Grimsby Citizens For Responsible Growth

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NOTICE: Public Information Centre on the “Future of Grimsby” – June 18th 6-8PM

The Town will be hosting a Public Information Centre (PIC) focusing on the “Future of Grimsby” on Tuesday June 18th at Town Hall from 6PM to 8PM. The drop-in event will cover three major planning undertakings at the Town, the Official Plan Review, Parks Master Plan and Transportation Master Plan.

According to the post on the Town’s website “this will be an in-person session which will give attendees the opportunity to provide input into the progress and direction of these significant studies”.

Your attendance and comments will help shape the future of Grimsby.

LAST CALL: 502 Winston Road Greenbelt Public Planning Meeting – June 5th @ Town Hall

It’s “Groundhog Day” on June 5th for the Greenbelt property at 502 Winston Road when the Town hosts its last public meeting into the application to redesignate the property from “Specialty Crop – Tender Fruit & Grape Lands” to the lesser-protected “Rural” classification. If approved, this would be the first step towards potential major development of this Greenbelt land.

After the original change was put on hold and then outright rejected by the Province after their “Greenbelt fiasco”, the applicant is now trying (again) at the Town and Regional level.

If you wish to spectate or delegate your opinion on this Greenbelt property application, the meeting will be tomorrow (Wed June 5th) at 6PM at Town Hall, Council Chambers. If you wish to delegate by Zoom, you can email your request to planning@grimsby.ca and/or clerks@grimsby.ca

Meeting Agenda: https://bit.ly/3yOv1kJ

Notice of Public Meetings: 502 Winston Road Greenbelt Redesignation (Town & Region)

After the Province made good on their promise to rollback all their Greenbelt changes, the developers at 502 Winston have “reactivated” their original Town and Regional Official Plan Amendment applications. The applications are attempting to “redesignate” the Greenbelt property from Specialty Crop/Tender Fruit to the lesser protected Rural designation. This would “pave the way” for an urban boundary expansion and potentially significant development on those lakefront lands.

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Grimsby Wetlands Wins “Brownie” Award For Natural Lands Restoration

Image Credit: Drone’s Eye Photography via Hamilton Naturalists’ Club

The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club (HNC) has won a 2023 “Brownie Award” for its work at the Grimsby Wetlands aka The Biggar Lagoon. Awarded by the Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN) under the category of “Reinvest: Financing, Risk Management and Partnerships”, the CBN has recognized the turnaround of these once contaminated sewage treatment lands into an important ecological system within Grimsby and Niagara. This was the first time a “Brownie” award has been given to a volunteer group.

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Staff Report: Council Urged To Ask Province Not To Return Land To Greenbelt

Following a resolution passed in October requesting the Town submit comments to the Province regarding the reversal of the Greenbelt changes, a Staff Report for the consideration of Council on Monday was published today. The report urges Council to request that the Province NOT to reverse the Greenbelt changes in Grimsby (502 Winston and Cline Road) and leave those parcels out for development.

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Province To Review Grimsby Costs of Grimsby and Pickering

Photo Credit: CPAC/Fair Dealing

On Monday, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra announced at Queens Park that after reviewing previous decisions made by the Ministry, it would be introducing legislation to roll back Provincial changes made to Official Plans and Official Plan Amendments in 13 municipalities, including those made to the Region of Niagara’s OP (list of changes here).

For the most part, this applies to urban boundary changes. Calandra said this was part of “building a better relationship” with municipalities. That also includes the Minister “reviewing costs” of Grimsby and Pickering, reversing course on his statements last week that would have municipalities on the hook for incurred expenses.

The costs incurred by Pickering hover around $360K, while Grimsby’s costs have been pegged between $82K to $88K.

While the Province intends on making municipalities whole, officially no “person” will have any recourse under Bill 136 aka “The Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023” should it receive Royal Assent in its current version.

With provisions such as “Proceedings barred”, “No costs award”, “No remedy” and “Retrospective effect”, the Province has attempted to prevent litigation through legislation between anyone, be it the Province, developers, municipalities and other classes related to this whole affair.

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