Stokes Bay Ratepayers Association


Spring Newsletter – 2003


The executive of the Stokes Bay Ratepayer's Association wish to extend their greetings and hope that all have had a great winter. While we have had what seems like a long winter in this area with extreme cold and heavy snow, we believe that it has broken now, and spring is on it’s way.

On April 10th of this year, your executive met at the Stokes Bay Community Centre, and decided that it was time for a newsletter to bring those who have been away, up to speed with several issues on-going at this time.

Issue number one, is to remind everyone, that the 2nd annual general meeting of our association, will be held at the community centre, starting at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday the 5th of July 2003. Issues to be discussed at this meeting will be as follows:
  1. Election of executive for following year;
  2. Adoption of draft By-laws as submitted by Nigel Allwood;
  3. Incorporation of Association (?) – Cost approximately $1500.00;
  4. Possible increase in membership dues if incorporated;
  5. President's updates on outstanding issues.

Issue number two, is an update on the Greenough Point development. Despite our attendance at council meetings and voicing our disagreements and concerns, the Municipality has given a verbal go ahead to Mr. John Keeso. We understand that he has been given the okay to begin development of 27 units, and of course, the roads in and out of the development. While we are not happy with the Municipality for proceeding in this manner, we are pleased to report that the Developer had made a list of numerous items he would be willing to put in place to ease the inconveniences to our membership. Included in this agreement, is a clause which would prohibit his using the roads between July and August (peak vacation periods), and an agreement that he would haul only Monday thru Friday excluding statutory holidays, and between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Developer further promises to pay for an enforcement officer to monitor and control the speed of traffic during the work periods. Recent conversation with Mr. Keeso, indicates that he still does not have a formal subdivision agreement with the Municipality, and he of course, is unwilling to proceed without same. It is his vision that the roads would be worked on between May and June, suspended for July and August, and work resuming again in September. Mr. Keeso has agreed to contact our group and ensure we are present at any future meetings with council, and has today (April 26), advised that he will be attending council on 26 May to attempt to get a subdivision agreement signed. We will attend on your behalf to ensure we are kept in the loop on what’s actually going on.

Recently, the Municipality tried to pass By-law 2003-02, which is a By-law which prohibits the use of tents and trailers on private property, excluding of course, their use on campgrounds. While this executive supports the need to regulate certain uses of tents and/or trailers, we take great exception to the By-law which would make it illegal for your children or grandchildren to erect a tent on your property during vacation periods. As the By-law is proposed, even such items as “bug shelters” would be illegal. To this end, we had representation at council to object, and with the help of other associations and the Northern Bruce Property Owners Coalition, council has agreed to hold off on the proposed By-law until a group has had time to further study and make recommendations to them. A committee is being put together, comprising of two council members, one Municipal staff member, one enforcement officer, three ratepayers representatives, and one campground owner/operator. We hope to reach a reasonable compromise to this proposal, and hopefully can report further at the next general meeting.

Another project being considered by the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, is a new water treatment facility for Lion's Head. The cost of this initiative, is approximately six million dollars, to be split evenly between Federal, Provincial, and Municipal governments. The intent of our Municipality, is to cover the cost (approximately Two Million Dollars) by increasing the taxes of every ratepayer in the Northern Bruce Peninsula. While there is still a study underway to determine best type of facility and cost of same, we will continue to monitor and protest on your behalf. It is our thought that this cost should be borne by those using the system in a “user pay” fashion as is done elsewhere. Those of us who have already borne certain costs to install our own water systems, should not be asked to pay for others.

While most of us were in “winter mode” and not watching very closely, Municipal Council attempted to pass a Comprehensive Zoning By-law, which while very detailed and impossible to explain in this forum, basically would restrict the types of businesses that could be started in any hamlet of the Northern Bruce Peninsula. In essence, council and Bruce Planning Department, believes that Lions Head should be considered an “urban centre”, and as such, most new business should be forced to locate within this town. Fortunately, Carmen Myles was able to find out about this draft By-law, and launched an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board, and to this date, the By-law has been stalled pending resolution at a higher level. While no date has been set for an O.M.B. hearing on this matter, we will monitor and keep everyone informed.

Since almost one year has passed since our first General Meeting, we would appreciate if anyone has had email installed on their home computers, please ensure we are made aware of same, as this will reduce our mailing costs in future. Anyone wishing to update us with their email, can send same to colsbleuroof@aol.com.

We look forward to seeing all of our summer residents again, and once more want to remind all of the upcoming General Meeting on July 5th at the Stokes Bay Community Centre.