From the turnout at two recent Erin meetings, addressing public concerns regarding the town’s Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) will be no small matter.
Roughly 300 people attended a May 6 public meeting at Centre 2000, while probably 100 or so attended council the following night.
Delegations at the May 7 Erin council session included CVC representative John Kinkead, Transition Erin representative Shelley Foord, resident Pierre Brianceau, resident Matt Sammut, and Maurizio Rogato of Solmar Developments.
The town manager’s report was given following the delegations.
Kinkead’s presentation marked the second time in two days he had addressed members of the public on the issue. He focussed on the West Credit River’s capacity to handle effluent from any sewage treatment plant within the town.
“The assimilative capacity of the West Credit River will never be any greater than it is today,” said Kinkead.
He suggested that in all likelihood, that capacity will decline as a result of climate change and other factors.
Kinkead stated CVC comments on the draft Assimilative Capacity Study (ACS) report prepared by B.M Ross were forwarded in writing to the company.
The CVC comments raise concerns regarding the use and interpretation of background data on stream flow and water quality and the omission of other important considerations (storm water runoff and climate change) relevant to an accurate determination of available assimilative capacity in the West Credit River.
ln light of these concerns, and in view of the fact the MOE comments on the draft ACS are still outstanding, Kinkead suggested a report to council recommending moving forward on the environmental assessment (EA) be deferred until the ACS is finalized.
Originally Andrew Welch was slated to speak on behalf of Transition Erin, but instead Shelley Foord took to the podium. She said the objective of Transition Erin Wastewater Solutions was to consider alternative options.
While it may seem premature, Foord said there were points they believed needed to be made now. She said the request for proposal – to move in the next phases of the project – was being looked at during this meeting.
One of the recommendations made to council was partnering with developers to help cover the costs of the EA process.
“We feel this is premature,” said Foord. She contended there may be a non-binding option which would be less than half the cost of the currently-proposed $65 million wastewater facility.
“It is something council needs to consider,” Foord said, adding, “If we do nothing and stay on septics, does that mean the developers can have the additional population?”
She said that might not be a good thing if the rest of the town cannot develop. “And they would control the river.”
Foord asked that council delay until the final reports are complete. She noted the CVC indicated the potential population the river can support may only be 7,500.
The impact of climate change to the river also has not been taken into consideration. She noted that at the Monday night meeting, the idea of a referendum was proposed.
Instead, Foord proposed a steering group would be a better approach. She said such a group would involve various Erin organizations and members of the public reporting to council.
“I think this would be more beneficial than a referendum.”
Councillor John Brennan thought a steering group was a great idea and wondered how such a group would work.
Foord said that would require more thought.
Maieron said the SSMP study included a public liaison group and asked how it differed from a steering committee.
Councillor Barb Tocher said the liaison committee was led by the consultant, but this would be led by the public.
“It seems to me that Transition Erin has done an incredible job.”
Brennan added the purpose of the liaison group was not to come up with solutions, but rather to relay information to the community.
“I see them as completely different.”
Maieron said the concept of the steering group was worth exploring – “but I don’t want to be redundant.”
“At some point we have to make a decision. If we don’t make a decision someone is going to make it for us. I’d rather have a decision come from the community.”
Councillor Josie Wintersinger believed Transition Erin was on the right track.
Resident Pierre Brianceau was next up at the podium.
His presentation covered much of what he presented the previous night.
Brianceau said council has had the audacity to bring forward a plan which would cost a minimum of $65 million.
He said the elected representatives of the community had 10 years to come up with a plan.
“It seemed like council was like a deer in the headlights under some sort of spell.”
Brianceau said that Maieron once more commented that the then-developer-friendly council added 300 acres to the town boundaries and that the current council had to deal with the fallout.
Brianceau said residents are supposed to find out information from council, “instead it is the public doing the homework coming up with solutions.”
He pointed to Transition Erin which in the past two years has come up with more ideas, than during the SSMP process.
“My question is how did we get this far. We’re being told that we have to wait for others to make up our minds.”
He said major questions regarding sewage treatment for the community remain unanswered.
Brianceau said there is a feeling the community is being railroaded into something which will only benefit big development.
“Now we are being asked to support spending another $500,000 so we can be 100% railroaded into a conclusion of a $65 million plant.”
He suggested if the cost is $65 million to start, costs could escalate to $100 million.
Brianceau also questioned the proposed partnership with developers for phases three, four and five of the SSMP.
He said that nothing is free and developers will want to recoup their costs.
One of the arguments of the SSMP was the potential for job creation.
“We’re being promised the likelihood of jobs which may never materialize.”
He also expressed doubts that either federal or provincial grants would be available.
“Does the mayor not realize the whole thing affects all of us? There is no compassion for the people about to lose their jobs or businesses.”
He said the last major business losses in Erin were when the street was rebuilt – “they are about to do the same thing over again.”
Instead, Brianceau considered that council should instead be looking at what solutions the municipality can afford.
While the intent is to provide municipal water and sewers for the communities of Erin and Hillsburgh, “there are no compelling health reasons to do this,” Brianceau said.
He maintained the main beneficiaries of this work will be the developers who will generate profits while town residents pick up the costs.
Maieron contended that if there was one voice which spoke out against the original inclusion of more land into the urban areas it was him.
“If you want to avoid a problem, you don’t enter into it.”
Maieron said the question is where to go from here.
Though members of the public asked what council had done since the land was added, the mayor was booed when he asked the same question of the public.
Maieron said the town engaged in the SSMP to get through stages one and two “and now the reality is setting in that this is going to be 1,000 homes.”
He suggested the public could have stopped the process by not adding the land in the first place … or conduct the SSMP.
He added that if the municipality hopes to get any federal or provincial funding, it has to complete the SSMP – which includes a complete EA process.
“It still does not compel the municipality to go forward with a sewage treatment plant.”
He said, “Either the town controls the process or we put our heads in the sand.”
He said the developers have spent considerable money on land which is located in the urban boundary.
“We’re either part of the process, or the developers will do their own EA process … without the town.”
He said residents can now say they do not want this growth, but eight years ago, it was included in the town’s official plan.
At that time, the province changed the rules regarding intensification.
“If you think we can be the island of Erin, and there are special rules for us … good luck.”
He maintained that he had opposed the growth, but now as mayor he must look at it realistically.
“If you want your planning done at the OMB just continue to say nothing is going to happen. But in one form or another – it will.”
The town manager’s report stated both the Wellington County and Erin official plans require an SSMP in order to investigate the servicing needs of the town and its communities;
Both the town and CVC have expended considerable financial, professional and staff resources to undertake the SSMP in accordance with the Official Plan requirements and Ministry of Environment Class Environmental (Class EA) standards.
The SSMP identified that the current state of private wastewater servicing in the villages of Erin and Hillsburgh is restraining private property investment and redevelopment and is a potential health and servicing issue due to the age of the systems and the predominantly smaller lot sizes which limit the ability to meet current design guidelines. Ultimate servicing costs to construct a town-wide municipal waste water treatment plant and associated servicing system is approximately $65 million; for a 2035 design population of 6,500 persons.
The report stated “this cost is a significant one which could potentially burden the taxpayers of the town.”
Miele’s report stated the development sector has expressed a willingness to work in cooperation with the town, through the remaining phases of the Municipal Class EA Process.
As such, he recommended the town direct the CAO to work collaboratively with the development sector and initiate discussion to establish a strategy/framework to continue and complete Phases 3, 4 and 5 of the EA process in an expeditious and cost-effective manner.
He estimated the costs of a process for an undertaking of this size and complexity could range from $250,000 to $500,000, depending on the final determination of the future size of the urban areas and the ultimate resolution of environmental constraints regarding treatment scenarios.
Approximately $100,000 has been earmarked in the capital budget as partial payment of the proposed EA process. However, with the support of the development sector who can act as a “co-proponent” in accordance with the EA, the town could share and minimize costs associated with the process while ensuring the needs of the town are considered and protected through the development of the undertaking.
Councillor Barb Tocher disagreed with the mayor’s earlier assessment of the commitment of the town if it moves forward.
“If we move ahead with the EA process, it is a decision for a sewage treatment plant. Otherwise you are spending another $250,000 to say ‘no’ at the end of the process.”
She said if the decision is to move forward with a sewage treatment plant, an EA is the way to go. “But face it, we need to decide if that is the right alternative for us.”
As to the staff recommendation, Tocher was uncomfortable making decisions while the SSMP was still a draft.
She also agreed with the public in their disappointment at the end of stage two of the SSMP.
“I expected more options.”
Council agreed later that night to defer a decision to a future meeting.
