Council / Committee Meetings – Thursday, April 21, 2022

Tobermory Campground Expansion

After a public meeting, the Planning and Development Committee approved a change to the County Official Plan to allow for an expansion at the Land’s End Campground near Tobermory. The Amendment will re-designate the lands abutting the existing campground from the Rural Area designation to the Travel Trailer Park and Commercial Campground Area designation to facilitate the development of 21 additional camp sites. The campground expansion will utilize existing campground amenities and infrastructure, avoids sensitive ecological features and functions, and will allow the Land’s End Campground to meet market demand.

Lot Severance in Inverhuron

After a public meeting, the Planning and Development Committee approved a change to the County Official Plan to allow for a severance of subject lands at 19 Cayley Street, Inverhuron in the Municipality of Kincardine, to create a new building lot. Both lots will be 2272.6 m2. The severed parcel is vacant and will have 40.2 m of frontage along Wood Street. The retained parcel is occupied by a dwelling and will have 56.5 m of frontage on Cayley Street. Inverhuron is a Secondary Urban Community. Development on the proposed lot will contribute an additional dwelling and opportunity for home ownership in this neighborhood and the existing house on the retained parcel will be maintained. Creating an infill lot represents good growth as it makes efficient use of land. The severed parcel will be serviced with municipal water.

High Density Residential Site in Port Elgin

The Planning and Development Committee approved an amendment to the Town of Saugeen Shores Official Plan to add a site-specific provision to the Highway Commercial designation to permit high density residential uses. The amendment would facilitate high density residential uses in addition to commercial uses on the subject lands. The 2.77 hectare site is situated at the northeast intersection of Waterloo Street and Devonshire Road in Port Elgin. The lands were designated Highway Commercial and are currently vacant. The addition of high density apartment dwellings to this designation creates a mixed use opportunity that makes efficient use of land and infrastructure. The proposed development would increase the supply of residential units in Saugeen Shores by an additional 113 to 249 units in an apartment format.

Lot Severance in Port Elgin

The Planning and Development Committee approved severance of subject lands at 560 Waterloo Street at the southwest corner of Waterloo Street and Johnston Avenue in Port Elgin, creating two 406.12 m2 residential parcels. The severed lot is vacant and will have 20.34 m of frontage along Johnston Avenue. The retained parcel will have 19.96 m of frontage along Waterloo Street and is occupied by a dwelling. The severance is strongly aligned with the Good Growth Principle as an infill lot would be created within an established residential neighborhood where services exist to service the development. The severance is also strongly aligned with the Bruce County Guiding Principle on Homes as it will add to the supply of homes and creates an opportunity for homeownership.

Lot Creation in South Bruce Peninsula

The Planning and Development Committee approved the creation of two 2-hectare, non-farm residential lots on private services in the Rural designation at 259 Elsinore Road in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. The retained parcel will have an area of approximately 125 hectares and is proposed to continue to be used for agriculture. A County Official Plan Amendment was recently approved to facilitate the consent application by permitting more than one lot to be created at a time. Likewise, a local Official Plan Amendment was approved to facilitate the consent by permitting 3 lots to be created from an original Crown lot, including the retained lot. The severance will provide two additional building lots available for development and will not impact the viability of the owner’s farm and would not result in a Minimum Distance Separation conflict with surrounding agricultural operations.

Proposed Changes to Planning Act (Bill 109) 

The Planning and Development Committee approved that the Appendices to the “Proposed Changes to Planning Act (Bill 109)” report be forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs as Bruce County’s Comments on the EBR Registry numbers 019-5284, 019-5285, 019-5287, and 019-5286. Bruce County will also send a letter of objection to the Province regarding the passing of Bill 109 prior to public consultation. This letter of objection will be circulated to the municipalities of Bruce County. The Ontario Provincial Government has proposed Bill 109, titled the “More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022.” This Bill would amend several pieces of legislation including the City of Toronto Act, Development Charges Act, New Home Construction Licensing Act, New Home Warranties Plan Act, and the Planning Act.

Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership Update

Since its inception in April 2020, GBLIP has established the Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership Council comprising of over 50 members from over 40 organizations across Grey and Bruce. The GBLIP Partnership Council supported by GBLIP staff and Grey and Bruce Counties economic development staff has developed and launched a brand and key messaging toolkit and a Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership Settlement Strategy 2025 (the Strategy). Over the next three years, GBLIP will endeavor to contributing to a prosperous and welcoming Grey Bruce - moving beyond settlement to inclusion. As a desired outcome, the region will be able to strengthen its position to attract newcomers and address labour force challenges felt across sectors by local businesses. The Grey-Bruce Local Immigration Strategy 2025 and its corresponding actions will help build a stronger regional economy. Attraction, integration, and retention of newcomers continues to be a priority across Grey and Bruce as workforce challenges continue. GBLIP complements the broader economic development portfolio and works in collaboration with stakeholders to provide strategic and specific supports benefiting all our communities and residents. Find resources at www.greybrucelip.ca.

Plan the Bruce: Heritage Discussion Paper 

The Heritage Guiding Principle is about understanding and preserving our shared cultural heritage in Bruce County. The Heritage Discussion Paper identifies key policy themes and considerations of Heritage that will be subject to ongoing consultation and engagement as the policies of the new Official Plan are developed. The County has already undertaken important work to inform an updated approach to cultural heritage. This includes a Cultural Action Plan (CAP) which identifies objectives and provides recommendations regarding arts, culture, and heritage. The CAP is based on six core values, which are also identified in the Plan the Bruce Heritage Discussion Paper. These core values will inform and direct policy outcomes with respect to the updated County Official Plan. The County is also undertaking an Archaeological Master Plan, in collaboration with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, Historic Saugeen Metis, municipalities, and other key stakeholders. The objective of this plan is to identify key areas of archaeological importance within the County and outline how to protect the archaeological integrity of these areas. Discover more at www.planthebruce.ca/heritage. 

By-laws

Bruce County Council:

• appointed a Deputy Clerk for the Corporation of the County of Bruce
• adopted Amendment Number C-2021-025 to the County of Bruce Official Plan
• adopted Amendment Number C-2021-005 to the County of Bruce Official Plan

Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team Membership

The Long-Term Care Homes Committee of Management approved that Bruce County reaffirm their interest in the development of the Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team (OHT) and continue to be a member of the Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team Planning Committee. In 2019, the Ontario Health Teams were introduced to provide a new way of organizing and delivering care that is more accessible and connected to patients in their local communities. On September 17, 2021, Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team was approved by the province.

Appointment of Weed Inspector

The Transportation & Environmental Services Committee appointed the Forestry Technician (Kevin Predon) as the Area Weed Inspector. Upper and lower tier municipalities are required under the Weed Control Act to appoint a Weed Inspector. Registration with the Province is required to include the name of the individual, however the County’s by-law will recognize the Job Title and will remain a responsibility of any incumbent to the position.

Sauble Beach Traffic Signals Detection System

The Transportation & Environmental Services Committee approved that $26,000 from the Traffic Control Reserve be used to purchase and install a new traffic detection system for the signalized intersection of Bruce Road 8 and Bruce Road 13 in Sauble Beach. The current traffic detection devices located at the intersection of Bruce Road 8 and Bruce Road 13 in Sauble Beach need to be repaired/replaced and are no longer supported due to antiquated hardware/software.

Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority Municipal Access Agreement Bruce Road 6

The Transportation & Environmental Services Committee approved the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority Municipal Access Agreement for work on Bruce Road 6. Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) will install an Environmental Monitoring and Stream Gauge station at the Teeswater River bridge crossing on Bruce Road 6 west of Teeswater and east of Sideroad 25. The monitoring station will collect data to better understand the surface water environment in the watershed.

Bruce Road 15 Storm Sewer Inverhuron

The Transportation & Environmental Services Committee approved that $90,000.00 be transferred from the Roads Reserve to the Replace Storm Sewer Bruce Road 15 Inverhuron project. Bruce County Transportation and Environmental Services Department will enter into a cost share agreement with the Municipality of Kincardine in order that a historical drainage issue on Bruce Road 15 in Inverhuron can be remedied. The reconstruction will improve storm water infrastructure. The existing storm pipe acts as main outlet for the drainage of Albert Road, John Street, and Victoria Street. Kincardine is responsible for the water and sanitary infrastructure of the project as well as a portion of the storm and road improvements. The existing watermain and forcemain need replaced in addition to extending the water to Albert and installing a low-pressure system for future property connections. The redesign should also address concerns with parking at the park, and the impact it had on visibility to the dead end.

Black Bear Population Surveys in County Forests

The Transportation & Environmental Services Committee authorized the Warden and Clerk to execute an agreement granting permission to technicians from the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Owen Sound Field Office to set up passive barbed-wire survey traps within Bruce County owned forests for the purpose of monitoring the black bear population on the Peninsula. Black bear barbed wire hair trap (BWHT) surveys are recognized as the most robust field method used in estimating black bear populations. BWHT surveys will be conducted by trained field staff beginning in mid-May to the end of June on County Forest Lands that include the Amabel and Lindsay Tracts. Survey stations are being placed away from high traffic areas such as trails and pose no threat to the public. They will be set up in forested areas with a small amount of canned sardines to encourage bears to investigate the survey station. As the bear comes to the station, it brushes up against a single strand of barbed wire, which captures a small sample of the bear’s hair. The collected hair samples will take place once a week and undergo DNA analysis to determine the sex and identity of the bears, and how many bears are new or returning visitors to the site. The data will be used to estimate the density of bears in an area surrounding the survey line.

Delegations 

• Ms. Carol De Rosie - Presented a Third Party Report on the South Bruce Grey Health Centre Nursing Shortage.
• Ontario Health West Correspondence - Correspondence discussed South Bruce Grey Health Centre emergency room closures.

Deputy Clerk Appointment

The Executive Committee appointed Darlene Batte as the Deputy Clerk for Bruce County. The Municipal Act provides that a municipality may appoint a Deputy Clerk who shall have all the powers and duties of the Clerk under the Municipal Act or any other Act. This appointment ensures that the Corporation will be properly served in all respects of the role of Clerk during the transition period of the Clerk’s retirement.

Bruce County Housing Corporation Annual General Meeting

The Bruce County Housing Corporation:

• approved that all acts, by-laws, resolutions, contracts, proceedings, elections, appointments, and payments enacted, passed, made, done, or taken by the Directors and Officers of the Bruce County Housing Corporation since the date of the last Annual Meeting of the Members of the Corporation be and the same are hereby approved, ratified, and confirmed.
• approved Robert Buckle as President/CEO and Char of the Board, Janice Jackson as Vice-President, Edward Henley as Treasurer, Donna Van Wyck as Secretary, and Christine MacDonald, Tania Dickson, and Devon Gordon as Officers until the next Annual Meeting of the Voting Shareholder or until their respective successors shall be elected and appointed.
• approved the unaudited financial statements of the Bruce County Housing Corporation for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2021, which have been prepared by the accountants of the Corporation.

Penetangore Place/Hub Capital Build

The Gary Street, Kincardine Build project, now known as Penetangore Place and Penetangore Hub, was a major initiative in the 2019 Human Services Business Plan. The objective of the project was to provide additional units of community housing in a new purpose-built development. The project included 35 community housing units (25 one-bedroom units, 6 two-bedroom units, and 4 three-bedroom units) and an office ‘hub’ for Human Services. Although project completion was delayed due to a number of factors that were pandemic related, occupancy of the Hub office space occurred in February 2021, occupancy of the apartment units commenced in May 2021, and the building became fully occupied in October 2021. This development totaled 43,755 square feet, with a total cost of $14,335,076.00. The overall cost per square foot for the project was $327.62.

BCHC Appointments & Approvals

The Human Services Committee: 

• appointed BDO Canada LLP as the accountants of the Bruce County Housing Corporation until the completion of the next Annual Meeting of the Voting Shareholder of the Corporation, or until a successor is appointed, at such remuneration as may be fixed by the Board of Directors.
• appointed The Ross Firm & Grove-McClement Professional Corporation as the corporate solicitors of Bruce County Housing Corporation until the completion of the next Annual Meeting of the Voting Shareholder of the Corporation, or until a successor is appointed, as such remuneration as may be fixed by the Board of Directors.
• authorized the Warden and CAO to sign the Consent of Shareholder to an Exemption from Audit for Bruce County Housing Corporation.
• approved Robert Buckle, Luke Charbonneau, Gerry Glover, Steve Hammell, Janice Jackson, Milt McIver, Chris Peabody, and Mitch Twolan as Directors of the Corporation until the completion of the next Annual Meeting of the Voting Shareholder of the Corporation or until their successor is duly elected subject to the provisions of the by-laws of the Corporation and the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario).
• approved that the Annual Meeting of the Voting Shareholders be held on April 6, 2023 for the purposes of receiving and considering the financial statements of the Bruce County Housing Corporation for the next fiscal period, electing Directors, appointing the accountants and the corporate solicitor, and transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
• approved the unaudited financial statements of Bruce County Housing Corporation for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2021 and the same are hereby accepted by the Sole Shareholder of Bruce County Housing Corporation.
• approved that all acts, by-laws, resolutions, contracts, proceedings, elections, appointments, and payments enacted, passed, made, done, or taken by the Directors and Officers of the Bruce County Housing Corporation since the date of the last Annual Meeting of the Members of the Corporation be and the same are hereby approved, ratified, and confirmed.

Social Service Relief Fund Phase 5

The Human Services Committee authorized the Warden and Clerk to execute the Social Service Relief Fund Phase 5 Allocation sign back letter and that the Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF) Phase 5 – Investment Plan be approved for submission to the province and implementation with provincial confirmation. The 2022 budget will be amended as required. Bruce County will receive $500,000 in additional funding for SSRF 5 for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The funding will flow through the recently announced Homelessness Prevention Program Transfer Payment Agreement. 

This publication identifies highlights from recent Bruce County Council and Committee meetings. Bruce County’s Office of the CAO maintains complete agendas and minutes from all Council and Committee meetings, which can be reviewed at www.brucecounty.on.ca/government/agendas-and-minutes