It’s a whole swirl of sentiments about the approval of a severance Friday, allowing the transfer of 20 acres of land from the Galilee Centre to developer Cavanagh Homes- and possibly putting at risk the fate of the Gillies Grove Nature Reserve.
A packed house at a Committee of Adjustment hearing Wednesday didn’t have a good word to say, and Save the Grove Again Committee Chair Lacey Smith says the go-ahead announced Friday is wrong in so many ways.
It contradicts Arnprior’s own Official Plan.
To consider the application complete as presented is an insult.
The application wording itself contradicts its stated aim.
There are too many things overlooked in the application process to have had it accepted as being complete.
It may have shoe-horned all public comment into a meeting with such poor acoustics that nobody could hear what was going on.
Lacey says the cross-section of community members who spoke should indicate this is not a radical fringe issue, and it would be nice if our elected officials could acknowledge who they represent.
Those objecting have until February 27th at 430PM to make their views known.
Adversaries have 20 days to file to the Ontario Land Appeals Tribunal. You have to have filled out a sign-in sheet indicating you were present Wednesday February 5th, or spoke at the meeting.
And it won’t be cheap. The customary fee is $300.00. Here’s how to do it:
File a notice of appeal either via the Ontario Land Tribunal e-file service (first-time users will need to register for a My Ontario Account) at https://olt.qov.on.ca/e-file-service/ by selecting “Arnprior, Town of’ as the Approval Authority or by mail to 105 Elgin Street West, Arnprior ON, K7S 0A8 no later than 4:30 PM on February 27th, 2025.
The appeal fee can be paid online through e-file or by certified cheque/money order to the Minister of Finance, Province of Ontario. There are forms available at the OLT website at www.olt.qov.on.ca. and if approved, you fee can be reduced to $25.00
If the e-file portal is down, you can submit your appeal to planning@arnprior.ca
If you believe the committee should have considered the election day in their decision, you might want to raise this concern in your appeal, or contact the committee directly for clarification.
By Rick Stow