Duane Hicks
Town council has been asked to hold off on re-zoning the former Huffman School property on Williams Avenue into a residential subdivision until the location for an assisted living facility in Rainy River District is determined.
Local resident Bob Armit said that as a fifth-generation resident and taxpayer in Fort Frances, he is concerned “not only about the town’s long-term land use sustainability plan but also the future health, well-being, and happiness of our residents.”
“My expressed concerns are based on personal experience as a current member appointed to the Economic Development Commission of the Town of Fort Frances,” said Armit, noting that at a recent EDAC meeting, he also brought up that he felt the re-zoning decision should be delayed.
“[Last] week’s announcement of layoffs at our local paper mill reinforces the need to delay the decision in question and to establish a visionary long-range sustainable community plan,” he concluded.
Robert Schulz, representing both himself as chair of Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (S.A.L.T.) and Erma Armit, chair of the Assisted Living Action Group (A.L.A.G.), also requested that the re-zoning of the Huffman School property be delayed until their search for a future site for an assisted living facility is complete.
Schulz noted that in the town’s strategic plan (item #26), it indicates that: “Council will support the initiative undertaken by the Assisted Living Action Group (A.L.A.G.) through consultation and the provision of assistance that is within the town’s capabilities and in conjunction with other local authorities (i.e. Riverside, RRDSSAB).”
“The Assisted Living Action Group is committee to working with the Town of Fort Frances in the realization of this goal. Our intent is to establish appropriate assisted living capabilities in the Rainy River District.
“As we move forward with the creation and implementation of a community strategic plan, we are appreciative of the participation of council in our planning process.”
In January, A.L.A.G. will present community stakeholders with an action plan that’s based on feedback from strategic planning workshops, the “Aging at Home Survey for Older Adults,” ongoing research, and community-based discussions.
“At that time, we will present the various property options that have been brought to our attention, and assess their respective qualities in order to obtain community direction,” Schulz said.
“We look forward to council’s engagement in consultation, and the provision of assistance, as outlined in the Town of Frances Strategic Plan.”
Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft said he thought A.L.A.G. and S.A.L.T. would be in favour of the proposed amendment because in order to even look at the Huffman site as an assisted living area, it would have to be re-zoned.
“So to go ahead with the re-zoning doesn’t necessarily mean that A.L.A.G. and S.A.L.T. are going to be left out in the cold,” he stressed.
“It just means that this is going to be re-zoned to residential, which would fit the assisted living.”
Coun. Wiedenhoeft also noted S.A.L.T. and A.L.A.G. have been invited to attend the Dec. 3 meeting of the Planning and Development executive committee to discuss potential building sites for a future assisted living facility.
Coun. Wiedenhoeft spoke in favour of the proposed re-zoning going forward, noting the town has been looking for a low-cost property to develop for residential purposes for a long time.
The town’s first choice was the so-called “Nelson Street Park” on Williams Avenue, but the Ontario Municipal Board ruled against that re-zoning.
“We desperately, desperately need residential property in this community to increase our residential tax base,” Coun. Wiedenhoeft stressed.
“Desperately need it.
“We have 22 people right now on the waiting list for just 16 properties in this development, the majority of which are not related to the mill layoff,” he added.
“Those people are still interested in purchasing and in developing residential property in this community, which would certainly go a long way to help our residential tax base.
“We should not delay this any longer,” Coun. Wiedenhoeft argued. “We should go forward with this.
“I am in extreme favour of this moving forward without any delays.”
Coun. Ken Perry agreed, noting “this has to go forward.”
“I don’t see it precluding assisted living,” he said. “Assisted living is going to be residential. We have to re-zone it anyway.
“It’s just one step closer to reality if we do re-zone it,” Coun. Perry reasoned.
“If we delay it, what are we leaving it as? Institutional, and it’s of no value to anybody.”
Municipal planner Faye Flatt said the comments received at Monday night’s meeting will be evaluated and a full report will be brought to council for consideration at its next regular meeting.
Mayor Roy Avis said council is expected to make a decision regarding the re-zoning at that Dec. 10 meeting.
As previously reported, the re-zoning—from institutional to residential (R2)—is to accommodate the creation of a 16-lot residential subdivision, with six fronting Williams Avenue and an additional 10 on a proposed cul-de-sac.
The town bought the property in November, 2010 from the Rainy River District School Board for $158,325.74, with the intention to utilize the site for residential development that may or may not have involved demolition of the vacant school.
After having several committees review potential usage of the property, it was determined that demolishing the school and developing the property to sell for housing lots was the best option.
The Committee of Adjustment considered the town’s re-zoning application at its Nov. 19 meeting and unanimously supported it.
