TBM will not prohibit single homes built on development land

Local Journalism Initiative

July 5, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.·3 min read

The Town of The Blue Mountains will not be taking action to restrict single homes from being built on land zoned for future development.

At its committee of the whole meeting on July 2, council voted unanimously to keep the status quo in place for properties zoned for future development in settlement areas of the town.

Town planning staff had recommended that restrictions be placed on properties zoned for future development to avoid single residences being built on large lots in settlement areas that are meant for future development.

Staff had recommended that a full zoning amendment be required if a property owner wanted to build a single home on land zoned for future development.

In June, council had deferred making a decision on the staff recommendation and had asked staff to bring back more options for consideration.

At the committee of the whole meeting, planning staff returned with a follow-up report with three options:

The earlier recommendation of a rezoning being required for single homes on lots zoned for future development.
Single homes being allowed as of right, but with restrictions on their size (200 square metres, and location on the lot) to avoid large homes in the centre of a development lot.
The status quo, where single homes would continue to be permitted on development lots and town staff would work to assess and incorporate zoning provisions from the older zoning bylaws of Collingwood Township and Town of Thornbury into the current town zoning bylaw. Staff did not recommend this option as it was a substantial project that would eat up considerable staff time.

Planning staff continued to stand by their earlier recommendation.

“We do see that as the best option for the control of future development in the town’s settlement areas,” said planner Carter Triana. “Essentially this entire project is looking to ensure lands that are slated for future development are retained as much as possible.”

Council chose to keep the status quo in place after expressing concerns about restricting how private landowners develop their properties.

Coun. Alex Maxwell said he was concerned the project would be “interfering” with private ownership of land.

Coun. Shawn McKinlay moved the resolution to proceed with the third option presented by staff. McKinlay said at a public meeting about the proposal, the town had heard from property owners concerned about the change.

“We all heard it loud and clear from current owners of properties in these areas that they were extremely concerned that they have yet to build their dream retirement home and they would be subject to limitations,” said McKinlay.

Coun. Gail Ardiel said she couldn’t support taking away a property owner’s ability to build the home they wanted on their land.

“They have the ownership of that and they should be able to build what they want,” she said. “To take that away because it’s zoned D, I just don’t think that’s appropriate.”

Chris Fell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, CollingwoodToday.ca

The Canadian Press
'Nobody has these stories': Canada's longest river at record low levels
Canada's longest river is at historically low levels, stranding communities that rely on it for essential goods and alarming First Nations along its banks who have never known the mighty Mackenzie to be so shallow.
LA Times
Motorcycle tour of Death Valley turns fatal as thermometer cracks 128 degrees
As the temperature climbed to a record 128 degrees in Death Valley National Park, a group of motorcyclists was sickened by the heat, and one died.
CBC
Province orders conservation authorities to drop wetlands mapping plans
The Ontario government has ordered three conservation authorities in the eastern part of the province to suspend plans for updated wetlands mapping after some landowners complained the process caught them by surprise. One of the conservation authorities had appeared to cite new provincial regulations as an impetus for the project. But in an emailed statement to CBC last week, Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources said mapping updates were never the intention of the regulatory changes. The prov
CBC
'Unbelievable I survived': Yukon woman attacked by bear speaks out
Vanessa Leegstra is still recovering after a bear attack in Haines Junction, Yukon on June 30. Speaking from hospital, she said she's still in a lot of pain. Leegstra was on a run with her dog near the Pine Lake campground at around 10 p.m. that day when she spotted a group of bears. "I was trying to give them space before my dog noticed, but she either saw or smelt them... and she took off towards them," she said. Leegstra's dog was leashed, but upon seeing the bears it broke free and chased aw
GOBankingRates
6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From Buying
Not all hybrid cars are created equal. While some models offer excellent fuel efficiency, reliability and performance, others fall short. With so many options, it can be tough to separate the good...
PA Media: UK News
More than 10,000 passengers hit by flight cancellations
Affected passengers are unlikely to be eligible for compensation as the disruption is deemed to be out of airlines’ control.
CNN
Death Valley sets a new daily record with a searing 128 degrees as West Coast heat wave drags on
Extremely dangerous heat is dragging on in the West along with heat and humidity in the eastern US.
CBC
Heat warning not keeping people away from first weekend of Stampede
Downtown Calgary's Stampede Park is packed with Stetson-wearing festival goers this weekend, in spite of an Environment Canada heat warning. More than 161,000 people jammed into the grounds for the Stampede's opening day – just short of 2023's best-ever opening day attendance of 164,939.Stampede CEO Joel Cowley said about 340,000 people showed up over the first two days, putting the festival about two thousand admissions behind last year's record-setting pace. "Our concerts are toward the end of
The Canadian Press
Whale researcher says orphan orca 'likely' seen off Vancouver Island at Friendly Cove
VICTORIA — A killer whale calf whose struggle for survival captured international headlines when she became trapped in a Vancouver Island tidal lagoon earlier this year only to escape on her own has likely been spotted swimming further south along British Columbia's coast.
Global News
Extreme heat becoming the usual for summer in Western Canada
The potentially dangerous heatwave in Western Canada is only going to get worse in the coming days with Environment Canada issuing more warnings on Sunday evening. And with heat there is often fire. Dan Spector has more on the weather picture which is especially bad south of the border.
The Canadian Press
Heat warnings expand in British Columbia as heat wave intensifies
VANCOUVER — A heat wave has settled in, bringing scorching temperatures across more than 40 regions in British Columbia.
The Weather Network
Long-duration heat event ramps up in B.C. with hotter temperatures
Folks across B.C. are feeling the heat as temperatures have rapidly climbed to high levels, and will stay that way into this week
The Weather Network
Hurricane warnings issued as Beryl swirls toward Texas
A stretch of the Texas coast is now under a hurricane warning as Beryl is expected to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico
Business Insider
The most common type of EV battery is a growing source of 'forever chemical' pollution, scientists say
Scientists found PFAS used in lithium-ion batteries in air, water, snow, and soil near chemical plants in the US, Belgium, and France.
The Weather Network
Beryl's lingering impacts to reach southern Ontario and Quebec this week
Southern Ontario and Quebec could feel the lingering impacts of Beryl this week after the record-breaking storm makes its final landfall.
CBC
Extreme temperatures across Alberta produce smoke, fire and heat warnings
From High Level to Fort McMurray to Edmonton, heat warnings are in effect for nearly all of Alberta.Temperatures in northern Alberta are expected to climb to between 30 and 35 C and will persist until at least midweek, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. In Calgary, where Stampede is underway, attendees face temperatures in the low 30s.Rob Griffith, lead metrologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada, says the heat in western Canada is due to a system of high pressure, mixe
CBC
Fight is on to stop spread of invasive zebra mussels in Saint John River
Clarissa Hoffman and Kristen Elton of the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council aren't about to let something smaller than a pistachio ruin a treasured ecosystem. They're working to stop the spread of the prolific zebra mussel in the watershed of the Saint John River, also known as Wolastoq.Zebra mussels were first detected in New Brunswick in the summer of 2023, a year after they were found in Quebec's Lac Témiscouata.Elton, program director for the council, said zebra mussels are considered "
The Weather Network - Video
a U.S. landfall is a guarantee for Beryl this work week, here is the timing
Meteorologist Jaclyn Whittal has the forecast details
The Canadian Press
B.C. heat records tumble, Environment Canada to provide update on heat wave
VANCOUVER — Nearly two dozen daily temperature records have fallen as a heat wave continues in British Columbia, pushing the mercury over 40 C in some areas.
People
Baby Giraffe Born at Kansas City Zoo 'Already Stands 5 Feet 6 Inches Tall': 'Welcome to the Herd'
The female Masai giraffe "weighs in at approximately 125 pounds," the zoo said

Latest Stories