Lanark County Council Highlights – September 18, 2024

Press Release – Lanark County

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held September 18, 2024.

Planning Services Review Updated: Lanark County Council has authorized staff to proceed with engaging local municipalities on policy changes such as hydrogeological studies, water and wastewater solutions and delegated authority. Information and options will be brought back to council for consideration.

This follows a presentation by Planning Manager Mike Dwyer at the economic development committee meeting last month that provided a planning service review update. Dwyer explained the team has been working to bring standard processes to the work, create efficiencies, update processes and forms and ensuring statutory compliance. “We have a great team that has a drive for service,” he said.

Council supported Dwyer’s request to work with local municipalities to develop options related to:

• Determining the scope and triggering of hydrogeological requests and peer review in a way that balances evidence and risk management

• Determining a policy position on water treatment and tertiary wastewater solutions as conditions of approval to address some water quality issues

• Exploring opportunities for delegated authority for some official plan and subdivision approvals, with a reporting mechanism

Dwyer also outlined efforts to create financial efficiencies, including reducing reliance on consultants and increasing application processing speed. “We want to create consistency and predictability for applicants and local municipalities,” he said, as well as building professional capacity in the department and reducing appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal. “One goal is to facilitate locally appropriate development, including lot creation, and to reduce time and cost.”

Dwyer highlighted work to build relationships with local planners and builders, to increase communications and to establish an alternative dispute resolution process to avoid appeals. Work continues on a fee by-law review, contact sharing and a range of business processes and reviews. Future departmental goals include resource sharing with local municipalities, clarifying the county role related to appeals of local official plan amendments and subdivisions and updates to application processes and the public notice process.

The presentation included an update on the KPMG service delivery review conducted for the county several years ago. Most departmental and consent report recommendations are in progress, ongoing or completed, with work still to be done on determining key performance indicator measurements and considering a single county-wide official plan.

Dwyer noted two major studies are currently in progress: growth management (population projects and land needs assessment) and the aggregate master plan. Consultations with locals and stakeholders are being completed at each step with draft reports expected for council review this fall and policy updates in early 2025.

For more information, contact Mike Dwyer, Planning Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1520.

Tay Havelock Trail Receiving Upgrades: Lanark County Council has approved upgrades to the Tay Havelock Trail, using $150,000 from the forestry/trails reserve for costs not covered through recent grants.

In a presentation to the economic development committee last month, CAO Kurt Greaves explained the county has worked with partners over the past 10 years to upgrade bridges and surfacing on the Tay Havelock Trail, including creation of a trailhead on land donated by OMYA Canada Inc. and rehabilitating the Fall River Bridge with a grant from the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs. Other work has included brushing, new culverts, ditching and surface improvements.

Greaves said the county budgeted $125,000 for improvements this year, with $75,000 coming from the levy and the balance from the Ottawa Valley ATV Club. Funding was subsequently received through a Rural Economic Development grant to continue the work while increasing the number of kilometres (7.24 km in 2024) covered in this project. An Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club grant was received for rehabilitating three bridges on the trail that required new abutments and steel decking. The county contribution on the grants is 35 cents on the dollar.

“County trails are located in various municipalities with one primary goal being a ring trail to act as a main trail for local municipalities to connect to,” Greaves explained. “The trails committee, together with Lanark County Tourism and Public Works, put together two successful grant applications. These represent a great opportunity to complete further upgrades to the Tay Havelock Trail.”

For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Upcoming Meetings: County Council, Wednesday, September 25, 5 p.m.; Public Works, September 25 (following County Council); Economic Development, September 25 (following Public Works). County Council, Wednesday, October 9, 5 p.m.; Community Services, October 9 (following County Council); Corporate Services, October 9 (following Community Services). Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications.

For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like "LanarkCounty1" on Facebook and follow "@LanarkCounty1" on X!