Planning Authority
Council heard three planning applications at its September 5 meeting.
Karen Thomson put forward an application for consent to create two new building lots with water access only on Lot 197, Concession 13 in Sheguiandah Township.
No comments or requests were received from any ministry or the public.
Staff noted that the application does not constitute a need for a subdivision and will be for the purpose of new development. No park land dedication will be required.
The two new lots would each be 46 metres of frontage.
The application was approved.
The second application from Robby and Rhonda Martel sought a site-specific zoning bylaw amendment for a residential garage larger than allowed under the current bylaw. The couple is asking to build a garage with a maximum height of 6.5 metres and an area of 100.3 square metres. The current bylaw permits a maximum height of five metres and a maximum area of 89 square metres.
The application was approved.
Thirdly, council reviewed a zoning bylaw amendment application from Paul Lefebvre. He was requesting the zoning for 54 Water Street in Little Current be rezoned from residential to multiple residential. And to allow a single detached dwelling and to utilize a currently installed foundation. The property is surrounded by residential, vacant and multiple residential properties.
No correspondence was received to the application and staff felt there would be no adverse effects from the amendment.
The application was approved.
Garbage truck woes
The garbage truck has been experiencing serious breakdowns this year—over $40,000 has been put into it this year alone, CAO Dave Williamson told council.
“There are a lot of miles on it,” he added. “The truck is not reliable, but we can’t afford not to have it.”
“In order to ensure the picking up of garbage (in Ward 2), we are proposing a front-load truck, which means we need front-load bins,” Mr. Williamson said. “This means a contractor can pick it up if the truck goes down.”
Currently, staff has to “hand bomb” garbage from the bins to another municipal vehicle when the garbage truck is out of commission.
A new truck had not been budgeted for in 2023, but staff suggested it for council’s consideration for the upcoming 2024 budget deliberations.
Staff received three quotes for five front-load bins with the suggestion that the municipality purchase five, eight-yard bins at $10,125 plus tax for a total of $105,569.40 plus tax. This would come from the landfill reserve account.
Councillor Bill Koehler asked if all front-loading bins were standard to match the trucks. Mr. Williamson answered in the affirmative.
Fielding Place signage
Council received a request from the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board to place signage no larger than one square metre for the new seniors’ housing complex at 5 Park Street at two locations on municipal property. Council approved the request.
Cheque register
At the September 7 administration and finance committee meeting council approved the August payroll expenses, $219,874.85, and August municipal expenses, $1,186,019.74.
Shoreline Road Allowance request
Council received a letter from Brenda and Anita Dewar of Bay Estates, requesting permission to perform landscaping work along the shoreline road allowance adjacent to their property.
The Dewars had numerous requests, such as: planting trees, shrubs and flowers; removing trees; relocating boulders; extending the existing gravel swath by removing grass and adding additional gravel; levelling out hills and valleys; and placing a shed, deck and sauna on deck blocks.
The municipality agreed to minor leveling of areas on the shoreline road allowance and a gravel drive down to the water if it is a least 10 feet from the neighbor’s buried water line. All work to be supervised by the Manager of Public Works and subject to Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry approval.
