HALDIMAND—The following items were discussed at a Council-in-Committee meeting that took place on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. All items discussed are expected to be ratified at a follow up meeting on Tuesday, September 3.
Council approves oversized structure in Walpole
County staff have recommended the approval of a special provision to allow the construction of an oversized accessory structure on a property on Concession 3 in the Geographic Township of Walpole.
The proposed structure would be utilized as a garage to store the applicants’ personal vehicles, including a recreational vehicle.
Haldimand’s current max allowance for structure size is 200 sq. m. The proposed structure comes in at 391 sq.m, nearly doubling the current limit.
County staff said in a report that the proposed structure conforms to provincial policy and maintains the general intent and purpose of the official plan and zoning bylaw.
County to enact three new parking control bylaws
County staff presented three new parking control bylaw measures aimed at addressing concerns in Port Maitland, Dunnville, and Caledonia.
The Port Maitland change has to do with seven angled parking spaces near the town’s beach access point. According to staff, no bylaw was enacted previously, leading to parking conflicts and a lack of ability for municipal enforcement to act on them.
To address the problem, staff have recommended the creation of a no parking zone along the eastern side of Dover Street to facilitate unobstructed movement in the parking area.
In Dunnville, a new no-parking zone will be established at 428 Broad St. W., near Edgewater Gardens. The change results from visitor concerns related to traffic sightlines while using the facilities’ circular driveway. Staff believe placing a no parking zone on the south side of the road will improve the entranceway.
In Caledonia, staff are recommending additional on-street parking on Rainbow Dr., located within the Avalon subdivision. During the phased development of the subdivision, a number of measures were enacted, including parking restrictions and rate of speed.
Staff report that the road width is sufficient to expand parking options on the road.
To facilitate the change, Haldimand will remove those restrictions, replacing them with a new bylaw that allows parking on the road between McClung Rd. and Whithorn Crescent anytime year-round.
Speed limit reduction planned for McClung Rd.
County staff have recommended the adoption of a reduced speed limit for a section of McClung Rd. in Caledonia.
The road stretches from within the county’s urban boundaries out to Haldibrook Rd. It has a current speed limit of 60km/h in town and 80 km/h on rural stretches.
Staff have reviewed that limit, in relation to increased development in the area and road infrastructure upgrades, determining that the speed be reduced to 50km/h for the section that stretches from Caithness St. E. to 750 metres south of Haldimand Road 66.
A staff report indicates that the reduced limit will eventually extend even further down the road as more sections of the Avalon development are completed.
County amends community hall funding policy
Haldimand’s community halls were the focus of a proposed policy amendment brought forward by County staff.
Funding for management of the County’s various facilities is handled through the Community Partnership Program (CPP). In the past, volunteer boards were solely responsible for the operation and maintenance of the community halls, including minor capital repairs and replacements at said facilities.
The County’s Facilities, Capital, and Asset Management (FCA) Division conducted a series of building condition assessments in 2022, leading to additional funding set aside in the 2023 Tax-Supported Capital Budget, with $2.1 million allotted over the next 10 years.
Staff are seeking to amend the CPP policy to “align with the new capital asset management approach of FCA and the County, and the associated shift in County and Hall Board responsibilities which has been in practice for several years,” according to a report.
The amendments include three main items:
- Capital repairs or replacements to structural integrity to be 100% funded by the County.
- Capital maintenance work will also be funded entirely by the County.
- Capital enhancements or non-structural improvements will be funded up to 35% by the County.
Draft motion submitted regarding new All Way Stop in Dunnville
Councillor Patrick O’Neill has submitted a draft motion request to have County staff report back on options related to a proposed all way stop at the intersection of John St. and Fairview Ave. W. in Dunnville. The motion notes that the request is driven by area residents who wish to see the stop installed despite the completion of an All Way Stop Community Justification Process that determined the proposal does not meet the required level of public support. Staff will report back to Council at a later date with a recommendation.
