Council / Committee Meetings – Thursday, December 16, 2021

Bruce County Appoints Christine MacDonald as Interim CAO

The Executive Committee approved the appointment of Christine MacDonald as Bruce County's Interim CAO, effective December 16, 2021. Interim CAO MacDonald is Bruce County’s Director of Human Services. Through her portfolio, she has showcased experienced leadership in government administration and has committed to the planning, delivering, and advocating for responsive and innovative services that help individuals and families enhance their level of participation and quality of life in our communities. She is skilled in nonprofit organizations, affordable housing, policy analysis, social services, and government. Christine first joined the County in 2007 as the Housing Manager and has deep roots in Bruce County and the region. Ms. MacDonald will begin to work immediately with current CAO, Sandra Datars Bere, to ensure a smooth transition over the next month. Ms. Datars Bere leaves the County in early January. Ms. MacDonald will continue in this interim role until County Council concludes its current CAO recruitment activities and a new CAO is in place. Discover more about the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer.

Farm Lot Severance Near Ripley

After a public meeting, the Planning and Development Committee approved the severance of a 57.06 ha farm lot from a 71.07 ha agricultural parcel at Huron Kinloss Concession 10 Lot 13; Part Lot 14 (Huron), in the Township of Huron Kinloss. The retained lot will be merged with the adjacent lot at 1313 Concession 12. The severance is strongly aligned with the Agricultural Guiding Principle as the severed and retained lots are of an appropriate size and farming will continue the way it is currently occurring on these lands. There will be no loss of agricultural production resulting from this amendment to allow a proposed new agricultural lot.

Aggregate Pit Expansion West of Tara

After a public meeting, the Planning and Development Committee approved the expansion of an existing pit operated by 975270 Ontario Ltd. (c/o Edwin Horner) on the lands known as Lot 14 and Part Lot 15, Concession 9, in the former Township of Arran, west of Tara. The expansion will expand the existing 29 hectare pit by approximately 10.5 hectares. The Category 3 Class A Pit Licence permits up to 100,000 tonnes of sand and gravel to be extracted annually from the site. A Bruce County Official Plan (BCOP) Amendment and Local Zoning Bylaw Amendment are required for an Aggregate Resources Act license to be issued and to permit the proposed use. A separate public meeting for the associated Zoning Bylaw was held on November 22, 2021. The expansion is aligned with the ‘Good Growth’ and ‘Business’ principles in that an existing aggregate operation can expand to provide for additional aggregate resources to be extracted and used to support infrastructure development.

Lot Consolidation Proposed in Stokes Bay

After a public meeting, the Planning and Development Committee received the information that a dwelling, septic system, and well are proposed on two existing parcels that are proposed to be consolidated within the hamlet of Stokes Bay in the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula. A significant portion of the lands are below the 100-year flood elevation. The application proposes to amend the Bruce County Official Plan to permit flood mitigation measures to be constructed on the property and to permit development that would elevate the property above the 100-year flood elevation. Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) has requested additional time to review the application. In consideration of SON’s request, returning to a later Planning and Development Committee meeting with a Recommendation will provide staff with time to review and analyze SON’s comments and any other comments arising from this County Official Plan Amendment Public Meeting.

Special Provisions for land in Southampton 

After a public meeting, the Planning and Development Committee approved special provisions to the Agricultural designation for land at 484 Carlisle Street, situated adjacent to Denny’s Dam Park, near the Saugeen River in Southampton. The amendment permits retail and commercial uses at this location, specifically an outfitters retail store, equipment rental use associated with the Saugeen River, and to re-establish an inn which operated on the site from the 1840s to 1950. This proposal for commercial/retail uses is strongly aligned with the Business Guiding Principle, expanding business operations to this rural site which has historically attracted destination-oriented customers to the area. The associated Zoning By-law Amendment Application Z-2021-058 will be considered by the Town of Saugeen Shores at a later date.

Lot Created in Kincardine

After a public meeting, the Planning and Development Committee approved the creation of an 8 hectare lot, retaining 71.25 hectares for farmland at 2091 Highway 21 in Kincardine. The approved County Official Plan Amendment permits the severance on the basis that the proposed severance is for an agricultural-related use, with the maximum total lot area of 8.094 hectares (20 acres) whereas the County Official Plan permits a maximum non-farm lot size of 4 hectares (9.88 acres).

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