Articles

Policy and Planning Quarterly

Spring and Summer 2023

The Policy and Planning Quarterly provides quarterly highlights of bylaw changes, Council decisions and land-use planning matters that are of public interest.

This issue will cover both Spring and Summer Council and Planning Decisions since the Budget passing on May 9^th, 2023.

Strategic Plan

On June 16^th, 2023, the Town released its new Strategic Plan. Our Gateway to Growth 2023 – 2027. The plan focuses on six strategic priorities, each with their own initiatives. These priorities will chart the Town’s path forward, helping to deliver and prioritize what is most important to the community. With the recent news of Domtar idling pulp and paper operations in Espanola, a major focus of the Town will be to support the workers and families of the mill, and local businesses who may be impacted. Many of the Town’s priorities may become more important than ever during this challenging period for the community. The six strategic priorities identified in the Strategic Plan are:

1. Housing – A plentiful and varied supply of housing, including low and medium density, ownership and rental market, and rent-geared-to-income
2. Pride of Place: A place residents are proud of and visitors are attracted to
3. Infrastructure: Infrastructure that reliably serves existing and new development.
4. Quality of Life: A healthy and active quality of life for all ages.
5. Economy: A prosperous and diversified local economy.
6. Town Government: Effective Municipal Governance and Operations

Featured Bylaws and Resolutions

(For full bylaw/resolution reports, please visit the Town’s website or contact the Municipal Office.)

Countertop Composting

Council approved a 100-household pilot project to offer a device called a FoodCycler, by FoodCycle Science, that takes waste including from fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, bones, shells, napkins and coffee grinds and turns the waste into a dry soil amenity that can be added to soil for gardens, potted plants, backyard composters, and flower beds for example. The FoodCycler has been identified as an effective tool to help residents reduce volumes of waste being sent to landfills, in turn reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The pilot project has provided 100 households with a subsidized FoodCycler. Participants paid $150 for the 2.5-litre unit or $300 for the 5-litre unit. These costs are highly subsidized as a result of a $10,000 investment by the Town and further discounts provided by FoodCycle Science and the Impact Canada Funds. The retail price of the 2.5-litre unit without discounts is $500 and $800 for the 5-litre. As part of the pilot, FoodCycle Science will be working with the municipality to track trends in waste volumes for participants to assess the success of the pilot in order to determine whether this is a long-term initiative that the Town should invest in. The pilot is set to conclude in mid-fall.

Housing Action Plan

In August, Council approved a high-level housing action plan in line with the opportunity to submit an application to the Housing Accelerator Fund. This fund, administered through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation can potentially provide over $1 million in funding to the Town to contribute to initiatives that increase housing stock. The primary initiatives of the plan would be funded from the grant while the remaining amounts received would be able to be spent at the discretion of the Town on housing related expenditures or initiatives. The 5 primary initiatives are: 1. Promoting Increased Housing Density through expanded zoning permissions, 2. Supporting Housing with Digital Tools such as a GIS and Cloud Permitting System, 3. Implementing a Climate Adaptability Plan focused on energy efficient housing and environmental preservation, 4. Developing a Land Utilization Strategy to maximize Town owned land for Housing, and 5. Developing Partnerships with Housing Providers.

Quarterly Council Decision Highlights (Spring: April, May, June & Summer: July, August, September)

• Approved Public Works summer student wage increase to $18.00/hr with $0.50/hr increase for each returning year.
• Amended traffic bylaw to reflect new configuration of school zones and add additional no parking areas for public safety.
• Approved Fire Department policy pertaining to the decontamination and handling of soiled bunker gear for assisting in cancer prevention.
• Declared June as Pride Month in Espanola.
• Approved application from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #39 to honorarily name Centre Street, Veterans’ Way.
• Awarded 2023 gravel tender to Carlyle Construction Ltd.
• Adopted bylaw to appoint Robert J. Swayze as Integrity Commissioner for a four-year term.
• Approved Member Motion put forward by Councillor Kallioinen to support provincially-mandated Oath of Office for Municipal Council Members which makes an affirmation of Indigenous Rights and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Ontario.
• Approved non-union staff remuneration increase in line with collective agreements as well as Council member remuneration.
• Approved new condensed work week pilot project.
• Deferred decision on research to be conducted for a skateboard park to December meeting.
• Awarded 2023 winter sand tender to Lathem Inc.
• Accepted 2022 Consolidated Financial Statements.
• Approved donation of approximately $1,600 value to Espanola PRIDE for their first annual event including donation of facilities for events, insurance for the event and the painting of a PRIDE Crosswalk.
• Deferred request to consider investing to reconfigure tennis/pickle ball courts to 2024 budget deliberations.
• Declared September 17^th to September 23^rd as Legion Week.
• Recognized September 25^th as Franco-Ontarian Day.
• Recognized September 30^th as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Land-Use Planning

Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 Planning Act Highlights:

• Approved Zoning Bylaw Amendment for Rural Residential property on Lee Valley Road to allow up to 10 backyard chickens (hens only) with a chicken coop on the subject property.
• Approved Severances and Zoning Bylaw Amendment to rezone Rural (RU) property to permit the construction of three 5 -unit row housing buildings at the south end of Yusko Crescent, extending a new road to the east, subject to development agreement.   
• Approved Zoning Bylaw Amendment to permit Local Commercial (C) uses and sale of medical equipment and supplies in the former Knights of Columbus Building.
• Approved Zoning Bylaw Amendment to rezone property at intersection of Queensway Avenue and Mead Boulevard from R1 to R3 to permit the development of 10-unit residential building or similar.

Reminders

Winter Parking

Residents are reminded that pursuant to Bylaw 2030/07, during night hours in winter months, no person shall park a vehicle on any highway (road) under the jurisdiction of the municipality, between the hours of two (2) o’clock in the morning and seven (7) o’clock in the morning, during the period from the first day of November in one year until the last day of March in the next year, except physicians on emergency calls and operators of authorized vehicles.

The Policy and Planning Quarterly is prepared by Joseph Burke, Town Clerk and Manager of Planning Services. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns by email at [email protected] or by phone at 705-869-1540.