May 22, 2024

Grey Highlands Town Hall meeting draws a large crowd

BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — Grey Highlands Town Hall meeting on May 22 at the Markdale Arena Complex attracted over 200 attendees. There was a flow of people into the room with more and more chairs having to be brought in.

Mayor Paul McQueen stated that the meeting purpose was to listen to the people in attendance who wished to speak.

The first speaker provided some information about the original founder of Talisman, Alex Graydon who built it for pleasure and create happy memories. His concerns about clean water led him to donate 4 million dollars to protect the Feversham watershed. 

Many speakers had concerns about the Beaver Valley Development at the former Talisman lands.

The following issues were raised:

The Grey Highlands Strategic Plan states that Grey Highlands will be Canada’s most inspired and well-managed rural community. To provide innovative leadership in the areas of lifestyle, environment, economy, and governance. Establish sustainable growth planning practices with environmental, social, and economic considerations.

The Beaver Valley Development does not seem to align with the strategic plan.

Many speakers were against the Beaver Valley Development Plan citing concerns about water, sewage the watershed.

One resident near the former Talisman lands said that their well was running dry. When she mentioned it to neighbours they had similar problems.

A retail store owner said that her customers come to Grey Highlands to see the natural areas that we have. They don't come to see a townhouse development.

A public zoom meeting is planned for June 12 at 5 pm. Councillor Paul Allen Planning Meeting Chair, said that they plan to allow participants to speak for 5 minutes so that everyone will be heard.

In general meeting attendees did not like the idea of a zoom meeting but would rather have the meeting be in person.

Councillor Allen said that they thought people from out of the are would like to attend and that is why they thought a zoom meeting would work.

There have been limited opportunities for public comment unlike other issues.

If the Beaver Valley Development goes ahead other developers have an easier time getting approval for other developments

Some mentioned the conceptual plan and questioned what that means.

The watershed connects everything, an independent expert was hired by concerned Beaver Valley resident group reported that the development would irrevocably damage the Beaver River, damage fishing in the very fragile watershed. Human waste will flow along the river towards Thornbury.

Subdivisions in rural areas drains financial resources away from the municipality. Better growth models put development within town boundaries, which earns revenue.

The Sunshine Law was mentioned. The Ontario Sunshine Law came into effect in 2008, which was an amendment to the Municipal Act established a public complaints system to enforce the requirement that all municipal meetings be held in public.

Other topics included:

Lack of access to defibulators (AEDs) which are located in libraries. Library hours limit the access to AEDs.

Lake Eugenia algae problem and who is going to own that problem. A task force is being set up to deal with the issue.

Durham hospital loosing beds the affect on Markdale hospital.

Signage and noise in Kimberley.

Roughly 25 speakers took their turn raising their concerns to Grey Highlands council members, with the meeting ending at about 9:30 pm.

 

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