Parry Sounds ~ Ideas and Opinions, In and Around Parry Sound

There is nothing unexpected in the meeting minutes of May 7, 2019. A couple of items are worth noting. Additional details are found below in the body of this post.

7.1. – Recommendation to Dispose of CP Station. It looks as though the CP Station will be sold. I hope it finds a useful future, that hasn’t been the case to date with the CN Station.

10.3.3 – Rezoning Application – Z/19/02 – Pine Drive. Best Western has received approval to land in Parry Sound.

Other

1.4.1 – Mayor McGarvey Declared Pecuniary Interest on item 6.3.1 on the Closed Agenda and item 7.1 on the Open Agenda, as his wife is the Executive Director of the Festival of the Sound. He did not attend the Closed Session; and left the room for item 7.1 on the Open Agenda, did not participate in discussion nor vote on the item.

1.4.2 – At the commencement of item 9.4.1, Councillor Backman left the room, did not participate in discussion, nor vote on the item. At the conclusion of the meeting, Councillor Backman submitted a written declaration of pecuniary interest on the item as she is a member of WPS SMART.

Public Meeting

2.1 – Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment– Z/19/03 – 32 Riverdale Road (Laforme/Hubert)
With reference to the first matter on Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment – Z/19/03 – 32 Riverdale Road (Laforme/Hubert), Clerk Rebecca Johnson reported that Notice was given by prepaid first-class mail to the required prescribed agencies and property owners within 120 metres, posted on the property, and was placed on the Town’s website. Manager of Building & Planning Services Taylor Elgie reported that the applicant has requested relief from the Residential First Density (R1) Zone to permit two residential units within the existing structure and to reduce the parking space size from 3 metres by 6 metres to 3 metres by 5.4 metres. The property is an existing building located at 32 Riverdale Road, known as Lot 72 on Plan 172, in the Town of Parry Sound. Mayor McGarvey invited anyone who wished to speak in favour of this proposed zoning by-law amendment to come forward. Marie Laforme, owner of 32 Riverdale Road addressed Council saying that she is in favour of the proposed zoning by-law amendment. Mayor McGarvey invited anyone who wished to speak in opposition of this proposed zoning by-law amendment to come forward. No person came forward. Mr. Elgie reported that no letters have been received either in favour of, or in opposition to the proposed zoning by-law amendment.
Mayor McGarvey advised that the public should contact staff or check the Town’s website to see when this amendment will come back for a decision. Council, at its discretion, may approve the proposed Zoning B-law Amendment. If so, it must either circulate notice of passing of the by-law or give notice in the local press. Objections to the passing of the by-law will be received by the Clerk within 20 days from the date such notice is given, which objections will be forwarded to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. If an appeal is submitted and the appellant has not provided Council with an oral or written submission before the passing of the by-law, the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal may choose to dismiss the appeal.

2.2 – Proposed fee for the consideration of Alternative Solutions as defined by the Ontario Building Code.
With reference to the second matter on the Proposed Fee for Alternative Solutions Consideration under the Building Code Act, Ms. Johnson reported that Notice was given by advertisement in the newspaper and was placed on the Town’s website. With respect to the purpose of the proposed fee, Chief Building Official John Este reported that the building code act and the code itself make provision for compliance through the use of alternative solutions. The prescriptive part of the code is reasonably straight forward to review. Alternative solutions require great care during review since the Goals and Objectives must be evaluated, and, the alternative solution must be compared to an acceptable prescribed solution. Since this takes extra staff resources, it makes sense to levy a suitable fee to offset this resource cost. Some of this background was provided with the notice on the Town’s web site and has been circulated. No person came forward in response to Mayor McGarvey’s invitation for members to speak either in favour of, or in opposition to the proposed by-law amendment. Mr. Este reported that no letters have been received as a result of this notice. Mayor McGarvey advised that the public should contact staff or check the Town’s website to see when the proposed by-law will come back for a decision. Carried

Questions of Staff

3.2.1 – In response to Councillor Keith’s inquiry regarding what steps the Town has or can take to mitigate flooding in the Parry Sound area, Director of Public Works Peter Brown reported that the only location where there has been substantial flooding is on Parry Sound Road behind the Hospital. He noted that he has had extensive discussions with the Hospital representatives, private property owners and CN Rail and will continue to monitor over the summer months.

3.2.2 – In response to Councillor Keith’s inquiry regarding the fire rating process, Fire Chief Dave Thompson reported that forest fire regulations through the Forestry Act require fire rating on April 1st annually. The Town has three fire rating visual sites: one on Bowes Street entering Town; one on Church Street entering Town, and the third at the Waste Transfer Station. Area municipalities work together or maintain a common fire rating.

3.2.3 – In response to Councillor Borneman’s inquiry regarding construction projects underway, Mr. Brown reported that contractors are on-site blasting related to the Isabella Street project; that the Dennis Street project is finished; and the Macklaim Street project will start tomorrow. With respect to the Waubeek Street project, Mr. Brown reported that significant work has been done, however incidents of members of the public driving through red lights on Waubeek, putting staff at risk, has resulted in the decision made to close Waubeek Street for a couple of months to local traffic only starting next week.

3.2.4 – In response to Councillor Borneman’s inquiry regarding renovations at the Bobby Orr Community Centre, Manager of Parks & Recreation April McNamara reported that the floor is out, three feet of new compacted sand is in place, insulation is being laid, and the project is on-time.

3.2.5 – In response to Councillor McCann’s inquiry regarding the process for repair of wash-outs, Mr. Brown reported that the Town has a protocol to prioritize worst cases first. In all events it is necessary to call for locates which can take 5-7 days; On the list to attend to are ones on Brenda, Louisa and Edward Streets, and that the Town would appreciate receiving information from the public on Town road allowance wash outs, if the Town hasn’t already reached out.

3.2.6 – With respect to road line painting, Mr. Brown responded to Councillor McCann’s additional inquiry on this subject to say that line painting will likely commence within the next month when the road reaches a more consistent appropriate ambient temperature and the sand has been swept, the latter action being undertaken now.

Correspondence

4.4 – Scott Scarrow, Board member, Granite Harbour. Granite Harbour waste collection review request, specifically that the Town provide recycling and waste collection services, as opposed to Granite Harbour providing these services privately. Referred to Director of Public Works for follow-up, with a report brought back to the next Council meeting.

5.1 – Ian Fleming, Alison Scarrow, Dan DiNicolo, Donald Sanderson, John Sallinen, Festival of the Sound Board. Future of the CP Station/Festival Office – Withdrawn

Ratification of Matters from Closed Agenda

7.1 – Recommendation to Dispose of CP Station. Advise the current tenant (Festival of the Sound) of the Town’s intention to sell the CP Station property. Staff will ensure that the Festival of the Sound is aware that their business needs will be taken into consideration as it relates to timeline of the sale of the property;
Declare the CP Station surplus to the needs of the Town in accordance with Town policies; and Hire a realtor to dispose of the property in an “as-is” condition and make the Environmental Site Assessment available for review in the Town’s Office. Carried

Resolutions and Direction to Staff

9.4.1 – Appointment as a WPS SMART Member.That Clayton Harris, the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer be appointed as a member of WPS SMART to represent the Town, replacing the former representative, Rob Mens, the former CAO. Carried

By-laws

10.1.1 – Financial Assistance to Elderly Persons Centres. That staff be directed to process the grant payment to Parry Sound Seniors Club in the amount of $5,000, as approved through the 2019 Budget Process, being 100% of the budget for Seniors Assistance; and Provide correspondence to the Parry Sound Seniors Club indicating the October 31 deadline for their annual grant requests; and encourage the Club review their membership’s place of residence and request financial support from those area communities as well. Carried
By-law 2019 – 6917. Being a By-law to revoke By-law 2001-4399 regarding an out-dated funding provision for an Elderly Persons Centre. Read a First, Second and Third time, Passed, Signed and Sealed.

10.1.2 – Appointment of Treasurer. By-law 2019 – 6921. Being a By-law to appoint Stephanie Phillips as Treasurer of the Town of Parry Sound Read a First, Second and Third time, Passed, Signed and Sealed.

10.3.1 – Pointe au Baril EMS Base. By-law 2019 – 6918. Being a By-law to authorize the execution of an agreement with the Township of The Archipelago for the use and occupation of the EMS Base located at 70 South Shore Rd., Pointe au Baril. Read a First, Second and Third time, Passed, Signed and Sealed.

10.3.2 – Primary Public Safety Answering Point. By-law 2019 – 6920. Being a By-law to authorize the execution of an agreement with the OPP for the provision of 9-1-1 Primary PSAP Services. Read a First, Second and Third time, Passed, Signed and Sealed.

10.3.3 – Rezoning Application – Z/19/02 – Pine Drive (John Jackson Planner Inc. on Behalf of V.G. Cox Limited). By-law 2019-6922. Being a By-law to amend By-law No. 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for Pine Drive (John Jackson Planner Inc. on Behalf of V.G. Cox Limited). Passed, Signed and Sealed.
Direction Approved for Staff Follow-up: That staff be directed to bring forward pole sign renewal until January 31, 2045 for Oastler Park Shopping Plaza Limited. Carried

10.4.1– Georgian Nordic Paddling MOU RE: William Street Park for Paddling Training Centre. By-law 2019 – 6919. Being a by-law to approve the memorandum of understanding with Georgian Nordic Paddling for use of William Street Park as a paddling training centre. Passed, Signed and Sealed.