Paul Smith, senior planner with the Municipality of Colchester, made a presentation on Thursday night to county council regarding rezoning of Onslow and Upper Onslow from rural general to a growth centre. Council agreed to the initiative. Monique Chiasson - Truro Daily News
CUT 2: JoAnne Roode, a resident of Meeting House Road in Upper Onslow, said rezoning the Onslow and Upper Onslow community from rural general to a growth centre will be detrimental to the area. Roode voiced her opinion at a Colchester County council meeting on Thursday night. Monique Chiasson - Truro Daily News
About a dozen citizens attended the county's regular monthly meeting Thursday night in Truro to hear council discuss, and ultimately vote to rezone, that area. JoAnne Roode, a resident of Meeting House Road, wasn't pleased.
"I love my community (and) I'm not happy about the transformation from an agricultural community to a growth centre," Roode told council. "Every bit of land is in use; farm land is used more than it was before. It is an agricultural community and sustainability is important. I don't believe (rezoning) is going to protect me."
Senior planner Paul Smith said the "once tranquil community (that) grew at a low rate and development patterns were very sparce" has undergone a "considerable amount of change" in the last number of years.
"We couldn't guarantee (the area) would continue to exist as people knew it. So what can be done for land-use when higher density occurs?" Paul said.
Hence the idea of changing the area from a rural general zone (which now is designated as residential, some commercial and light industrial) to a growth centre, he said.
"Zoning will protect you from a gas station going there," county Mayor Bob Taylor said, as an example.
A staff report indicates a zone change will "afford a greater level of protection to property owners in the area from dissimilar land uses" and ensure future development occurs in a "predictable manner."
During discussion, Coun. Christine Blair asked if the change would indeed be beneficial.
"We are dealing with a number of residents. Is this positive progress or negative progress?"
The proposal has been ongoing for a while. Last fall, a detailed planning process involving the area took place. According to a staff report, it was motivated by significant development plans near Highway 102 and the completion of a central sewage collection project along Onslow Road, which will allow for higher development densities and
"brings about new risks concerning land-use
compatibility."
On Thursday night, council voted unanimously to approve amendments to the Central Colchester municipal planning strategy and land-use bylaw to introduce the growth centre rezoning. There is a 14-day appeal period once the project is advertised in the Truro Daily News.
Twitter: tdnMonique
Paul Smith, senior planner with the Municipality of Colchester, made a presentation on Thursday night to county council regarding rezoning of Onslow and Upper Onslow from rural general to a growth centre. Council agreed to the initiative. Monique Chiasson - Truro Daily News
CUT 2: JoAnne Roode, a resident of Meeting House Road in Upper Onslow, said rezoning the Onslow and Upper Onslow community from rural general to a growth centre will be detrimental to the area. Roode voiced her opinion at a Colchester County council meeting on Thursday night. Monique Chiasson - Truro Daily News
About a dozen citizens attended the county's regular monthly meeting Thursday night in Truro to hear council discuss, and ultimately vote to rezone, that area. JoAnne Roode, a resident of Meeting House Road, wasn't pleased.
"I love my community (and) I'm not happy about the transformation from an agricultural community to a growth centre," Roode told council. "Every bit of land is in use; farm land is used more than it was before. It is an agricultural community and sustainability is important. I don't believe (rezoning) is going to protect me."
Senior planner Paul Smith said the "once tranquil community (that) grew at a low rate and development patterns were very sparce" has undergone a "considerable amount of change" in the last number of years.
"We couldn't guarantee (the area) would continue to exist as people knew it. So what can be done for land-use when higher density occurs?" Paul said.
Hence the idea of changing the area from a rural general zone (which now is designated as residential, some commercial and light industrial) to a growth centre, he said.
"Zoning will protect you from a gas station going there," county Mayor Bob Taylor said, as an example.
A staff report indicates a zone change will "afford a greater level of protection to property owners in the area from dissimilar land uses" and ensure future development occurs in a "predictable manner."
During discussion, Coun. Christine Blair asked if the change would indeed be beneficial.
"We are dealing with a number of residents. Is this positive progress or negative progress?"
The proposal has been ongoing for a while. Last fall, a detailed planning process involving the area took place. According to a staff report, it was motivated by significant development plans near Highway 102 and the completion of a central sewage collection project along Onslow Road, which will allow for higher development densities and
"brings about new risks concerning land-use
compatibility."
On Thursday night, council voted unanimously to approve amendments to the Central Colchester municipal planning strategy and land-use bylaw to introduce the growth centre rezoning. There is a 14-day appeal period once the project is advertised in the Truro Daily News.
Twitter: tdnMonique
