Today the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) released the Draft Shoreline Management Plan (SMP). The draft plan includes draft development guidelines and policies for proposed shore protection structures by proponents. Updates to the draft, not in the current plan, provide newer information on shoreline recession rates, ensure local policies and application of the Regulation conform to Province of Ontario policy and keep policies current in light of emerging land use trends. The draft plan identifies shoreline hazards for flooding, erosion, and dynamic beaches and their impact on shoreline development. Click: HERE to review the SMP

The draft development guidelines can be found in Appendix F.  Please click: HERE to review

The previous Consultants Recommendation Report 2016  (see pages 113 – 117) is still available for comparison by clicking: HERE to review

Hazard Maps are available to determine which area your property is located i.e. Lakeshore 1 or Lakeshore 2. Click: HERE to review

Interested individuals can provide their written comments by email to info@abca.ca – and are asked to put ‘Draft SMP 2018-2019 Review and Comment’ in the subject line. These comments must be received by January 25, 2019. For those who wish to submit comments by mail the address: 71108 Morrison Line, RR 3 Exeter, ON N0M 1S5 and to put ‘Draft SMP 2018-2019 Review and Comment’ on the envelope. If you have any questions you are asked to contact Planning and Regulations staff at ABCA or phone 519 235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.

Road Grant Applications

November 30th is the deadline to submit applications for 2018

These are the unofficial results of the 2018 Municipal Election.

Mayor: Paul Klopp

Deputy Mayor: Jim Ferguson

Councillor Stanley West: George Irvin

Councillor Hay West: Alwyn Vanden Berg

Councillor Hensall: Scott Harris

Councillor Stanley East: Peter Walden

Acclaimed

Councillor Bayfield:  Bill Whetstone

Councillor Hay East: John Becker

Councillor Zurich: Shawn LaPorte

Further details of the voting can be found on the municipal website by clicking; HERE

Researchers at the University of Waterloo are gathering information regarding a study on the Dune Grass. Information sheets were distributed at the BSRA Annual General Meeting in August.

The University is conducting research to better understand the human-environment interactions between people and the Lake Huron shoreline by examining the benefits people receive from beach grass, how they perceive and interact with it and gaining insights on how to better manage beach grass along the Lake Huron shoreline for the better of the people and the environment. They are conducting a short online or phone survey with local property owners and beach visitors to understand their perspectives on these benefits. The survey aims to understand how you interact with beach grass along the shoreline and the benefits you receive from its presence. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete, and a topic of interest to all of us along the shoreline.

If you are interested in participating or would like to receive more information on this research, please contact: Charlotte Hings by email at chings@uwaterloo.ca or by phone at 1 514 261 2677

BSRA members who participated in the public meetings in August heard that Baird & Associates planned to have completed the actual draft of the SMP update by the end of September. The intention was to distribute to the ABCA Board of Directors, who hoped to be able to decide at the October 18th ABCA Board of Directors meeting if it was ready to be made available to the public. The draft report has not yet been delivered by Baird.  It is scheduled for the week of November 12th. The ABCA Board of Directors now plans to have a special meeting November 22, 2018, to decide if they want to send the draft back to Baird for changes or release for public comment.  The public comment period will extend to February in the interest of allowing property owners lots of time for review, but the current ABCA Directors who have knowledge of the SMP will decide if it is ready for public review.

Following our recent post with the responses to a questionnaire sent to municipal election candidates, for Mayor (Paul Klopp, Tyler Hessel), Deputy Mayor (Bill Dowson, Jim Ferguson), Councillor Stanley West (George Irvin, Taylor Van Aaken), Councillor Hay West (John Gillespie, Alwyn Vanden Berg). We followed this up with face-to-face meetings, with the same candidates, who were each asked a series of identical questions.  Those questions and the responses can be viewed by clicking: HERE