You may soon see some ATVs on Tiny Township roads.
This week, council asked staff to report back, within two months, on what it would take to implement a bylaw that would allow ATVs to use certain municipal roads connecting them with existing ATV trails in Springwater Township.
This move came about after Springwater Township recently passed a bylaw allowing ATVs to be driven on certain municipal roads.
This served as a reminder to Tiny council to go back and review the policy they had pre-approved a couple years ago, said Coun. Cindy Hastings, who brought it forward as new business at the meeting.
"Back in 2013/2014, Tiny did an active trails and transportation plan and as part of that plan it was decided to take ATVs off the (township) trails," she said. "That came into effect in January of 2015. Part of our commitment was to try and find alternate routes to be able to connect ATVs to all the routes they like to ride."
One of the areas where the ATV club likes to ride is the Wildman Tract, which is part of the Simcoe County Forest, said Hastings
"They used to use the rail trails, so taking them off there, we committed to try and find them an alternative," she said. "About two years ago, Tiny agreed to allow access on certain roads, more the south end of the township, making that connnection to Wildman and Springwater, but it was contingent on Springwater to pass a bylaw to allow the connectivity."
Now that the neighbouring municipality has done so, the ball is in Tiny Township's court, said Alain Pominville, president of the Central Ontario ATV (COATV) Club.
"What we're asking for is a connection," said the Angus resident. "We have a trail in the county forest in Tiny Township that's been there forever, and we'd like to be able to connect with the rest of the trail system."
This road connection, said Pominville, would give 800 or so club members a road connection to get to the trail.
"It helps the club grow and it helps connect the community as well," he said. "We have Wasaga Beach and Springwater Townships all open and then we have connections through Clearview Township all the way to Adjala-Tosoronto, which is all open as well. It allows our members to access the trails without having to trailer.
"And it brings tourism," added Pominville. "If you have a trail system that's all connected, you have people who come over to spend a weekend and they ride the whole time, spend money at restaurants and hotels, etc."
He said ATV season is a nine-month period through the year, however all trails are closed in the spring until they have dried up.
"We're hoping to open sometime in May," said Pominville.
How the township decides to offer the connection is up to them, he said.
"We can recommend roads, but it's ultimately up to them," said Pominville, who was at Tay Township's council meeting Wednesday morning with a club member, who made a presentation to their council asking for support in finding a way to build and connect trails through the municipality.
When the policy was pre-approved about three years ago, said Steffen Walma, deputy mayor Tiny Township, there were some concerns about having all of the community's municipal roads being opened to ATV use. These concerns were based on shoulder maintenance and an increased liability, he added.
"We did say that once there was a connecting corridor via Springwater, we would look at doing a pilot program of connecting Wildman Tract through the Fourth Concession East to Baseline Road South to Highway 27, which would connect up with the trail system in Springwater," he said.
There might be delay, Walma said, as everything in the municipal world requires public notice.
"I don't think a public consultation is required, but if there are concerns raised, we can put a pause button on it and look at the concerns," he said. "I will say, ATVs in the Township of Tiny have been a topic of conversation for a very long time. Most supporters would like to see ATVs on every road."
As well, he said, the township would have to write up the bylaw and contact the OPP to discuss enforcement rules around ATV traffic.
