The Recorder
GORE BAY—While the Manitoulin Planning Board (MPB) has made some movement on several concerns related to the new draft Official Plan there are still some major concerns being raised with what the province wants to be included in it, such as the proposed deer yard areas.
“We’re not going to sign off (on the Official Plan) when the whole township (Tehkummah) is basically deemed a core deer yard,” stated Gary Brown, reeve of Tehkummah Township at a MPB meeting last week. “Under this there is no chance of development or advancement in the township.”
Board chair Ken Noland said the board has received word back from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) concerning the deer yards.
“They (MNR) have sent us a proposed deer yard policies and a preamble, which indicates how many lots can be created in a deer yard area,” said MPB secretary Elva Carter.
“In areas identified as core deer yard or adjacent lands, shown on the land use schedules to this Official Plan, and outside of the identified urban areas and village areas, new development or site alteration may be permitted without an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) provided the proposed new lots have a minimum 90 foot frontage and 90 metre depth, and vegetation retention is maximized through the use of tools such as a development agreement or a subdivision agreement, miscellaneous notification agreement (and subject to the other policies of this plan). Where development is proposed in shoreline areas, coniferous fringe habitat along the shoreline (providing deer browse and shelter habitat) shall be conserved,” the proposal states.
“For the creation of new lots within or adjacent to deer habitat, the planning board will require an applicant to complete the Manitoulin Area Deer Habitat Assessment Tool (MADHAT) as a means to determine the extent of conifer habitat to be conserved and other mitigation measures. The planning board may require a full Environmental Impact Study for lot creation where it is deemed necessary,” the MMAH proposal continues.
The MADHAT must be completed by the applicant in co-ordination with the planning board staff and will be provided to the planning board as part of the complete application package. Where requested to be completed by the planning board, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be completed by a qualified professional, the cost of which will normally be borne by the applicant. The planning board may require a peer review of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
It is also explained that an EIA will be required for the creation of more than three new lots as a means to determine the extent of conifer habitat to be retained and other mitigation measures. The EIA may be required for a planning application, other than new lot creation, for a change in land use to a commercial, industrial, or institutional use where the proposed building coverage and clearing may result in negative impacts to the naturel features and their ecological functions. And it may be required when a planning application is made for a large scale recreational use.
“Will a deer habitat assessment tool environmental impact study be required for every application that is made?” asked Lee Hayden.
“They indicated they won’t need this provided there is 90×90 metre frontage and depth on the new lot,” said Elva Carter. “What I would like them to say is that 100 acre lots should not count within the creation of more than three new lots.” As well, she said development on maintained roads should not require an environmental impact statement. “And their proposal says that the planning board may be required to have an environmental impact study done, so they have allowed us some wiggle room.”
The deer yard policies have always been in place, the board was told.
“There are deer all over Manitoulin Island, so this shouldn’t be an issue at all,” said Mr. Brown. “There are more deer in Gore Bay than on the south shore but we’re being deemed a deer yard,” he said.
The policies will be forwarded to all Island municipalities for their review, said Mr. Noland.
“The plan should be realistic, Tehkummah is no different than any other place else on Manitoulin Island,” said Mr. Brown.
It was agreed that additional items need to be considered: that 100 acre lots should not count within the creation of more than three new lots; that development on maintained roads should not require an environmental impact statement and that it should be acknowledged that the deer herd are a detriment to agricultural crops.
There was general consensus that there are deer all over Manitoulin and that there needs to be a balance between the protection of the deer and restricting development that is important to the economy also. Ms. Carter said she would discuss these policies further with Bridget Shulte-Hostedde (MMAH) and attempt to have more complete policies prepared for the board.
“I’m going to go back to her and try to refine the policy,” said Ms. Carter. “She said that they are reviewing the extensive private road data that they had received from us at the end of June and are considering different policy options, and I would like to talk to her about this and the issue of deer yards.”
As well, Mr. Noland informed the board that he and Ms. Carter had met with MPP Michael Mantha on August 8, 2014 to discuss the Official Plan and to make him aware of the concerns of the planning board on development on rights of ways and deer yard policies and the delay in information from MMAH.
“We brought forward our concerns on Lake Manitou being at capacity for development, the deer yards and right of ways,” said Mr. Noland. “We also provided Mike (Mantha) with a copy of the estimated total tax assessment of created parcels on right of ways. We have to continue to fight this and make sure this continues.” He pointed out approximately $59 million has been created in assessment for private road developments on Manitoulin.
“Now the MMAH is willing to look at right of ways and we received a proposed deer yard policy from them. So we’ve got some movement,” said Mr. Noland.
“It sounds like the ministry is reviewing all of this and are willing to listen,” said Brent St. Denis.
