Town hall crowd supports lower speed limits

Traffic calming, sidewalks and speed limits were hot topics last Sunday when Clearview Ward 5 Councillor Thom Paterson hosted a town hall meeting at Village on the Green.
Roughly 30 people showed up to hear Paterson’s updates on matters ranging from the budget awaiting final council approval, to the impact of needed infrastructure improvements and a voluntary ban on single use plastics.
Several residents expressed concern about the need for more sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety. Paterson pointed to this as evidence of Creemore’s transition from an essentially rural community to a more urban environment. Typically, the township has relied on developers to “urbanize” streets as new houses are built. This will be the case with new construction currently happening along Mary Street.
Sidewalk construction in existing neighbourhoods is expensive, and often involves significant engineering to install sidewalks at the proper elevation. The draft 2020 budget includes $10,000 to study installation of a sidewalk on George Street. In the meantime, Paterson says the township has a traffic calming policy in place using tools like signage and pavement markings to slow drivers in sensitive areas.
There was near unanimous support for a suggestion from the floor to lower the speed limit within Creemore to 40 kilometres per hour. Paterson has pledged to raise the issue at council and introduce a motion to that effect.
Another resident requested that council consider extending the community safety zone in the village of Creemore along Concession Road 3 all the way to Nottawasaga Sideroad 6/7. Paterson noted that for years, these decisions have been driven by demand and that council needs a policy to ensure a consistent approach to traffic calming. To that end, $35,000 has been earmarked for a comprehensive study to collect baseline data using automatic data recorders this summer.
A story in last week’s Echo about needed improvements to Creemore’s Wastewater Treatment Plant prompted questions about the potential effect on future development, and how upgrades will be funded. The draft budget includes approximately $400,000 for membrane upgrades to maintain the current plant. Paterson says there is sufficient capacity to handle developments currently approved and staff are exploring several options to address future needs. A complete retrofit of the plant could cost $9.9 million.
The trial period for the Creemore to Stayner transit link launched last November will be extended until July. The service operates Thursday to Sunday, and connects riders from Creemore through Stayner to points throughout Simcoe Country. To date, it has been attracting only 12 to 13 riders per month, quite disappointing in light of the $92,000 price tag.
The 2020 Clearview Township budget which is awaiting final approval will mean an average property tax increase of 2.44 per cent. That is made up of an increase of 4.09 per cent for the township portion, a one per cent increase in the education tax, and a two per cent increase in the County of Simcoe portion.
Paterson said there are some big ticket items on the horizon for the township including replacement of the second Collingwood Street Bridge, upgrades to community halls to ensure compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and the need for investment in affordable housing.
A new Official Plan for Clearview will be unveiled at upcoming public meetings. Paterson encourages members of the public to watch for notices and be prepared to offer input on their vision for the future of the community.