A proposal to re-create a 13-site campground on a property near Lake Eugenia has stirred up plenty of public opposition.
On Oct. 28, Grey Highlands council held a public planning meeting to consider a request for zoning and official plan amendments to create a campground on a one acre property located at 109 Hawthorne Lane near Lake Eugenia.
The proposal would see 13 campsites allowed – nine of which would be the home to permanent trailers, while the other four would be transient sites. Each site would be approximately 13 metres by 13 metres. The property is also home to an existing cabin.
While there once was a campground on the property, it has been closed for several years.
A previous application to permit the campground was rejected by the municipality and it was subsequently appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formally known as the Ontario Municipal Board and now known as the Ontario Land Tribunal), where it was also rejected due to the lack of environmental studies.
Full details of the property’s history can be found in the staff report here.
The property owners, John and Jayne Legree, have submitted new zoning and bylaw amendment applications for the proposed campsite.
The proposal stirred up significant interest in the community. Planner Abdullah Pasha said the municipality received multiple letters both in support and in opposition to the proposal. Residents also spoke at the planning hearing, with many expressing their opposition and concern.
Two major issues emerged during the meeting: servicing and the impact the proposal will have on the Lake Eugenia ecosystem. Another concern expressed was the size of the property, Grey Highlands planning regulations require two hectares for a campground and the proposed location is just one acre, which is 0.4 hectares.
The proposal would see the transient campsites serviced by portable toilets, with the permanent trailers having their own washroom facilities. A local sanitation company would service the trailers and portable units. In addition, should the applications be approved, a hold would be placed on the property until such time as a communal water system was built to service the development.
Planner Ernest Young presented on behalf of the property owners and noted the property’s history as a small campground.
“The site already exists. This is simply a land use matter being resolved,” said Young. “The proposed development is compatible with the natural environment and surrounding land use.”
Significant concerns about the proposal were expressed by both members of council and the public during the course of the hearing that lasted approximately 90 minutes.
Mayor Paul McQueen questioned the lack of sewage servicing for the proposal, noting that portable toilets and trailer washrooms didn’t appear to be adequate.
“It doesn’t seem like the right way to go,” said McQueen. “I just have concerns with what’s being proposed here.”
Members of the public expressed similar concerns.
Local resident Matthew Arnold raised concerns about the sewage issue and said he felt the proponents were not taking the issue seriously.
“The proposed campground could have significant environmental implications,” he said. “It’s incredible to me that port-a-potties are called sewage systems.”
Local resident Sharon Wickens expressed support for the proposal and said it would be an opportunity for families to be able to camp in Grey Highlands.
“There are very (few) places in Grey Highlands to come and park a tent trailer,” said Wickens. “Let us all support tourism so that it can be positive, productive and enjoyable for people to feel welcome coming to our community.”
Robert Goodwin expressed opposition to the proposal on behalf of members of the Lake Eugenia Property Owners Association.
“We believe the development has the potential to negatively impact the lake health, something that has been under stress as of late,” he said.
Local resident Peter Vincent said the lake can’t handle such a development.
“The lake is already overburdened. There may not be sufficient capacity in the lake for another 13 households,” he said.
Council made no decision about the application at the meeting. It will come forward at a future meeting with a full planning report and recommendation for council to consider.
