KENILWORTH – The following business came out of the Aug. 26 meeting of Wellington North council.
Mount Forest townhouse development
The holding provision was removed at 440 Wellington St. E. in Mount Forest, where stacked townhouses consisting of 28 units are to be built.
The holding provision had been applied to the 0.56-hectare property to provide council with an opportunity to ensure municipal water and sewage servicing is available for the development, and that stormwater management has been adequately addressed.
Councillor Sherry Burke asked about the possibility of reducing the density of the development before removing the holding provision, citing concerns about parking, but she was told site-plan approval for the project is already in place.
“This property received zoning approval from council for the proposal earlier this year,” chief building official Darren Jones told council.
“The site-plan approval is in place, and they’re ready to go without any further planning applications.” The parking for the project meets the zoning requirements, Jones said.
The holding provision was removed, and the property is now zoned R3-20, residential site specific.
Community Grants
Council approved updates to the township’s Grants and Donations Community Development Program Fund to streamline the process of providing support to community groups’ and non-profit organizations’ events and projects.
Under the new program, there will be two funding streams: cash donations and “use of space.”
Three events – the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival, the Arthur Optimist Canada Day celebration and the Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation Fundraising Gala – have been designated as signature events. Each will be eligible for cash donations from the township of up to $2,500.
Other local events and special activities are eligible to receive up to $1,000 under the cash donation stream.
The use-of-space stream allows organizations to apply for a fee waiver of up to $1,000 for programs, events or special activities hosted in township-owned facilities.
A total of $40,000 will be allocated for the program in the operating budget.
An additional $25,000 will be added to the operating budget to separately manage funding allocations of $10,000 for health care recruitment; $10,000 for seniors’ programming; $2,500 for the Mount Forest and District Chamber of Commerce; and $2,500 for the Arthur and District Chamber of Commerce.
Applications for the 2025 Grants and Donations Community Development Fund must be submitted by Sept. 30. Township staff will review the applications and submit a report for council approval, and applicants will be notified of a decision by January 2025. Applications are available at wellington-north.com or by contacting Mike Wilson at mwilson@wellington-north.com or 519-848-3620, ext. 4236.
Winter maintenance
The township entered into an agreement with Integrated Maintenance Operations Service Inc. for winter road maintenance for Arthur and Mount Forest.
The company, operating as Owen Sound Highway Maintenance Limited, will maintain Highway 6 in Arthur and Highways 6 and 89 in Mount Forest between Oct. 15 and April 30.
The municipality will issue two lump-sum payments of $5,418 for the Arthur winter highway maintenance, and two lump sum payments of $19,515 for the Mount Forest work.
The contract stipulates that the company will make its best effort to maintain one lane in each direction, and the level of service will include patrolling, plowing, sanding and salting.
Snow removal adjacent to through lanes is not included in the agreement.
