Town council will decide at its regular meeting tonight whether or not to rezone property located at the northwest corner of Nelson Street and Williams Avenue from “open space” to “residential type two (R2).”
At its March 24 meeting, council voted 4-3 in favour of moving forward with the process to see the Nelson Street property developed into five housing lots.
This is being followed up with a pubic meeting tonight regarding the proposed zoning amendment.
At the public meeting, which is slated for 6:45 p.m., groups and individuals will be given a chance to speak as to why council should or should not go ahead with the rezoning.
(The property in question should not be confused with the park with playground equipment located at Nelson Street and Butler Avenue).
A group of local residents, who also opposed the rezoning back in 2004 and some even before that, is expected to speak against the rezoning.
They also plan to present council with a petition, signed by area citizens, against the proposed rezoning.
Last week, the committee of adjustment voted unanimously against the rezoning, but council is not bound to heed its recommendation.
Council also will vote on a bylaw to amend the zoning.
If council goes ahead with the re-zoning, any member of the public can appeal the decision, in which case it will be referred to the Ontario Municipal Board, which, in turn, may set a date for an appeal hearing.
If the OMB decides in the town’s favour, the property would have to be surveyed and appraised.
Council then would vote on a bylaw to declare the property surplus, authorize the disposition of the land, and determine the method of sale.
Tonight’s council meeting is scheduled start at 7:15 p.m. It will be preceded by the committee of the whole, which starts at 5 p.m., but will be in-camera until around 5:15.
The in-camera agenda includes three items, all of which are property matters.
The committee of the whole will end by 6:45 p.m., after which time will be a public meeting regarding proposed zoning amendment #8/98-GG (Nelson Street park).
Other business on tonight’s agenda includes:
•discussion of the 2008 preliminary budget;
•a non-budgeted capital repair (chiller replacement at the ’52 Canadians Arena);
•the replacement of a pumper truck for the Fort Frances Fire Department;
•the 2008 bear response agreement with the MNR;
•a request to utilize town-owned parks for outdoor “laser tag” activities;
•the 2008 Household Hazardous Waste Day and approval of free tipping day at the landfill;
•requests from the Canadian Cancer Society for the 2008 “Relay for Life”;
•2008 municipal road and bridge infrastructure investment;
•a letter from W. Albright regarding billing for a frozen waterline at 1005 Crowe Ave.;
•Abitibi-Consolidated mill complex minutes of settlement for 2003-07;
•capping parameters for capped properties;
•a 2008 per capita funding request from the Rainy River Future Development Corp.;
•a request from the Fort Frances High School “chem-free” grad committee regarding the waiving of rental fees for the arena and auditorium;
•a request from the Fort Frances Senior Games Committee for donation of giveaways for the District 1A Senior Games here June 17-19;
•an item regarding the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Effective Municipal Councillor Program;
•travel expense claims from CAO Mark McCaig, Mayor Roy Avis, and Couns. John Albanese, Ken Perry, Paul Ryan, Sharon Tibbs, and Rick Wiedenhoeft;
•water and sewer billing issues at Rainy River Standard Condominium No. 1 (meter to be reconsidered);
•traffic control measures for Phase Two of the Central Avenue reconstruction work;
•a break open ticket licence application from La Verendrye General Hospital Auxiliary at Bonnie Blue from April 28-Oct. 28, 2008;
•a deeming application request from Tina and Jamie Roth regarding Lots 13 and 14, Plan SM60;
•a financial request from Rainy River Vet Services Committee regarding a veteran assistant trust fund;
•a financial donation request from the Rainy River District Regional Abattoir Committee for a regional abattoir;
•a request from P. Love, Ontario’s Chief Energy Conservation Officer, to proclaim May 25-31, 2008 as “Energy Conservation Week” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•a bylaw to authorize entering into an agreement Leesa and Michael Schimid with respect to use of certain town lands;
•a bylaw to establish tax ratios for prescribed property classes;
•a bylaw to authorize capping parameters for commercial, industrial and multi-residential capped property classes, and to establish a minimum tax level for certain eligible properties.
•a bylaw to authorize the town’s participation in funding from the Minister of Transportation for road and bridge capital investment needs for 2008; and
•a bylaw to provide for certain temporary traffic control measures on municipal highways in construction zones in 2008.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
