Dust up at Clearview council
Things got a bit testy during the public participation session at the Nov. 13 Clearview Council meeting. Resident Dave “Bud” Witzke appeared before council to challenge the secrecy around recent settlement of a lawsuit against the Roxodus Music Festival.
Mayor Doug Measures pointed out that the rules of Public Participation clearly state that matters of litigation will not be discussed, but assured Witzke that the municipality has been fully recompensed.
That answer did not satisfy Witzke who left the chambers shouting “ You’re pathetic Measures!”
The mayor responded saying, “That’s it. I will not have you back here again.” Measures added, “I will not take that type of abuse from citizens who come forward during Public Participation period. I will be asking for a discussion with our H.R Manager and the CAO on this very point.”
New Farm rezoning approved
Two bylaws affecting the future use of The New Farm on 6/7 Sideroad of Nottawasaga were passed unanimously by Clearview Council with minimal discussion this week.
The first bylaw rezones a portion of the property from Agricultural to Agricultural Exception to allow construction of a new family home set back more than the usual 50 metres from the existing cluster of farm buildings. Brent Preston of New Farm told a March 26 planning meeting that his family is currently living in the middle of their business and that the existing family home will be repurposed as worker accommodations. The new dwelling will remain part of the farm. No severance was requested, or granted.
The second bylaw rezones a portion of the property from Agricultural to Agriculturally Related Commercial Exception. This will allow creation of a Research and Training Centre which will host farm and greenhouse tours, educational sessions and tastings and meals created from local produce for groups of 30 to 120 people. In a presentation to the March meeting, a consultant to the New Farm said there is a need to provide a place where fellow farmers, educators, food industry professionals and all those interested in learning about sustainable farm practices can come and learn first hand what this entails and how they can implement these practices.
Preston and wife Gillian Flies have lived on the farm for more than 20 years and have been growing and selling organic produce for more than 15 years.
Odd how you omitted the Walker Agreement Settlement part. Your CBC reportage is showing