To conclude the most recent chapter on the Southwest Fire Academy within Tay Township, a zoning bylaw amendment from Ontario Land Tribunal means the facility can move ahead.
Following a decision in June in favour of using 1420 Newton Street as a fire training site, the bylaw was presented within the council agenda and passed with little discussion.
“Basically, this is the (Ontario) Land Tribunal telling us: ‘this is the way it is, and here’s your new bylaw’,” explained Mayor Ted Walker during a recent regular council meeting.
The bylaw will permit the Waubaushene fire training academy to conduct fire and emergency personnel training, on a temporary basis for three years from the passing date of the bylaw subject to extensions.
Following the meeting, MidlandToday asked to expand on the OLT decision.
“It basically involved putting straw on fire and then they’d douse it,” said Walker. “We did have residents that raised concerns with respect to smoke, environmental impacts, and so on.
“Hopefully there won’t be any impacts felt by the residents in the area,” he added.
When asked about OLT decisions which impact the municipality, Walker stated that the township was bound by decisions made and the land tribunal would craft the bylaw to be adopted.
“It’s one of those things,” said Walker. “We’re creatures of the province, so we’ve made a decision and they’ve followed the established provincial procedure, and we have to abide by it; and we’re bound in a number of other categories too that prevent us from doing whatever we want.”
The 1420 Newton Street zoning bylaw amendment application order from the Ontario Land Tribunal can be found in the agenda page on the Tay Township website.
Tay council meets for committee of the whole meetings every second Wednesday of the month, and regular council meetings every fourth Wednesday of the month. Archives and livestreams of council meetings are available through the Tay Township YouTube channel.
