Updated ATV use map includes Creemore

Clearview council has agreed on changes to the All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) use map to be voted upon at the July 10 meeting.

Council had been asked to consider a permit structure for the Creemore and Dunedin areas to allow local riders to access trails. However, it was decided that this approach would be overly cumbersome and that opening up specific roadways to ATV usemakes more sense.

Council voted unanimously to adopt changes proposed by staff following recent public consultation with one amendment: Concession 6 south of County Road 91 to the 18/19 Sideroad will be added to the list of roads where ATV traffic is allowed.

If approved, the proposed use map would allow off-road vehicles on all streets in the village of Creemore, as well as a number of others in the current no-go zone south of Creemore including the Caroline Street extension to Concession 5, most of Collingwood Street including Purple Hill Lane, and Lavender Hill Road, along with the Mulmur Townline and most of the 6/7 Sideroad Nottawasaga.

Bill Mann, a spokesman for the Creemore Area Residents’ Association (CARA) told council that in a series of three surveys conducted in 2020, 2022 and 2023 roughly 90 per cent of respondents indicated they would prefer to stick with the status quo, basically making Creemore off limits for ATVs. Mayor Doug Measureslater remarked that while CARA’s concerns are well known, council must act on behalf of all Clearview residents.

Creemore resident Tracy Stevenson expressed frustration that the issue is being debated, yet again. She described the issue as polarizing, and encouraged council to think outside the box and find some middle ground. Stevenson suggested that a multi-use trail could be created as part of the new Mary Street development.

Deputy Public Works director Dan Perreault says the staff recommendation looked only at existing roadways, including seasonalroads. While ATVs are not permitted on County of Simcoe roads, Perreault says county staffers have indicated they have no issue with them travelling short distances on county roads such as between Lavender Hill Road and

Concession 8 in the Dunedin area. Council also agreed that township bylaw enforcement officers should be given the authority to issue tickets under the ATV bylaw. To date, they could only gather evidence and forward it to the OPP. Senior bylaw officer Joe Paddock says the emphasis will remain on education versus enforcement.

Deputy Mayor Paul Van Staveren says there have not been significant problems with ATVs up until now and that if issues do arise, council will address them as required.