Owen Sound will appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board to stop a proposed subdivision near Cobble Beach in Georgian Bluffs.
Georgian Shores Estates is the name of the planned development, an 86-lot subdivision in East Linton.
The city has been steadfast in its opposition to the development because it is slated to be built with septic systems as opposed to full municipal services, like Cobble Beach was.
The city believes the development would be in violation of both the Provincial Policy Statement as well as Grey County’s official plan, yet county planners are in favour of the development going ahead.
Draft plan approval was given by the county’s planning department on June 15. The last date to file an appeal of that decision is July 6.
Many city councillors who spoke about this issue on Monday night said that urban developments such as this require urban services.
That’s especially true considering this development is so close to Owen Sound Bay, from which the city draws its drinking water. Owen Sound has also embarked on a 60-million dollar plan to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility.
Both the provincial Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing have expressed concerns regarding the plans for Georgian Shores Estates.
So it’s possible that the province may also appeal the county’s decision and take the lead in the opposition.
That would save the city some money, because it could end up costing up to 10 thousand dollars if the city is forced to take the lead. That’s because it would have to hire legal counsel as well as an independent planning consultant.
Only one member of council — City/County Councillor Arlene Wright — voted against filing an appeal.
Wright — who is the warden of Grey County — says the county has imposed 27 conditions on the draft plan approval and all of those conditions will have to be met before the project can go ahead.
She also says the city should be doing more to encourage development within its own boundaries.
