This week, #Tecumseh Council begins at 5pm with a Public Meeting regarding a proposed amendment to rezone a 0.47 hectare (1.16 acre) property situated on the west side of the 11th Concession Road, approximately 120 metres (393 feet) south of its intersection with County Road 42 (3425 11th Concession Road), from “Agricultural Zone (A)” to a site-specific “Residential Zone 1 (R1-19)” in order to establish specific minimum lot area and frontage provisions to facilitate the creation of three new residential lots and the future construction of three single-unit dwellings. The subject property is designated “Residential” in the recently-adopted Town of Tecumseh Plan.  The agenda and background reports can be found here.

At 6pm, a public meeting to hear public comment on a proposed Housekeeping Zoning By-law having aim to restrict cannabis greenhouse operations in the Agricultural (A) Zone of Zoning By-law 85-18, in accordance with the policies of the newly-adopted Town of Tecumseh Official Plan. The newly-adopted Official Plan establishes that cannabis greenhouse operations are not permitted as-of-right in the Agricultural designation and are only permitted by way of site-specific Zoning Bylaw amendments that are required to meet a number of locational and design criteria.  The agenda and background reports can be found here.

At 7pm regular business begins.  The agenda can be found here.

This week, Town Council begins at 6:15pm with a meeting of the Court of Revision.  The Court is hearing from any affected owner who wishes to appeal his/her assessment or any part thereof as set out in the Drainage Report, prepared by Gerard Rood, P.Eng., of Rood Engineering Inc. (Rood), dated April 3, 2020.  The agenda can be found here.  

Regular business begins at 7pm.  The agenda can be found here.

Delegations include
1. Brian Harris, Board Member Brighton Garden Homeowners Association Re: Fence By-law, which is the subject of a report from Administration as detailed later.

2. Samuel and Robert Katzman, Owner, Greentown Cannabis Re: Retail Cannabis Stores.  Messrs. Kaztman have supplied letters of support for their existing Downtown Windsor operations from the local Councillor and Business Improvement Association as well as a fact sheet.

3. Melissa Boow Re: Retail Cannabis Stores.  Ms. Boow is seeking to have Town Council reverse its original decision to opt out of cannabis sales.

Communications - For Information
1. Town of Plympton-Wyoming dated March 19, 2021 Re: Carbon Tax.  Plympton-Wyoming requests that agricultural operations be exempted from carbon taxes.

2. Town of Plympton-Wyoming dated March 15, 2021 Re: Colour Coded Capacity Limits.  Plympton-Wyoming advocates for adjusting the capacity limits for dining, restaurants, sporting and recreational facilities, places of worship, event centers, and all retail/small businesses as part of the colour coded system.

3. Town of Fort Erie dated March 23, 2021 Re: Adjust the Capacity Limits for COVID-19, Colour Coded System.  Fort Erie advocates for adjusting the capacity limits for dining, restaurants, sporting and recreational facilities, places of worship, event centers, and all retail/small businesses as part of the colour coded system.

4. Municipality of Grey Highlands dated March 17, 2021 Re: Ontario Fire College.  Grey Highlands requests that a clear plan be communicated that establishes how the Province intends to modernize and expand firefighter training ensuring equal access to all municipal fire departments in Ontario, and as well, present a plan for funding to subsidize and/or regulate the cost for firefighter training in the Province of Ontario.

5. Municipality of Grey Highlands dated March 22, 2021 Re: Ontario Fire College.  The above correspondence is repeated, together with Howick Township's support for the same resolution.

6. Town of Plympton-Wyoming dated March 19, 2021 Re: Ontario Fire College.  Plympton-Wyoming requests that the Province of Ontario reverse their decision to close the Ontario Fire College Campus in Gravenhurst as the OFC is seen as one of the best and most cost-effective methods for municipalities to train their firefighters which assists us in protecting residents.

7. Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal dated March 22, 2021 Re: Ontario Fire College.  Edwardsburgh Cardinal requests that the Government of Ontario reverse their decision to close the Ontario Fire College as it is seen as one of the best and most cost effective methods for municipalities to educate and train their firefighters, which assists in protecting all residents; and should the Government of Ontario choose not to reverse its decision to close the Ontario Fire College, the Province should provide direct financial support to municipalities to offset the increased training costs of providing Provincially mandated firefighting services.

8. Township of Hudson dated March 31, 2021 Re: Support for Fire Departments.  Hudson requests that the Federal and Provincial Government include apparatuses, training, equipment and structures for fire departments as eligible categories to any further infrastructure programs which will not only provide immediate stimulus to the local, provincial and federal economies given current economic uncertainty but also ensure the safety of Canadians and dedicated firefighters.

9. County of Peterborough dated March 22, 2021 Re: Homelessness, Mental Health and Addiction.  Peterborough County supports a previous resolution from Niagara Region that acknowledges that a significant crisis exists in Niagara in regard to the prevalence of chronic homelessness and the lack of affordable housing that far surpasses the Region’s ability to meet the vision dictated in its 10-year Housing and Homelessness Action Plan (HHAP)

10. Town of Lakeshore dated March 15, 2021 Re: ZBA-05-2021 (Jamsyl Group Inc.).  Lakeshore has approved a temporary use by-law for the property at the corner of Manning Road and North Rear Road

11. Essex County Federation of Agriculture dated March 17, 2021 Re: Board of Directors.  Leo Guilbeault, President Essex County Federation of Agriculture, writes to the municipality to introduce himself and the new Board of Directors of the Essex County Federation of Agriculture and expresses an interest in communicating further with municipal officials.

12. Town of Fort Erie dated March 23, 2021 Re: Cannabis Licencing Enforcing.  Fort Erie requests that Health Canada confirm designated growers conform with local zoning and control by-laws; notify local authorities of any licence issued, amended, suspended, reinstated or revoked; provide dedicated communication with local governments and Police Services; allow Police Services to lay charges when licenced operators grow in excess and provide enforcement support and guidance to local municipalities for dealing with land use complaints relating to Cannabis.

13. Municipality of Calvin dated March 9, 2021 Re: Universal Paid Sick Leave.  Calvinendorses legislated sick leave and calls on the government of Ontario to permanently legislate universal paid sick days for all workers in Ontario during the pandemic and beyond, regardless of workplace size, type of work or immigration status.

14. Town of Amherstburg date April 6, 2021 Re: Support for Universal Paid Sick Days in Ontario.  Amhherstburg supports permanent universal paid sick days for allworkers in Ontario during the pandemic and beyond.

15. Township of Pickle Lake dated March 9, 2021 Re: Municipal Elections Act.  Pickle Lake supports the Township of Conmee as they lobby the Provincial Government to amend The Municipal Act and Municipal Elections Act, as may be, so that people with a criminal record who have not had their record cleared from the RCMP Data Base by order of the Governor General of Canada, be prohibited from becoming a candidate in municipal elections. AND THAT an elected local government official be disqualified from office upon conviction of a serious criminal offence and must resign.

16. Town of Fort Erie dated March 23, 2021 Re: Support of McNally House Hospice's Life in Every Moment Campaign.  Fort Erie requests that the Province of Ontario and the Niagara Region to support McNally House Hospice’s Life in Every Moment Campaign.

17. Town of Kingsville dated March 25, 2021 Re: Bill C-21, Amendment 26, Firearms.  Kingsville is Opposed to the adoption of any by-laws restricting the possession, storage and transportation of legally obtained handguns.

18. Town of Orangeville dated March 22, 2021 Re: Planning Act  Orangeville requests that the Minister of Infrastructure and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing withdraw Schedule 3 from Bill 257, which states that the Planning Act is amended to provide that ministerial zoning orders made under section 47 are not required and are deemed to never have been required to be consistent with policy statements issued under subsection 3 (1). However, any part of such an order that applies to land in the Greenbelt Area is and always has been required to be consistent with a policy statement issued under subsection 3 (1).

19. City of Kitchener dated March 31, 2021 Re: Planning Act Timelines.  Kitchener urges the Province of Ontario to review and reconsider the current timelines established for review of Planning Act applications before an appeal is permitted to the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal and to return to the timelines that were in effect under Bill 139, the Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017.

20. Canadian Union of Postal Workers dated March 8, 2021 Re: Support Delivering Community Power.  CUPW wishes to have the Municipality endorse their Delivering Community Power document which details a future vision for Canada Post.

21. City of Windsor dated March 8, 2021 Re: Tree Planting in Communities.  Windsor has rquested that the Federal Government follow through with a commitment to make funding available to plant trees in Windsor-Essex County.

22. City of Windsor dated March 8, 2021 Re: Regional Organic Waste Plan.  Windsor supports that the Windsor Essex County Solid Waste Authority develop and implement a regional food and organics waste management plan.

23. Town of LaSalle dated March 30, 2021 Re: Three-Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline.  LaSalle supports bringing a National Three-digit Suicide Prevention Hotline line to Canada.

24. Town of Amherstburg dated April 6, 2021 Re: National 3-Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline.  Amherstburg supports bringing a National Three-digit Suicide Prevention Hotline line to Canada. 

25. Town of Cochrane dated March 29, 2021 Re: Youth Residence Closure.  Cochrane requests that the Province of Ontario reverse their decision to close the youth justice facility in Cochrane, known as MeeQuam Youth Residence, as these vulnerable children need to be as close as possible to their families and communities.

26. Ontario Recreational Facilities Association dated March 19, 2021 RE: Open Letter to ORFA Members and Industry Employers.  ORFA confirms its support for assisting municipal recreational facilities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

27. Town of Amherstburg dated April 6, 2021 Re: Support for Amendments to the Agricultural Tile Drainage Installation Act.  Amherstburg supports Howick Township’s request for Amendments to the Agricultural Tile Drainage Installation Act to require that tile drainage plans should be filed with the municipality such that a registry exists in case needed in the future.

Reports include: 
1. Corporate Services & Clerk
a. CS-2021-07 Delegation of Authority - Reopening Ontario Act Violations.  Administration is requesting that the Director Planning & Building Services be authorized and empowered to provide direction to the Town’s By-law Enforcement Officers when attending legal proceedings in relation the Reopening Ontario Act or any other provincial legislation or municipal by-law, and further that the Delegation of Powers Policy be amended in accordance with this delegation of authority to the Director Planning & Building Services.

2. Fire & Emergency Services
a. FIRE-2021-03 Medical Tiered Response Enhancements.  Administration advises that in order to improve Fire Services’ medical response for medical assist calls, medical equipment will be redeployed from one apparatus at each station to the Chief’s and Deputy Chief’s vehicles, with an additional set of equipment to be purchased for deployment to the Fire Prevention Officer’s vehicle.

3. Planning & Building Services
a. PBS-2021-15 Request for deviation from Fence By-law 2003-57, Caritas Court Homeowners' Association.  Administration recommends that the request from the Caritas Court Homeowners’ Association to permit the replacement of the existing five-foot high wood privacy fence associated with the Caritas Court residential development located along the west side of Brighton Road, with a new vinyl privacy fence having a maximum height of seven feet.

b. PBS-2021-16 BPIG CIP Grant, 11957 Tecumseh Road.  Administration recommends that the Grant Application for the Tecumseh Road Main Street Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Financial Incentive Program, for the property located at 11957 Tecumseh Road (Roll No. 374402000000800), be deemed eligible and approved for the Building and Property Improvement Grant Program, the amount of which will be determined based upon the incremental increase in the municipal portion of property tax that results from the works being completed in relation to the construction a three-storey, 32-unit apartment building proposed for the subject property, all of which is in accordance with Section 11.3 (5) of the CIP. 

c. PBS-2021-17 Site Plan Control Approval, 2545 North Talbot Road.  Administration recommends that the Site Plan for 2545 North Talbot Road be approved, subject to payment of a security deposit for srevices and supply of storm water retention calculations and associated service drawings being approved by the Town.

d. PBS-2021-18 Limit Uses in Agricultural Zone (A) in Settlement Areas, Results of Public Meeting and Adoption of By-law.  Administration recommends that a by-law having the effect of amending Zoning By-law 85-18 for all lands zoned “Agricultural Zone (A)” within the settlement areas as delineated in the newly-adopted Town of Tecumseh Official Plan from Agricultural Zone (A) to a site-specific Agricultural Zone (A-33), in order to prohibit livestock intensive agricultural uses, mushroom operations and greenhouse operations be adopted.

e. PBS-2021-19 Site Plan Control, 5605-5635 Roscon Industrial Drive.  Administration recommends that the Site Plan for 5605-5635 Roscon Industrial Drive be approved, subject to payment of a security deposit for srevices and supply of storm water retention calculations and associated service drawings being approved by the Town, together with a change of zoning to Industrial M1 and merger of the property parcels.

4. Public Works & Environmental Services
a. PWES-2021-16 Asphalt Paving Tender Award 2021.  Administration recommends that the low tender from Coco Paving Inc. in the amount of $956,300 plus HST, for the 2021 Asphalt Paving Tender, be approvedand that the Mayor and Clerk be authorizedto enter into a contract for the services with Coco Paving Inc.  The following streets were included in the 2021 Asphalt Program:

1. Baseline Rd, 11th Concession to City of Windsor
2. Estate Park, Talthorpe to Talthorpe
3. 8th Concession, CR46 to City of Windsor
4. Gauthier Drive, Little River to Cedarwood
5. Chene Court, Full Extent
6. Gouin Street, Herbert to Shawnee
7. Shawnee Road, Gouin Street to Maissoneuve
8. Lesperance Road, CR22 to Arbour
9. Green Valley Drive, Tecumseh to Meadowland
10. Harvest lane, Full Extent
11. St Gregory’s Road, Manning to Green Valley

b. PWES-2021-17 Tar and Chip Tender Award 2021.  Administration recommends that the sole tender from Shepley Road Maintenance Ltd. In the amount of $198,050 plus non-rebated HST, for the 2021 Tar and Chip Tender, be approved.

c. PWES-2021-20 Manning Road Improvements, Phase 2 - Tender Award.  Administration recommends that the tender for the Manning Road Improvements, Phase 2 Project in the amount of $4,467,500 excluding HST be awarded to SheaRock Construction Group Inc.  The project would be under budget by $1,743,400.

By-Laws
1. By-Law 2021-20 Being a by-law to amend By-law 85-18, the Town’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law for those lands in the former Township of Sandwich South (D19 HOUS2020 – By-law to Limit Permitted Uses on Agriculturally-Zoned Lands in Settlement Areas).

2. By-law 2021-21 Being a By-law to designate as site plan control areas, part of the area covered by the Town of Tecumseh Official Plan. Affecting all lands zoned Agricultural Zone (A), or defined areas thereof, in the Sandwich South Zoning By-law 85-18 of the Town of Tecumseh.

3. By-Law 2021-22 Being a by-law to provide for the adoption of tax rates, area rates and additional charges for Municipal, County and Education purposes for the year 2021.

4. By-Law 2021-23 Being a by-law to levy a special charge of the Business Improvement Area and to provide for its collection for the year 2021.

5. By-Law 2021-24 Being a by-law to amend By-law 85-18, the Town’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law for those lands in the former Township of Sandwich South (Removal of Holding Zone Symbol “H”, affecting a 0.98 hectare parcel of land located on the west side of Roscon Industrial Drive, 5635 Roscon Industrial Drive – Briadco Tool & Mold).

6. By-Law 2021-25 Being a by-law to amend By-law No. 2019-10 being a by-law to appoint Directors to the Board of Management for the Business Improvement Area for the term of Tecumseh Council 2019-2022.

7. By-law 2021-26 Being a by-law to authorize the execution of an Agreement with Her Majesty the Queen in right of Ontario, as represented by the Office of the Fire Marshal for funding under the Fire Safety Grant.

8. By-Law 2021-27 Being a by-law to authorize the execution of a Letter of Agreement between The Corporation of the Town of Tecumseh and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Transportation for Ontario relating to funding under the Dedicated Gas Tax Funds for Public Transportation program.

For questions on these or other muncipal matters, you can contact me at (226) 773-1910 or [email protected]