Camp for the Deaf & ORCC needs our help! Options

[biohazard]

i got this, this morning.

To All:

Thanks for your emails concerning racing at the Camp for the Deaf. This issue is not closed. Please review the attached which are comments that I made at the May 4th, 2009 Council meeting.



Your response to this email is not required. I look forward to meeting all of you at the Public Session which will be held to discuss the racing issue. The date and time for this Public Session will be determined the week of May 19th and it will be announced on our website which is www.seguin.ca If however, you believe further communication is necessary, please contact the Planning Department of the Township of Seguin. (705-732-4300 or 1-877-473-4846)



Regards,

David Conn, Mayor

Township of Seguin

[biohazard]

heres the attachment(sorry its long)

File Memo
Camp For The Deaf
Mayor Conn Comments
May 4/09

I would like to discuss the issue of the Township advising the Camp for the Deaf (CFD) via an April 6, 2009 letter that motor vehicle racing is an illegal use on CFD lands; and that this activity would not be permitted to continue under the current zoning.

This issue first came to Council’s attention in the Summer of ’08 when we were advised that residents were continuing to complain about the noise and traffic levels related to the motor racing. Further, our Planning Department advised that the racing was probably illegal under our bylaws. Council directed staff to initiate dialogue with the CFD.

Staff met with the CFD on November 8/08 and advised them that the racing was definitely illegal. The CFD was advised to apply for a zoning bylaw amendment to legalize the racing uses.

The CFD did not apply for a rezoning. Resident complaints continued. Hence, the April 6 letter.

Due to my own inefficiency in reviewing my mail file, I must admit that I did not personally become aware of this issue until last week when I began to receive e-mails following a North Star article re. the CFD issue.

In other words, the decision to close down the CFD’s racing activities was not made by Council. Rather, the decision was made by Senior Staff.

I would like to emphasize that this decision is totally within staff responsibility and authority. The facts are clear: the racing activity is illegal; staff advised the CFD that the racing is illegal; staff advised the CFD of the necessary action to attempt to legalize the racing; the CFD initiated no action.

In Seguin Township we encourage our staff to be decisive. But we also ask them to be cognizant of issues with a high degree of sensitivity that should probably be reviewed with Council.

Based on hindsight, the CFD decision probably should have been reviewed by Council.

In my own personal viewpoint, the issue of racing at the CFD has a history that requires responsibility be taken by all parties.

The fact is that the CFD motor racing has always been illegal under both the bylaws of the former Township of Foley and the Township of Seguin. However, for the past 15 years, the municipalities allowed the racing to continue.

I suspect that the camp has been aware that motor racing is an illegal non-conforming use on their property. Yet the camp initiated no activity to legalize the racing.

So blame must be shared by all.

Given that the rezoning process normally takes at least 6 months, Staff’s April 6th decision essentially shuts down the racing for this summer. I’m personally not sure this is fair given the history of this issue.

Accordingly, I am suggesting tonight that Council give Staff direction to seek legal advice and to report back in two weeks with options to move forward to either consider legalizing the CFD’s current use of the property; or to maintain our current position.

Further, at the meeting, I would like to see a summary of resident comments over the part year or so; also, a summary of the events operated by the camp over the past two summers (i.e. Number of events; durations of each event, and number of participants in each event).

Also, I want to hear from the public on this issue. Accordingly, I will be recommending either a public meeting or a public information session. I will also be proposing that this public session be held as soon after our next meeting as possible

At the public session, I want to be presented with hard data from both proponents and opponents of the racing.


David Conn, Mayor
Township of Seguin

[CTD NUT]

Perfect.

At this point, that is as fair as it gets. It sounds like there is an open-minded mayor who may actually be a proponent of the events being held at the CFD.

It sounds like the ball is now in our court, pending the public meeting date, to be convincing enough that this is a good thing for Parry Sound. The `proponents of racing' have been called out by the mayor. Get 'em.

[ditchpig]

Quoted from the form letter I received from the Mayor's desk as well.

"In Seguin Township we encourage our staff to be decisive. But we also ask them to be cognizant of issues with a high degree of sensitivity that should probably be reviewed with Council.

Based on hindsight, the CFD decision probably should have been reviewed by Council."

So as I read it senior staff in the township made a decision that should have been handled by council due to it's economic impact (wonder who in the senior staff lives near the Camp and doesn't like our sport). Also when informed in November 2008 as stated what was initiated by the Camp for the Deaf.

[grease monkey]

if there ever was a time to make a stand, for our sport, it's now! or even better, at that public meeting, when they address it!
since i'm laid off (come on GM, get your shit together!) i'm panning on being there, but a few of us won't be as much of an impact as alot of us!
try to find the time to go up there, and raise a GONG!
might even be an idea to bring a buggy, with good exhaust on it, if they need a sample!, of course, this is NOT my call, just an idea!

[14wisdom]

any news on what happened at the meeting??