The Council Agenda for Monday, November 20 includes the minutes of the November 13 Administration & Finance Committee, November 14 Planning and Development Committee, and November 7 Committee of Adjustment meeting.

The full agenda is viewable at this link:  https://grimsby.civicweb.net/filepro/documents?expanded=543,79798&preview=88662


Council Agenda – Monday, November 20 – LOCAL TRANSIT UPDATE

For those interested in what’s happening with local transit in Grimsby, a presentation by Dennis Kar of Dillon Consulting is on the agenda.  Admin & Finance heard his presentation this past week and recommended delaying to 2019 (and a new Council) a pilot transit program for Grimsby.

Lincoln beat us to it and rolled out their contractor-run pilot transit program, ULink, on November 13th after extensively researching funding models.  They plan to evaluate it every four months and modify the routes as needed.  To see how they did it for $135K, you can read more here:   http://www.lincoln.ca/content/town-lincoln-transit

Mario De Divitiis, CEO, Niagara Workforce Planning Board, will also be making a presentation to Council on Grimsby demographics and employment statistics based on the 2016 Census.


Minutes of the Planning & Development Committee meeting (November 14)

The agenda was pretty light, so just a few updates;

7 Park Road South (Mountainview Homes) zoning amendment application:

The proposed application was refused by the Committee after much discussion.  Members found that although the four Bartlett lots would meet the zoning amendment requirements, splitting the existing church lot into two 15m wide lots did not meet the intent of the Official Plan for neighbourhood compatibility with regard to lot frontage.

260-270 Hunter Road (LIUNA training/commercial school and office centre) zoning amendment application:

The Committee had concerns that site plan for the second larger building, which does not have a tenant currently, could be approved by the Chief Building Officer without coming back to Committee.  A motion was made that any future site plan applications on the property come through the Planning and Development Committee for approval.

Member Gillespie questioned the use of the vacant lot to the east (abutting Grimsby Ford and Industrial) which appeared to be overflow parking for the former Westbrook site.  The developer’s representative noted that it was part of the Westbrook sale, but not included in the purchase by LIUNA.

Questions arose as to possible uses for that property and the need for appropriate fencing and screening from the outdoor heavy equipment training area.  Alderman DiFlavio noted with the GO station coming in 2021 that there would be lots of potential for different uses.  The zoning amendment application was approved.

All Council meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend.  Council meetings begin at 7PM sharp in the Council Chambers at Town Hall.