Council Highlights - September 16 & 23, 2024

Committee of the Whole meetings occur on the second and fourth Monday of each month, and Council meetings occur on the second, third, and fourth Monday of each month (the third Monday of the month is to discuss and consider planning and development matters). If a regular meeting falls on a public or civic holiday, the Council meets at the same hour on the next day that is not a public or civic holiday. 

Committee of the Whole consists of all Council members that recommends an item for approval by Council. The item still requires Council's final approval, typically at the next Council meeting held two weeks later.  

Visit www.SaugeenShores.ca/Meetings to see all meeting dates, agendas, minutes and webcasts. 

Members of the public can watch Committee of the Whole and Regular Council Meetings in person or on the Town’s YouTube Channel. 

September 16, 2024 - Regular Council Meeting (Planning Matters) 

Local Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment L-2024-008 and Z-2024-039 (Nicsam) 

A Public Meeting was held to present a Local Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment proposal to Council and to obtain feedback from Council and the community. The property is located off Leeder Lane southwest of the intersection of High Street and Highway 21 (Albert Street South). A report will be presented with a recommendation on the Local Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications at a later date which will also address comments arising from this meeting. The severance (Consent File B-2024-038) will be considered by Bruce County at a later date. 

This was received for information. 

Draft Plan of Subdivision S-2024-002 (Lord Elgin Estates) 

 A Public Meeting was held to present a Draft Plan of Subdivision to Council and to obtain feedback from Council and the community. The site is at the northeast intersection of Waterloo Street and Devonshire Road on the same lands as the Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Hotel. A report will be presented with a recommendation on the Draft Plan of Subdivision application at a later date which will also address comments arising from this meeting. 

This was received for information.  

Easement for Miramichi Shores Subdivision for Blocks 15 and 16 Plan 3M-268 

Miramichi Shores Land Development Limited has requested a permanent easement from the Town over Blocks 15 and 16 on Plan 3M-268 for the purpose of ingress and egress to and from Mystic Court and its abutting land, legally described as Block 17, Plan 3M-268 for completing maintenance work and other necessary work on its land. 

This was approved. 

Postponement to Conservatory Easement Miramichi Shores Subdivision Block 17 Plan 3M-268 

The Town entered into a Subdivision Agreement with Miramichi Shores Land Development Limited (“Miramichi”) with respect to the Lots and Blocks created by Plan 3M-268. The Subdivision Agreement required Miramichi to grant a permanent easement to the Town for a public trail and a drainage outlet and to enter into a conservation agreement with the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, Inc. (“EBC”). Due to the order in which documents were registered, the Town’s Subdivision Agreement has priority over the Conservation Easement. Miramichi is requesting that the Town agree to postpone its priority in registration thereby allowing EBC’s Conservation Easement Agreement to take priority. 

This was approved. 

Removal of Holding Provision Weichold Limited 

The holding provisions can be removed from the subject lands, as Section 41 of the Planning Act no longer allows for developments that will be less than ten residential units to be subject to Site Plan Control. Development on the property is restricted through the site-specific zoning to a maximum of ten residential units. It is recommended that Council adopt a by-law to remove the holding provisions. 

This was carried.  

Release of Subdivision Agreement (Easthampton) 

Instrument No. LT4459, being a Subdivision Agreement between the former Town of Southampton and Jimore Developments Limited, can be released from the lands identified in Schedule A located on Plan M-42. It is recommended that Council adopt a by-law to release the identified lands from the Subdivision Agreement. 

This was carried.  

To learn more, view the Council meeting agenda.  

Bruce County Official Plan Review and Consultation 

The County of Bruce is preparing a new Official Plan and provided Council with a presentation on the Official Plan Review and Consultation as a first step in engaging local municipalities and the public over the next few months. 

This was recommended to be received for information.  

Aquatic and Wellness Centre Fundraising Update 

Over the past year, the fundraising team has advanced the Aquatic and Wellness Centre Quiet Ask Strategy and the Public Fundraising Campaign. This report provides Council with an update on the efforts to date towards achieving the $3,000,000 fundraising goal. The amount raised to date is $1,736,912. 

This was recommended to be received for information.  

2024 AMO Delegation Recap 

Councillor Cheryl Grace, Councilor Bud Halpin – along with Chief Administrative Officer, Kara Van Myall, Director of Operations, Matt Prentice and Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Jill Roote – attended the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference in Ottawa in August 2024 and spoke with Ministry representatives on issues impacting the Town, its’ residents, and businesses. While in Ottawa, Councillors and staff also met with Federal Officials.  

This was recommended to be received for information.  

Communications / Petitions for Committee of the Whole 

The Committee recommended that Council support the Township of Russell resolution endorsing the AMCTO Provincial Updates to the Municipal Elections Act. 

To learn more, view the Committee of Whole meeting agenda.  

Municipal Innovation Council – Smart Beach Project 

Beginning in 2022, the Smart Beach Project was launched to promote beach safety at Station Beach in Kincardine. The Project was recently awarded funding to extend the project for an additional three years. The recommendation is for Council to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to negotiate an Agreement with the Municipal Innovation Council for the Town of Saugeen Shores to participate in Phases 4 to 6 of the Smart Beach Project. 

This was approved. 

Striking Committee Report - 2025 Council Calendar 

The Committee recommended that Council approve the 2025 Council Calendar. 

This was approved. 

To learn more, view the Council meeting agenda.