11 21 2001 Transcirption of Tape of Public Meeting(1)Transcription of Tape of Public Meeting
November 21, 2001
P-116-01 (Settler's Ghost Golf Course)
Mayor Beard — "The next item is a public meeting and this public meeting
has been called under the authority of The Planning Act to obtain public
comments with respect to the proposed zoning by-law amendments to
rezone subject property at Line 1 North and Horseshoe Valley Road from
Agricultural/Rural and Environmentally Protected EP Zones to Private
Recreational and Environmental Protection Zones to permit the
establishment of a golf course and associated facilities. And that's file No.
P-116-01.
To date, the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Oro-Medonte
has not made a decision on the proposed amendment other than proceeding
to a public meeting. Only after comments are received from the public,
Township staff and requested agencies and within an appropriate time period
will Council make a decision on the proposed amendment Notice of the
Public Meeting was sent out to all required agencies and land owners within
120 metres/400 feet of the subject property and posted on the subject
property. Madam Clerk, has there been any correspondence received on this
matter?"
Marilyn Pennycook — "Yes Your Worship. The correspondence dated Nov.
21, 2001, from Charles F. Burgess, Director of Planning and Technical
Services, Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority."
Mayor Beard — "Thank you. All persons present will be afforded the
opportunity of asking questions in respect to the proposed amendment to the
zoning by-law. I'll now turn the meeting over to Andria Leigh, the
Township Planner, who will explain the purpose and affect of the proposed
amendment. Andria."
Andria Leigh — "Thank you Your Worship. As the Mayor has indicated, the
purpose of tonight's public meeting is to obtain comments with respect to a
proposed zoning amendment. The subject property is again, in a gray shade
in this location. This is Line 1 North. This is the Horseshoe Valley Road in
this location. The property is approximately 116 acres in size and is
currently in a zone Agricultural/Rural and Environmental Protection. It's
also currently designated Rural and Environmental Protection to Overlay
and Environmental Protection One.
The intent of the proposed rezoning would be to allow for an eighteen -hole
golf course as well as the associated facilities that would go with a golf
course. In order for Council to consider such an application in accordance
n with the Official Plan there are a number of studies that are required to be
/ completed by an applicant. In this particular case the studies that have been
completed to date are a hydrogeological assessment, an environmental
impact study, Stage I to III archaeological assessment, a water budget and
storm water management report and a traffic impact study. Most of those
studies have been reviewed by Purereview Consultants for the Township and
in the case of the traffic impact study, because of the Horseshoe Valley Road
being a County road, it has also has been reviewed by the County of Simcoe.
All of those studies are available for review at the Township office for
anybody to look at at any point in time. As well, any of the review
comments are also available for public information as well.
If the amendment on this particular property was approved, again it would
be subject to site plan control to ensure that the outline of the golf course,
the sighting of the buildings, the parking areas, the landscaping, are all
addressed at the satisfaction of the municipality. The purpose of tonight's
meeting is to obtain any comments from the public prior to Council
considering this application. The intent would be that any comments would
be reviewed through the planning department. It would then be brought
forward in a report to Council for their consideration. Your Worship, Mr.
Rick Hunter, who is the consultant for the applicant would like to make a
few comments prior to opening it up to the public comment."
Rick Hunter — "Thank you Your Worship. As mentioned, my name is Rick
Hunter. I'm planning consultant with Planscape and we represent Norm
Grant of FST Holdings who are the proponents for the Settler's Ghost Golf
Course. With me this evening as well is Gord Neilson from McCalsky,
Neilson Associates, who has prepared the environmental impact study and
will briefly comment on it as well as the other environmental reports that
have been prepared and were mentioned by Ms. Leigh. All of these reports
including an agricultural assessment have been finalized over the past
several months. The original zoning amendment application was submitted
in February of 2001 and over the summer, these various reports and
including a number of redesigns of the golf course have been made.
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Following this evening's meeting a separate planning report will be
submitted that summarizes the project, that outlines the planning issues and
specifically responds to any questions that may be raised this evening. As
mentioned by Andria, tonight's public meeting is only one of the steps in the
overall process of review.
n Your Worship, the number of items have been resolved over the last year as
1 well. The preparation of the archaeological assessment of the site has been
reviewed and cleared by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
We note that there were no significant archaeological resources identified on
the site and that included when the site went through a stage III review in the
archaeological assessment which actually involved plowing the fields and
searching in detail for artifacts. Comments have also been received from the
County of Simcoe Roads and Engineering Department advising that the
proposal would not significantly impact the operation of the intersections
within the immediate future and that's defined as between the next ten to
fifteen years and that the County will not require any road improvements at
this time. In a couple of minutes, Mr. Neilson will address the issues related
to the environmental reports.
Based on our review and the work of the other consultants that have worked
on the site, we're satisfied that the proposal does have regard for the
Provincial Policy Statement, that we saw addressed in the issues that are
raised in the County of Simcoe Official Plan and in the Township of Oro-
Medonte Official Plan. As Andria mentioned its in Rural designation with
an EP designation over part of it so the main part of the golf course is in the
Rural designation, the rear part which actually fairly significantly slopes
leading back towards the property of the Copeland Forest, is part of the
Environmental Protection designation and as you can see from the site plan
that is here, that area is going to remain protected and is not going to be
impacted by the agricultural at all. I suppose it will be subject to site plan
approval and in addition to the usual items that are dealt with in site plan as
far as location of the club house, parking, the landscaping on the site, I
believe there will also be requirements for implementing the best
management practices for the operation of the golf course as well. Again,
these are standard items in evaluating golf course development. I would ask
Mr. Neilson now to comment on a couple of the environmental findings on
the site."
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Gord Neilson — "My name's Gord Neilson. I'm the author of the
Environmental Impact Study. The purpose of the Environmental Impact
Study was to look at the biological and physical conditions on the property
determining environmental opportunities and constraints, possible impact
post land use change, compliance with environmental policy and
recommendations to mitigating factors. It establishes an environmental blue
print to guide the design, construction and operation of the golf course. It
draws on information from all members of the project team which included
storm water our engineers, hydrolgists, hypergeologists, golf course
architect, the planner and baronogist.
The property from a natural features perspective is quite straight forward. It
consists mainly of farmland. The area at the North portion of the property is
forested and slopes down towards the Copeland Forest ansi and towards a
Copeland Forest wetland. There is a significant wetland that goes off the
property. Apart from that, in the parking areas of agricultural use there are
established hedgerows and an area of pine plantation in the south end of the
property.
The soils on the property are very sandy and have important infiltration
characteristics and that functions in feeding the downgrading of wetlands.
Water that falls from this property largely goes into the ground and feeds
down through the wetland through the shallow aquifer system. That aquifer
system is separate from a lower aquifer system, from the intermediate
aquifer which is where irrigational arm is proposed that we can help. So the
irrigation water comes from an aquifer which incurs below the downgrading
Copeland Forest wetland and has no relationship to that wetland. And
Burnside Weather took the detailhydrogenoxenburgdidlong from pumping
on that well and did monitoring on the wetland and Seefichzones associated
with the wetland had no impact. MOE has issued a permit to take the water
for the required golf course irrigation supply based on the following
background Burnside submitted.
Storm water management is addressed in the environmental impact study.
It's an important component of both construction and operations of the golf
course.
Golf course management is also addressed in the EIS. So again its got to
take a detailed course management plan will include requirements for
integrated pesticide management and for conservation. With respect to the
s
integrated pesticide management, that means that the golf course is required
to have a qualified superintendent who has taken courses on turf grass
disease, whose job it is to make sure that as little chemical as possible is
applied in controlling that turf grass disease and that means going out and
spotting disease early and using other solutions as a first priority other than
chemical solutions. That not only makes good environmental sense, its also
very cost effective. It easily more than pays for the salary of a good
superintendent to use such a program. It means that when a decision that a
chemical is needed, it means applying it in only a spot treatment and it
means applying it only under very specific weather conditions.
There is also commitment for its undertaking a monitoring program during
both construction and operation of the golf course to make sure that all the
measures are being taken to protect the environment affected and if any
problems develop, they're found quickly and can be solved quickly.
In summary, the EIS demonstrates the ability of the course to fully respond
to the environmental sensitivity for this landscape, including its location on
the Oro Moraine. And we believe the proposal fully responds to the
environmental policies of the Township, the County and the Province.
Thank you. I believe Norm Grant would like to say a few words."
Norm Grant — "Good evening. Now that you've heard the technical side of
our proposal for Settler's Ghost, I think its appropriate and if you'll bear
with me and give me a couple of minutes to understand the emotional side to
what we are proposing. My background is in golf properties. For the last
ten years I have specialized in golf properties throughout all of Canada, and
the North East end of the U.S. That's allowed me the opportunity to see a
variety of different concepts and deal with experts in the golf industry. But
more importantly I've got a firm understanding of where the golf industry
has been and where it is today and most importantly, where its going to be in
the future.
Recently the National Golf Foundation completed a study dealing with golf
participation in the World. We have always ranked within the top two. Two
years ago we were second behind Sweden and in the most recent study, we
are number one in the World for golf participation. That, in conjunction
with Sports Canada's study, who just completed a six year study in looking
at participation with in this country, golf is number one in this
country — not hockey, not soccer, not lacrosse —just golf. As a result of
those two findings, there's an underlaying tone with the golf industry. And
there are two areas within golf participants that are serving or fueling that
growth. Women and children. Women take up the game of golf in the
greatest numbers. They also give it up the fastest as well and the reason for
that is the lack of facilities that are comfortable and environments for them
to come and learn how the play the game of golf. Children are not welcome
( l typically at most golf courses that are built in this country. Most golf
courses are too long, they're too expensive and they're too hard. They cater
to a very small component of golf participants in Canada. Settler's Ghost
has taken those results and what we've tried to do with the design is build a
golf course that's friendly for the family. That's our marketplace.
This golf course will have five sets of tees put in place on it. Four of your
traditional tees that will be able to offer adults their ability to tee it up from
different sections of the golf course, but most importantly, and I think to my
knowledge the first of its kind in Canada, we have designed on every single
hole, kid's tees, from 150 to 200 yards out from every hole. And there's two
reasons for that. The first is to ensure their experience is as successful as
possible. That brings the kids back to what I believe happens to be the
greatest game. The second is from a family unit standpoint. They can go
collectively down each particular hole and play the game of golf, regardless
of their ability. Again, catering to the family golf.
In designing this golf course, we have worked on looking at a number of
different grasses and there is a reason for that and that is we want to
minimize the amount of water use in this golf course and we also want to
minimize the amount of chemicals that are used in maintaining this golf
course. From an operating standpoint, our golf course will be very
reasonably priced. We are not going to be competition to Horseshoe. If
anything, we will probably be a very good adjunct to their marketing ability.
We don't have hotel rooms. There's no design here for any type of hotel
component to it at all. Kids will be welcome. With our training programs
that will go on here, if a child shows up at Settler's Ghost without a set of
golf clubs, they'll be given a set of golf clubs free of charge to go and play.
In fact, we're going to do two other things novel to I believe this Country.
We're going to bring back the caddy program. We're going to train kids in
this area, in Oro-Medonte, to go through a complete training program and be
in a position to learn how to caddy, so that a golfer coming to Settler's Ghost
on prime time, he'll have the option of either carrying their bags themselves,
or renting a golf cart, but for the same price, they'll be allowed to take a
caddy. A child or kid from the area will have the opportunity to obviously
learn different areas in expertise within the golf business. But most
importantly there will be defined periods of time during the week at this golf
course where kids will have the opportunity to play for free. This is the
second time I've said it in public and that will be part of our marketing.
Kids will play for free on this golf course at certain times.
_i From an archaeology standpoint, our theme was Settler's Ghost and the
name is obviously attractive and it's catchy but what we're trying to do is
we're trying to celebrate the history of Oro-Medonte. We have an
archaeology find on this property on the ninth hole. It dates back to the
1400's. That will be incorporated into the design of the golf course so as
people play the ninth hole, they will in fact have the opportunity to learn a
little bit about who used to be on the land. On top of that, for the majority of
every tee walk in this golf course there will be a piece of antique farm
equipment. The story as to what that equipment was used for, how it was
used and when it was used. So not only is it a golf game, it's a different
experience. It gives them an appreciation for the history of Oro-Medonte.
One of the things that is interesting in looking at the impact of golf courses
in the community: Harvard business school did a comprehensive analysis in
the North American market on the impact of golf courses. And, without a
doubt, it concluded that the surrounding lands around a golf course increase
in value. So again, from the design standpoint, recognizing our neighbours
that are here, and the impact and value on their real estate by having this golf
course here, we have designed to keep everything, as far as the focal point of
traffic, as close as possible to Horseshoe Valley Road. The choice is this.
From this standpoint, as far as the design of the golf course, personally, if I
was walking out my backyard, I'd rather look at a nice manicured golf
course than a corn field, but that's my own personal opinion. Other people
may be different, but at the end of the day, the impact with our neighbours,
we're trying to minimize, when the golf course is completed, it has an
impact on the value of their real estate for the positive.
We want to teach kids how to play golf but we also want to give them the
opportunity to work at Settler's Ghost, to give them the skills that they'll be
in a position to take with them for the rest of their lives. In closing this
evening, the reason we're here, obviously (end of side one of tape)
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..........................and the impact of golf in my life. So in closing, I thank
you for your time. We certainly welcome any questions if we have not
addressed them in this evening's presentation. Thank you very much."
Mayor Beard —"In order to ensure that everyone who wishes to have an
opportunity to speak, we will have a five minute maximum time per person.
l,_ J The clerk will ring the bell to remind you there is one additional minute to
speak and then once again, when your five minutes are completed. This is to
give everybody who wishes, an opportunity to speak. There are a lot of
people here tonight so for those who have questions, could the first question
come forward and speak into the mike and state your name please."
Barbara Simon — "The Mayor has a smile on his face. I think he was
expecting me. Mr. Mayor, Members of Council. My name is Barbara
Simon. I'm here tonight to voice concern as the property owners to the
north of the proposed golf course. Points of concern: Certainly, some of
these have been addressed in their presentation but I'm going to go through
mine.
Ground water usage: I'm of the opinion that the water for the golf course is
going to come totally from a well which is at the same depth as
neighbouring wells. What effect will this have on our supply of water? You
supplied the report and I understand from Andria that there are some reports
here.
Location of vehicle entrance: I would hope the entrance would be at the top
of the hill where there's a road allowance. If the entrance is to be on Line 1
North, then I would hope that the intersection off of Horseshoe Valley Road
and Line 1 North would be reconstructed. All local residents know this is an
extremely dangerous intersection with Line 1 North going off on the curve.
The East-West traffic now have difficulty controlling their vehicles when
negotiating the curve, yes, as a result of many accidents and even deaths.
Additional traffic added by vehicles turning North on Line 1 off this curve
would undoubtedly compound an already existing hazard. Also, Line 1
North would have to be rebuilt and I would think that that would be at the
cost of the developer. It's my understanding of doing a little developing,
that a lot of these costs come back to you.
J
� C) 9
No. 3 the name of the Golf Course: Well, Settler's Ghost — you know, that
really upset me because I don't think there's any ghosts on Line 1. You may
have a good reason for the choice but ooh, kind of scary.
Pesticides: What is going to be used and what affect will it have on our
water and the health of the residents? Thinking of the long-range affect on
our children and our grandchildren, not to forget ourselves. We have a grass
waterway on our property and we certainly don't want pesticides running
into it. Thank you.
What type of fencing will keep our children and animals safe and how high
will it be. Golf balls travel at a fast rate of speed and often very high. It is
not our intention to interfere with private enterprise but we need assurance
that the developer has to meet all requirements to offset the additional risk of
health and well being of local residents and also the public use of the
Horseshoe Valley East-West corridor. Thanking you in advance and I will
send you a letter."
Mayor Beard — "Thank you. Gentleman, I assume that you are going to
respond collectively to these questions. Next question please."
Stephany Sinton — "Hi, my name's Stephany Simon. I'm a neighbour of the
golf course. My issue basically tonight is that my intention to use the
property that I live on is for its purpose which is agricultural. I intend to
have horses there. I have an in mind. I intend to have horses. I have
small children. The fields that the golf course will back onto are my hay
fields, which are presently a cornfield and two hay fields. I need to know
what kind of fencing or what kind of prevention would you be providing so
the golf balls are not landing in my hay field. I'm not going to go out
searching for. They can end up in our shredder, which can end up in my
hay, which I in turn will be feeding to my horses. That creates a huge issue
for me.
If you use pesticides next door to my horses - I intend to have horses there
that are high -end horses — they're not hobby horses, so pesticides and golf
ball consumption is a huge concern of mine and also trail riding. I want to
use the land for what it was intended to be used for. I need to know the
answers for my questions. Thanks."
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Elizabeth Earle — " Mr. Mayor, members of council, my name is Elizabeth
Earle and I've lived on that line longer than anybody else that lives on it
right now. We moved in at 1967 so I can tell you two things that I'm most
concerned about and they really are the same things that both Stephany and
Barb have mentioned:
Traffic — The County says nothing needs to be done? We've had four
L _ / fatalities within the last two years. That's only the last two years. Ask any
of my neighbours, up until two or three years ago, how many times they
replaced their mailboxes that were knocked out time after time after time.
Ask anybody who lives on our line who wants to go into work in the
morning. It's not unusual when I'm going in to wait at that corner for at
least twelve to fourteen motor vehicles to go by. The only time I feel safe is
when I go in front on my neighbours and he's got his tractor and wagon.
The people that use that road now are not the people that used to. Okay,
that's ancient history, but I'll tell you, they tailgate; they go well over the
speed limit. It's no wonder that there are so many motor vehicle collisions,
upsets and fatalities at that particular corner. And the County says nothing
needs to be done. Poppycock!!
If this course enters from that intersection, the children in the car or the van
or whatever, man you're asking for child fatalities. There is another
possibility. At least one. And that's the unopened Second. It's a natural.
Yes, it's at the other end of the farm from the building. But what would you
rather have. A dead child or another infant. That's my major concern.
Of equal concern is the water. Both the grass waterways and there are two
of them, both of which end up in our place. One goes across the Sintons
property and through into our place and eventually into Copelands. The
other one goes across the side road below Barb Dunsmores. Ask her about
the effects of drilling and pumping on her well, and then it ends up again in
our property. And, I know Neil is quite familiar with those two grass
waterways. What happens if we have another drought as we did this past
year? You tell me that pumping water, extra water for golf courses, is not
going to affect somebody on the first? I didn't come down with yesterday's
brain.
There are studies that have been done. I was not aware of them and that's no
problem of yours. It's simply mine that I didn't investigate. I will have a
look at those studies.
Those are our major concerns as residents. Is it going to increase the value
of our property? We don't care. What we care about is safety for everybody
on that First Line. It's very short but we think we're important and we care
about safety for the people that are going to use the golf course. The many
children — let's keep them safe. That intersection is
Thank you gentlemen."
Mayor Beard — "Next person please."
Barbara Dunsmore — "My name is Barbara Dunsmore and I have property
right across at the corner on the First. Now when they did the environmental
study and the water, my well, when they were running the flow on the new
well, they continually monitored it every two, three and four hours and in the
end when I talked to them they had told me that my well was the only one
that was affected really significantly and I had concerns about the fact that
whether or not would I have a problem down the road with this water. And
because of the depth of the well we have to have up there, and the fact that
we do not have a lot of flowing water, it does concern me that my well could
be a very strong factor. Thank you."
Mayor Beard — "Next questions or statements?"
Joyce Sinton — "Mr. Mayor and Council. My name is Joyce Sinton and I
live at the other end of Line One North, the dead end. And of course, I'm
concerned about traffic on the road and there certainly will be more people
turning around in my gate should the golf course be allowed. Trafficking
concerns are really the only things I wish to speak about. If the entrance
remains on Line One North, considerable improvements would have to be
done to our road. I hope that consideration would be given to cutting the hill
down so that it would be safer for people walking on the road because we do
have children on the road but we also have seniors and near seniors that use
the road as a walking program consistently. I just have the vision that
somebody will come in and decide that they `d have the road hard topped
because the current gravel situation is less than wonderful and hard top
means increased speed. Increased speed would be very difficult on that road
unless you significantly widened it
I too dislike the name `Ghost' and I don't really want to live on Ghost Town
road or Settlers Ghost's road or some such name which could easily happen
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down the road as it becomes named by the commercial activity as has
Horseshoe Valley Road. Everyone knows where Horseshoe Valley Road is
and Horseshoe Valley was a private effort. So I would wonder if
consideration would be given to `Settler's something else — like Settler's
Green.
Lastly, but maybe not so unimportant, we are bee keepers and I wonder if
(l 1 there'd be any provision in the plans that they would notify us when there is
significant amounts of insecticide was going to be distributed on the golf
course if this goes through. If we could put something in place before this
happens, it would be good news for us. Thank you."
Mayor Beard — "Next person. Go ahead."
Stephany Sinton — "I just wanted to ask also if it will be licensed. If you can
drink alcohol on the course and also about garbage litter. I know now I can
leave two bags out so I wonder about
Mayor Beard — "These questions will be responded to when we wrap up
after . Next question?"
Kathy Buckingham — "Hi. My name is Kathy Buckingham. I'm actually a
resident outside of Craighurst and _ other event. I just
wanted to say that as a parent with teenagers, I'm quite delighted that there
is an opportunity both for children to learn how to golf in an area that is set
up and appropriate and also a place for them to go and have recreation and to
possibly learn or get a job. One of the concerns I'm sure anybody who lives
around Horseshoe is aware is that there are lots of things for people that are
participating at the resort but for a lot of that community there is a broad
range of kids, probably from about 10 to 16 that don't have as much to do.
And when you don't have a lot to do, you often get into some mischief. And
really, when I heard about this, and seeing and listening more to what it
could cater to, I think that's a real benefit to the Horseshoe and Craighurst
communities and I'm delighted about it."
Mayor Beard — "Thanks. Mr. Hough, did you have some questions?"
Councillor Ralph Hough — "Yes I do. I'm sure they can address them in
their wrap up. One of the issues that was raised was water, obviously, and
I'm just curious on the depth of the well and also there was some talk of
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water conservation. I'm just wondering if you can expand on that a little and
are you planning on using runoff irrigation or rely strictly on the well? What
are your conservation methods for the water? And I misunderstood, I think,
from some of the questions from Mrs. Sinton there, I thought the entrance
was on the Horseshoe Valley Road but I gather from a later conversation
that it may be on Line One. I couldn't see from over there. I do apologize."
Martin Kimble - "I represent Horseshoe, I think you all know me. We
haven't had the opportunity to see this and it's of interest to me and it will be
of interest to Horseshoe. I mean fundamentally, we're certainly not against
it, I don't think, but I do have some questions. It's a fairly small piece of
land. And by the way, we will look at the studies that we now know exist
and we'll have a full review of them. But, you've got eighteen holes on how
many actual acres of usable land, I'm curious? You said it was 116 acres
total? You're not using 20 — 30T
Norm Grant — "Sixteen."
Martin Kimble — "Sixteen, is that cornered?
Norm Grant — "Yes."
Martin Kimble — "So you've got eighteen holes on 100 acres, so you won't
have many trees left."
Norm Grant — "Well actually, we're planting over 400."
Martin Kimble — "I'm curious. I'm just asking questions about what will
happen to the piece of land because fundamentally you won't be able to
build that golf course and if you don't have to build them, you won't have
many left."
Mayor — "Martin. I'd just as soon you come through the Chair so we don't
get a crossfire and then it's not too difficult. You're being recorded."
Martin Kimble — "I'm sorry. I was just curious as to what acreage was being
used by the golf course itself in building it because eighteen holes on 100
acres is a pretty dense golf course. I was just interested in what the piece of
land would look like when the golf course was complete and I am curious as
to the impact of the traffic study. Because, as you know, as the Council
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knows, we've been engaged in a very very thorough traffic study for the
region and I don't know whether the traffic study that the proponents did
addressed the other traffic study that we had to do. So, I'd be curious as to
whether that actually happens. As you know, the corner was removed from
the traffic study that Horseshoe did, the one that Sintons have been referring
to, at the request of Simcoe County. So we did address it because the
Council asked us and that whole issue was removed from the Traffic Study
so it would be interesting to see them. I will request those studies as well
but I just wanted to express some concerns about what the tree coverage
would be like after the fact and what the traffic issues would be."
Mayor Beard — "Thank you Mr. Kimble. I'm sure Council appreciates your
comments because I think there is a lot of knowledge in the studies that have
been done there that will be helpful to all of us and the proponent as well.
Next question please."
Sandy Hosie — "My name is Sandy Hosie and I've been a high school
teacher in this area for about twenty years. My subject has been physical
education. I too share Norm's love of the game of golf and tried to bring
that into our phys-ed programs in the high school level. One of the biggest
problems that we've had in having golf as part of phys-ed program has been
the high cost and to hear of him speak of a golf course where students can
golf at a very reduced price or even for free, I think speaks very highly of a
facility that's badly needed in this area and I've never ever heard of a golf
course that would offer this kind of a feature and a program to students and I
think anything that we can do that would encourage the involvement of
students in the game of golf is something that we shouldn't
Mayor Beard — "Next comment or question? Next comment or question for
the second time? Then I would invite the proponent to state some of the
answers to some of the things that have been raised tonight. Of course, I
would expect that anybody has any concerns, they'll correspond as well."
Man — "Your Worship, perhaps I may respond to a few of the questions.
First, with respect to ground water usage and impact _, firstly, I do
appreciate all the good comments and questions that were raised.
With respect to ground water usage and impact on wells — the pump testing
that was done, was done in summertime. The well that is being looked at is
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15
screened between 285 and 300 feet. The pump testing did involve looking at
a number of the local wells, any wells which were considered to be within
the zoning impact. I'm not the hydrogeologist, but have reviewed their work
in some detail and the purpose of the pump test is to draw a substantial
higher rate than would be drawn at during irrigation of the course. So the
idea is to be able to determine through that at what level we are starting to
impact and then back off until we do not have an impact. That work was
C done by Birksline to all qualifying materials by
unit three of environment who also have to look into impact on local wells.
Of course that's done during a time when water levels were down so I'm
quite confident that the work was thorough enough to demonstrate there
won't be an impact.
With respect to pesticides — and concerns about impacts from pesticides —
this is a concern that any golf course application that I've been involved in, I
think it's been a common concern and rightly so. Golf courses, like any
other industry, have an opportunity to do a better job than they've done in
the past and that's the whole idea behind the pesticide management and
planning of the golf course superintendent. I always need to compare golf
courses to agricultural uses, especially in an agricultural community and I've
got farmers in my family. But when you compare an agricultural use for
pesticides are also used to a golf course use, first of all the acreage of land
where tern_ are being applied, the tees, greens and fairways in substantial
amounts. Second, there is a law that on a golf course not to apply
those chemicals and its not to find alternate solutions first.
Third, there are on each golf hole the drainage will occur to areas where
there is opportunities for infiltration and for the _enuation of that runoff
through vegetation. So all of those things work together to reduce the
potential for any outside impacts. And there has been a lot of research done
on golf course impacts on ground water and the results which I've seen
certainly do not indicate that there is hot potential for golf courses, a
properly done golf course, to have an impact on outside
Something to keep in mind to is that the modern pesticides are specifically
designed. It used to be that the idea was that if a pesticide's been around for
a long time, it's a good product and we've heard from mistakes in the past
and the idea of the day is to have a pesticide which breaks down very
quickly in the environment and which also has a much more specific impact
or target impact. So the idea is that those chemicals are not around 48 hours
or 96 hours after application. So if starts to move through the ground water,
IN
which is a very slow process, those chemicals are being broken down into
our environment.
Finally, and I believe may wish to speak to some of the other questions
that were raised. The issue of trees on the property — there is encroachment
into the area _ _ plantation in the south end of the property. There will
be removal of about 50% of those trees. We are confident that the golf
course really can be provided which will announce about 50% of retention
value including a broad band of trees along Horseshoe Valley Road. As part
of the commitment to the golf course, its also a naturalization plan which
will occur in areas outside it's boundaries and the idea of that is to
encourage natural succession of the long term by planting those areas with
appropriate trees to those areas, trees that will spread vegetatively and then
by making sure that those areas don't get managed and don't have any
equipment run over them so that those trees get to grow. That's a long term
investment but trees within the plantationary that we lost, there'll be more
lost through planting elsewhere and essentially there's no encroachment on
the forest itself on top. The only encroachment there is within a small area
of plantation which sits on the tableland adjacent to the slopes and perhaps a
handful of trees on the very top of the slope just to allow some stopping of
one tee and one green. Thank you."
Mayor — If there is no further from the proponents, Council wishes to thank
all of those in attendance and your participation and will consider how the
matter is reported from the decision. Written submission can be received at
the Township Office until Wed. Dec. 5, 2001 and those issuing deputations
to Council be permitted with respect to this amendment. If anyone wishes to
be notified of that passing of the proposed amendment, would you please
leave your name and address with the Clerk. Now do you have a motion to
adjourn this part of the meeting?"
Marilyn Pennycook — "Moved by Councillor Fountain, seconded by
Councillor Marshall be it resolved that the public meeting regarding
proposed zoning by-law amendment to rezone from Agricultural/Rural and
Environmental Protection Zone to Private Recreational and Environmental
Protection Zone to permit the establishment of a golf course and associated
facility. File No. P-116-01. Adjourn at 8:09 p.m."
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Mayor Beard —"Any Questions? All in favour? Motion is carried. Our next
public meeting has been called under the authority of the Planning Act to
obtain public comments ... end of recording