Staff
A pair of property zoning matters are on the agenda for tonight’s regular council meeting.
The first is a temporary use bylaw to allow town property located at Elizabeth Street West and Lillie Avenue to be used as a community garden.
This land will be used for a “trial run” to ensure no adverse affects, thus the temporary use bylaw as opposed to a permanent re-zoning.
As previously reported, a local group called the “Community Garden Team,” consisting of representatives from the Northwestern Health Unit, Northern Community Development Services, Sunset Country Métis, United Native Friendship Centre, and local gardeners, had asked the town to use the land.
The group has said it felt the community garden will address issues around food insecurity by providing accessible, affordable foods, provide opportunities for skills-building, socialization, and recreation, and also increase community pride.
Use of the property is subject to terms and conditions, such as the property is to be clean and well-kept, the garden shall be developed at no cost to the town, no activity shall occur after dark, vegetables from the garden shall not be sold from the property or any other location, and no pesticides shall be used, among many others.
The second item tonight is a zoning bylaw amendment at 990 Scott St. (Community Living Fort Frances and District) to permit residential use.
According to a preliminary planning report, the proposal is to re-purpose the property and utilize an area once used as an office for residential use, serving as appropriate housing with support for people who may not otherwise be in a position to live independently.
The public meeting regarding the zoning bylaw amendments is scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m.
The public portion of tonight’s meeting is slated to start at 6:10 p.m. The committee of the whole will meet in-camera first beginning at 5:30.
Other business on tonight’s agenda includes:
•a non-budgeted capital item (construction of additional beach volleyball courts);
•a financial request from the Northwestern Ontario Water and Wastewater Conference;
•a financial request from the Fort Frances Folk Festival;
•Minutes of Settlement re: 806 Portage Ave. (2010) and 1034 Victoria Ave. N. (2010);
•Minutes of Settlement re: 1411 Colonization Rd. W. (2010);
•a verbal update on Operations and Facilities activities;
•a request from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers for support of the resolution re: Canadian postal service charter and cuts to public Postal service and jobs;
•a request from CUPE Ontario re: proclaiming Oct. 27, 2010 as “Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day” in the Town of Fort Frances; and
•a bylaw to authorize entering into a lease renewal agreement with Patrick Langevin at the Fort Frances Airport.
