Oro-Medonte is changing its tune at the Ontario Municipal Board hearing regarding Burl’s Creek.
They are expected to be available at the conclusion of today’s session to issue further comments regarding the matter that's been the subject of an extensive hearing that began in the spring and continues today.
In a statement released Wednesday morning, the township said it would no longer delay rendering a decision on a temporary use bylaw that allows camping, parking, concessions and soccer on lands surrounding the venue where Wayhome and Boots and Hearts events occur.
"It’s the Township’s position that it can now support the (temporary use bylaw) application and Township Council directed legal counsel to proceed accordingly," the statement said.
"Previously, the Township’s position was that it was premature to render a decision, or provide a recommendation with respect to the TUB application as technical studies were outstanding that were required to establish the application’s consistency and/or conformity with Provincial, County, and Municipal policies. The Township retained consultants to peer review reports to resolve outstanding matters, including studies related to agriculture, archaeology, and noise. All outstanding matters have now been resolved."
The issue landed at the OMB after owners of Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, which are located on Line 8 South on the east side of Hwy. 11, applied for a temporary use bylaw to allow camping and parking on 434 acres of additional lands they acquired. The 92-acre concert site itself are appropriately zoned for the concerts and are not part of this OMB matter.
Burl’s Creek owners applied for the temporary use bylaw for the additional lands, but appealed to the OMB because the township failed to render a decision in a timely manner. Prehearings occurred in February, April and May and the hearing itself began in May. It was scheduled to continue again from Oct. 25 to 28.
The township now says it has the information needed and is ready to support the temporary use bylaw. Oro-Medonte hired consultants to examine agriculture, archeology and noise impacts.
On Oct. 21, a stage 2 archeological assessment confirmed there were no resources on the lands.
The Stage 2 report confirmed that no archaeological resources were documented within the TUB lands, and that no further assessment of the temporary use bylaw lands is warranted, the township said in its statement.
Regarding agriculture, an agrologist retained by the township reviewed an agricultural impact assessment and adaptive management plan and concluded that ongoing farming can occur.
"Further, relating to agriculture, the Agricultural Impact Assessment and an Adaptive Management Plan were peer reviewed by the Township’s agrologist consultant. Based on the peer review and implementation of the Adaptive Management Plan, the Township is satisfied that ongoing agriculture use can continue on the property in an appropriate manner," the township said.
