICED AREAS.
FUNDING PROMISES TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN AS THE COMMITTEE PROCESS ROLLS FORWARD. HENDERSON SAID IT'S TOO EARLY TO BEGIN LOOKING AT DIFFERENT FUNDING AVENUES BECAUSE THE FINAL COST IS UNKNOWN, SOMETHING SHE THINKS HURT WAINFLEET WHEN APPLYING TO THE CANADIAN ONTARIO MUNICIPAL RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND IN THE PAST, AND ADDING IT'S TIME TO "FORGET THE NUMBERS," REFERRING TO THE $72-MILLION FIGURE THAT'S BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH THE PROJECT.
"I THINK ONCE WE GET THAT NUMBER IT'LL GIVE US A STRONGER CASE."
BUT, SHE SAID, EXTRA FUNDING OR NOT, EVENTUALLY WATER AND WASTEWATER MUNICIPAL SERVICES WILL BE THE FINAL SOLUTION TO THE LAKESHORE'S WATER PROBLEMS, AS THE AREA APPROACHES TWO FULL YEARS OF A BOIL WATER ADVISORY.
"I THINK WE ALL KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE MINISTER'S (OF ENVIRONMENT) ENDORSEMENT, THAT THIS WILL BE THE THING TO DO," SAID HENDERSON. "WE ALL KNOW THE PROBLEMS AND INABILITIES OF ON-SITE SYSTEMS TO WORK PROPERLY."
SHE SAID ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS HOLDING TANKS SIMPLY NEED TO BE RULED OUT BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE AREA, AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES WILL BE THE ONE WAY TO HELP THE ENTIRE LAKESHORE. IF THE PROJECT GETS FINAL ENDORSEMENT AT BOTH REGIONAL AND TOWNSHIP LEVELS, THAT COULD BE A CHIP TO LOBBY FOR MORE FUNDING, SAID THE MAYOR.
"IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT'S NOT GOING TO GO UNLESS THERE'S A LONG-TERM SOLUTION," SAID HENDERSON. "I DO SEE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE (WATER AND WASTEWATER PIPE).
"I DO BELIEVE THAT SERVICING IS THE BEST SOLUTION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM."
SHE SAID COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO COMMIT TO MAKING THE PROCESS "FAIR, OPEN AND HONEST," AND THAT SHE ORIGINALLY HOPED ALTERNATIVES WOULD WORK BECAUSE OF THE LARGE COST OF THE PROJECT. SHE SAID THAT SHE'S WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THE PROJECT IS AFFORDABLE, ALTHOUGH SHE ADMITS DEFINING AFFORDABLE IS "VERY SUBJECTIVE."
"THERE WILL BE FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLE," SAID HENDERSON. "NOBODY'S GOING TO LOSE THEIR HOME, THERE WILL BE OPTIONS."
SHE ALSO BRUSHED ASIDE THE NOTION THAT THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE FOR RECOMMENDING THE PROJECT.
"THEY (THE REGION) HAVE A NUMBER OF CONCERNS TOO," SAID HENDERSON. "THE ONLY REASON WE CAN PUT A PIPELINE IN IS BECAUSE OF A DOCUMENTED NEED, BECAUSE WE'RE RURAL."
PART OF OFFICIAL PLAN HAS 'SHORTCOMINGS'
WAINFLEET
WORK IS ONCE AGAIN UNDERWAY ON THE TOWNSHIP OF WAINFLEET'S OFFICIAL PLAN AND THE TWO DOCUMENTS THAT WILL HELP SHAPE IT.
PLANNER CHUCK MILLER UPDATED MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ON THE PLANS WHICH HE HAS BEEN REVIEWING SINCE ASSUMING THE PLANNER'S POSITION IN NOVEMBER. WITH THE NORTHEAST SECONDARY PLAN DRAFT COMPLETED LAST YEAR AND THE TOWNSHIP READY TO UNDERTAKE A PLAN FOR THE LAKESHORE, THEIR COMPLETION WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN DRAFTING THE TOWNSHIP'S UPDATED OR NEW OFFICIAL PLAN. MILLER SAID MEMBERS OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES ESTABLISHED TO HELP GUIDE THE PLANS WILL ALL RECEIVE LETTERS THIS WEEK TO ATTEND MEETINGS IN MARCH TO SEE WHAT DIRECTION THE PLANS ARE TAKING AND WHAT WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.
HE HIGHLIGHTED "SHORTCOMINGS," IN DESIGNATED AREAS OF THE NORTHEAST'S PLAN WHICH HE SAID WILL HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED. "I WILL MEET WITH TWO OF THE THREE COMMITTEES AND WILL REPORT TO COUNCIL WITH A COURSE OF ACTION," MILLER SAID.
HE SAID CONSULTANTS WILL MOST LIKELY BE HIRED TO COMPLETE THE PLANS AND SAID IDEALLY THE SAME FIRM WILL COMPLETE THE ALL THREE PLANS.
WATER SERVICES WILL PROMOTE GROWTH: MAYOR
WAINFLEET
A BOIL WATER ADVISORY AND E. COLI THREAT AREN'T SOMETHING MANY WOULD CONSIDER A POSITIVE WHEN CHOOSING A PLACE TO LIVE.
WAINFLEET MAYOR BARB HENDERSON IS HOPING THE PROPOSED MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM WILL END THE TWO ISSUES AND BRING GROWTH TO THE TOWNSHIP.
"WITH NEW HOMES EXPECTED TO BE BUILT, DEVELOPERS WILL CHOOSE WELLAND, PELHAM OR PORT COLBORNE," HENDERSON SAID. "I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM CHOOSE WAINFLEET. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS."
ALTHOUGH MANY MAY DISAGREE WITH THE PROJECT HENDERSON SAID DUE TO THE ONGOING HEALTH CONCERNS SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. AN ON-SITE SEPTIC SYSTEM SOLUTION WAS TURNED DOWN DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH SOIL CONDITIONS AND LOT SIZE, IT WON'T WORK.
THE PROJECT WAS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD BY BOTH THE MUNICIPAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS LAST YEAR. OVER THE NEXT 12 TO 15 MONTHS REGIONAL STAFF WILL UNDERTAKE STUDIES IMPOSED BY THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT.
WHILE A MUNICIPAL WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM WILL MAKE WAINFLEET A MORE DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE HENDERSON WANTS TO MAINTAIN THE "RURAL FLAVOUR" OF THE TOWNSHIP. SHE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE LARGE INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS SET UP TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE HERITAGE COUNTRY ATMOSPHERE OF WAINFLEET. SHE WOULD HOWEVER LIKE TO SEE SOME CHANGE.
THE LONG BEACH AREA COULD BE A YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION. IF THE SERVICING WERE AVAILABLE THE RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL STORES IN THE TOURIST AREA COULD STAY OPEN YEAR ROUND. "IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THESE PLACES OPEN YEAR ROUND IN OUR COMMUNITY," SHE SAID. "SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH FOR THESE SERVICES."
THE SERVICING PROJECT WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN A PRESENTATION GIVEN BY THE FOUR MAYORS OF THE SOUTHERN TIER LAST WEEK.
PROMOTING AGRICULTURE WAS ANOTHER ISSUE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PRESENTATION WHICH HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON WAINFLEET. WITH PLENTY OF AVAILABLE LAND FOR FARMING HENDERSON WANTS TO ENSURE THAT LIFESTYLE IS SUSTAINABLE. HENDERSON HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE REGIONAL CHAIR'S AGRICULTURAL TASK FORCE TO ENSURE THE FARMING FUTURE IS PROSPEROUS.
THE PLAN IS TO CREATE A NIAGARA LABEL SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE PURCHASING FOOD PRODUCTS IN THE GROCERY STORE THEY CAN EASILY IDENTIFY WHICH PRODUCTS ARE HOME GROWN. WHILE THE MAIN AGRICULTURAL STREAM IN WAINFLEET IS CASH CROPS THERE ARE ALSO GREENHOUSES, DAIRY, POULTRY AND PORK FARMS IN THE TOWNSHIP.
"THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE EAT," HENDERSON SAID. "WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES, THAT'S THE KEY TO SUSTAINABILITY."
COLLECTIVE VOICE NEEDED FOR REGION;
KEY IS TO MOVE FORWARD, NOT BACKWARD
If Niagara is going to win in the future, it has to be willing to gamble a little.
That was the consensus of the final panel at NiagaraPalooza Thursday, a first-ever economic development conference discussing how to make the area boom. Niagara has to speak with a collective voice and move forward aggressively, even if the direction looks unfamiliar, the panel said.
"At least in this room at this moment there's the desire to take those bets and work those bets," said Jack Lightstone, Brock University president. "We don't want to be back here a year from now repeating the same exercise. What we have here is momentum."
The future of Niagara, speakers said, is to capitalize on its post-secondary schools and the young talent who graduate. The region could become a new media hub where interactive entertainment companies thrive, and an area that markets itself with a collective voice rather than city by city.
While Niagara feels the sting of lost manufacturing jobs, the key is to move forward, not backward, said the panel, which included Lightstone, Niagara College president Dan Patterson, Niagara Economic Development Corp. chief executive officer Patrick Gedge, Shaw Festival artistic director Jackie Maxwell and Standard publisher Paul McCuaig.
"It really is survival of the smartest, and it's a fiercely competitive environment out there," Patterson said.
The panel capped off a day of speakers at the Sheraton Fallsview, among them economic development guru Richard Florida. NiagaraPalooza drew more than 500 attendees, said organizer Mark Brickell, Niagara Economic Development Corp.'s vice-president of smart growth and partnerships. It could become an annual event spanning two or three days, he said.
Brickell concurred with the panel, adding it is important that attendees take that "frenetic energy" to work today.
"They're calculated risks," he said. "We're not rolling the dice on these things. But we have to do something different and look at what things we're willing to try."
Part of the new wave is nGen, a new media incubator in partnership with Brock University, Niagara College and the economic development corporation, among others. The incubator, unveiled this week, will be a resource for young entrepreneurs with ideas for new media companies.
Also key to the region's future will be transportation, Gedge said. Two years ago, Niagara competed for a new auto plant from South Korea. The plant owners eventually chose London because of Highway 401.
"If we can give concrete examples of where businesses made a decision one way or the other based on transportation, it helps politicians understand," Gedge said.
It is difficult to have a sustainable economy when people must own cars to get to work, Lightstone said.
"You're not going to elevate the income of Niagara if people have to own a car," he said. "We need an effective regional transportation system."
Jim Bradley, St. Catharines MPP and Ontario minister of transportation, heard the message loud and clear. Bradley cited improvements to the St. Catharines portion of the QEW as progress. He would also like to see VIA Rail service improved, he said.
The problem, Bradley said, is overwhelming demand on a finite budget.
"If you were to transport yourself to somewhere else in the province, you'd hear the same thing," he said. "There are demands across the province and the demands always exceed the budget. But that doesn't mean we can't make progress."
The day went exactly as planned, Brickell said.
"We wanted wine and food and artists and dancers and technology," he said. "It's a Palooza."
TAXPAYERS SHOULD'T FOOT BILL
HOW LONG CAN WE TAXPAYERS CONTINUE TO BE SO UTTERLY STUPID?
IN 1996 A RURAL COMMUNITY NEAR OTTAWA HAD A WASTEWATER PROBLEM. AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CONVINCED THE PROVINCE AND THE REGION THAT A "BIG PIPE" SOLUTION WAS TOO COSTLY, AT ONLY $16.3 MILLION, AND RECOMMENDED THAT A COMMUNAL ALTERNATIVE PLAN SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AT A COST OF $3.8 MILLION.
TWO INDIVIDUALS, THE REGIONAL CHAIR AND THE MUNICIPALITY'S MAYOR DECIDED OTHERWISE AND IN SPITE OF MANY OBJECTIONS A BIG PIPE SOLUTION WAS IMPOSED. FOUR YEARS LATER AND AT A COST OF OVER $30 MILLION, ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH TAXPAYER MONEY AS FIRST ESTIMATED, THE BIG PIPE IS IN.
THE "DOWNSTREAM FORCEMAIN" LEADING AWAY FROM THE URBAN AND MOST POPULATED AREAS HAS RUPTURED "MASSIVELY" SEVEN TIMES IN THE PAST 20 YEARS. IT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO CONTINUOUS AND ONGOING SLOW LEAKAGE. THE MAYOR WHO HELPED FORCE IT THROUGH HAS RECENTLY BEEN "PROMOTED" AND OFFERED THE NEW CHAIR OF THE MISSISSIPI-RIDEAU SOURCE PROTECTION COMMITTEE. THE MINISTER WHO PROMOTED HER HAS JUST BEEN DUMPED BY THE MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT. I WONDER IF ANYONE LIVING IN WAINFLEET MIGHT RELATE TO THIS SORRY TALE. WE ARE NOT QUITE THERE YET AND THERE IS STILL TIME TO STOP IT!
A YEAR AGO WAINFLEET'S TOWNSHIP COUNCIL CLAIMED SUCCESS AND ACTUALLY CELEBRATED BEING AWARDED A $550,000 TAXPAYER GRANT TO REBUILD QUARRY ROAD BRIDGE. I DO AGREE THE BRIDGE DOES NEED REBUILDING. JUST TWELVE MONTHS LATER THE FINAL COST IS ACCEPTED AS $720,000. I MAKE THAT 30 PER CENT MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE? IN LESS THAN 12 MONTHS? ANY OVERSPENDING TO BE PAID FOR BY WAINFLEET'S TAXPAYERS?
OUR MAYOR'S CURRENT HOPE IS TO GAIN ANOTHER $300,000 FROM YET ANOTHER AND NEW TAXPAYER FUNDING OFFER FROM THE PROVINCE. IF SHE FAILS THEN NEVER MIND, HER CONSTITUENTS CAN ALWAYS BE RELIED UPON TO FRONT UP WITH ADDITIONAL TAXES!
ANDREW WATTS, WAINFLEET
BEACHES CLOSED 810 SWIMMING DAYS IN 2007
Regional
Niagara residents and visitors to the region lost a total of 810 swimming days at the peninsula's many beaches in 2007 because of beach closures, a new report shows.
From May 18 to early September, Niagara's regional government monitored 33 beaches for problems, usually high levels of E. coli bacteria which can cause infections and other potentially serious health problems, through weekly testing of water samples. In addition, the City of St. Catharines carried out daily water testing at Jones Beach, Lakeside Beach and Garden City Beach in that city.
Of a possible 3,924 total days that people had available to them to swim at all the beaches, 20.64 per cent of the days were lost, a staff report to regional politicians said recently. Beaches are posted as unsafe when E. coli counts in the water exceed 100 E. coli bacteria per 100 millilitres of water. The percentage of days lost during the swimming season in 2007 was actually lower than the 27.26 per cent of days lost in 2006, but higher than in 2005 when 16.98 per cent of swimming days were lost and in 2004 when only 12.57 per cent of swimming days were lost.
In the Wainfleet area, there were 256 Days Lost At 10 Beaches, with Long Beach Conservation West Beach topping the list with 50 lost days. Port Colborne LOST 158 SWIM DAYS, with Nickel Beach topping the list of five beaches with 52 lost days.
Fort Erie LOST 150 SWIM DAYS, with Burleigh Avenue Beach topping the list of eight beaches with 42 lost swim days.
In Niagara-on-the-Lake, 25 SWIM DAYS WERE LOST AT THREE BEACHES, including 16 lost days at Ball Street Beach.
In St. Catharines, 124 swim days were lost at three beaches, including 80 lost days at Jones Beach.
West Lincoln lost no swim days at three beaches, but there were 97 days lost in Grimsby at five beaches, including 44 lost swim days at Murray Street Beach.
E. coli is a nasty bacterium present in the digestive tracts of warm-blooded animals which produces a powerful toxin. It can contaminate beaches from leaking septic systems at homes and cottages, from animal waste in farm runoff, and waste from overloaded municipal sewer systems.
Niagara Region recently decided to study local beaches to determine what sources are contributing to E. coli contamination, and what can be done to address it. In a recent report to politicians, regional staff said Niagara's large number of beaches and the large tourism population that visits the peninsula each year mean Niagara's recreational waterways have a high profile.
PLANNING REPORTS COMING SOON, MILLER
WAINFLEET
WORKING ON WAINFLEET'S OUTDATED OFFICIAL PLAN IS A HIGH PRIORITY TO EVERYONE AT TOWNSHIP HALL, INCLUDING CHUCK MILLER.
THE TOWNSHIP PLANNER TOLD THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AT ITS JAN. 8 MEETING HE HOPED TO HAVE REPORTS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENTS READY BY EARLY FEBRUARY.
HE CONFIRMED THE TIMEFRAME IN A PHONE INTERVIEW WITH THE LEADER JAN. 17.
WAINFLEET'S OFFICIAL PLAN, WHICH DATES BACK TO 1980, IS IN NEED OF AMENDMENTS TO BECOME COMPLIANT WITH POLICIES SET OUT BY THE REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS. THERE HAVE BEEN A SERIES OF UPDATES TO THE PLAN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, BUT IT'S "DUE FOR SOME AGAIN," SAID MILLER.
MILLER SAID RECOMMENDATIONS ON NEXT STEPS REGARDING THE TWO SECONDARY PLANS IN THE TOWNSHIP, THE NORTHEAST SECONDARY PLAN AND THE LAKESHORE SECONDARY PLAN, WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT.
THE NORTHEAST SECONDARY PLAN OUTLINES THE AREA FROM FORKS ROAD AND REGIONAL ROAD 24 TO THE WELLAND RIVER. A DRAFT VERSION OF THE PLAN WAS COMPLETED BY INTERIM PLANNER STEVEN RIVERS WITH INPUT FROM A STEERING COMMITTEE INCLUDING MAYOR BARBARA HENDERSON AND ALD. EVAN MAIN.
THE PLAN WAS A MODEL TO CONTROL ACCELERATED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE LARGELY ZONED RURAL SECTION OF WAINFLEET, BUT MANY PEOPLE SPOKE AGAINST THE DRAFT AT A PUBLIC MEETING LAST FALL, BELIEVING IT WAS ANOTHER STEP IN ERODING THE TOWNSHIP'S RURAL CHARACTER.
THE DRAFT PLAN, INCLUDING FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC MEETING, HAS YET TO BE SENT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW, SAID MILLER.
"WE NEED TO REVIEW THAT FOR PURPOSES OF COUNCIL ACTION SOMETIME THIS YEAR," HE SAID.
THE LAKESHORE SECONDARY PLAN NEEDS UPDATES PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR SERVICING IN THE AREA, SAID MILLER. SOME WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THE LAKESHORE SECONDARY PLAN, HE SAID, ALTHOUGH SO FAR THERE ARE "NO DOCUMENTS OF SUBSTANCE."
AN UPDATE TO COUNCIL WILL CONTAIN RECOMMENDED ACTION ON THE PLAN, SAID MILLER, WHO OFFICIALLY BECAME WAINFLEET'S PLANNER IN LATE 2007 FOLLOWING MICHAEL BENNER'S DEPARTURE IN THE SUMMER.
"I'VE STUDIED THE ISSUES AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT," HE SAID. "I'VE GOT MY FEET WET, SO TO SPEAK, AND I'LL BE MAKING SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS."
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
