At the heart of the issue are the proposed further regulations, in the Blue Mountains, which restrict short-term rentals.  According to the Issues List section of the OMB Decision (p. 13), the hearing will deal with such questions as:   if the proposed regulation is outside of the Town’s authority to regulate land use;  whether there is adequate analysis and information to prohibit short term rental accommodation;  did the “Land Use Study” demonstrate that this control was necessary; are there any adverse planning impacts due to short term rental accommodation restriction;  is the proposed regulation consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2005);  does the proposed regulation conform with the official plan and strategic plan;  and, are the provisions prohibiting short term accommodation contrary to the Canadian Charter of Right and Freedoms (S.15)  by discriminating on the basis of income?

The Town of the Blue Mountains is going to request that the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) make some changes to the related planning documents that have  been appealed.  For example, here is an excerpt from one of the proposed zoning by-law amendments:

SECTION 5: GENERAL PROVISIONS of By-law 83-40, as amended, is hereby amended by adding the following new Section: Section 5.24 Short Term Accommodation Use.

Section 5.24 Short Term Accommodation Use   Section 5.24.1 (a) No person shall use any land or erect, alter or use any building or structure for the purpose of a Short Term Accommodation Use within any Residential First Density (R1), Residential Second Density (R2), Residential Third Density (R3) or Residential Fourth Density (R4) Zone or exceptions thereto.
Section 5.24.1 (b) No person shall use any land or erect, alter or use any building or structure that secures nine (9) or more occupants, in five (5) or more guest rooms, for the purpose of Short Term Accommodation Use.
Section 5.24.1 (c) No Short Term Accommodation Use shall be located closer that within 120 metres in a continuous path over the shortest distance from another Short Term Accommodation Use.
Section 5.24.1 (d) Short Term Accommodation Uses shall be subject to site plan control.To gain a better understanding of the issues and definitions, please read the related decisions and modified by-laws by clicking below:
Ontario Municipal Board Decision
Ontario Municipal Board Decision PL080455.pdf (348 KB)
Proposed Modified Zoning By-Law Amendment 2009-03
ZBLA-No-2009-03.pdf (889 KB)
Proposed Modified Zoning By-law Amendment 2009-04
ZBLA-No-2009-04.pdf (22 KB)
Proposed Modified Zoning By-law Amendment 2009-05
ZBLA-No-2009-05.pdf (106 KB)
Proposed Modified OPA 11 – Part B
July 14, 2010.pdf (626 KB)

According to their website, full documentation including the Parties’ Witness Statements and Participants Statements can be viewed at the Town of The Blue Mountains Municipal Office, Clerks Department, 26 Bridge Street, Thornbury during their regular office hours.

The Ontario Municipal Board hearing will be held  August 23rd, 2010 and 10 days has been set aside to hear the case. The hearing is open to the public, and will be held at Marsh Street Community Centre, 187 Marsh Street, Clarksburg, Ontario (in The Blue Mountains).

The $4.3 million facility will be a 20,000 square foot facility housing nine classrooms, an e-lab, two computer labs, a multi-functional health sciences lab, a student lounge and a community room.

I also hear that small business incubation activities will be provided as well which makes great sense for the future economic growth of Collingwood and region.

It is expected that the new building will accommodate 250 full-time students and more than 3,000 part-time students annually and is scheduled to open for classes in the fall of 2011.

The building is being constructed on a 10-acre site donated by developer John Di Poce whose company is behind the new planned industrial park at the corner of Poplar Sideroad and Raglan Street.  It is also made possible by a $4-million contribution from the Community Adjustment Fund of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

While I was stopped (for a full six minutes) due to traffic back up from the bridge work, I noticed some remarkable works of art mounted to the construction fencing.  There doesn’t seem to be any information anywhere about the artists but I suspect they may be the work of some students?  The paintings are insightful and beautiful.  Thanks whomever you are.

• you are at least 18 years of age;
• you occupy the home as your principal residence within 9 months of after the date of transfer; and
• you have not owned a home, or an interest in a home, anywhere in the world.

In addition:
• your spouse cannot have owned a home, or an interest in a home, anywhere in the world while being your spouse; and,
• in the case of a newly constructed home, you must be entitled to a Tarion New Home Warranty.

More details and applications can be found on the Ontario Ministry of Revenue website.

While many locals flee the town for this week-end, I’m sticking around to take in a few events.  It’s really quite surreal to see a bunch of, generally, older men with dyed black hair, real or fake sideburns dressed in sequined pant suits on just about every block downtown.  Equally interesting are the many visitors who come to partake of the fun- grannies in poodle skirts, people in Elvis sunglasses and almost everyone wearing beads or a  lei.  The streets are jammed all week-end with various events and a marketplace that overflows with kitsch and memorabilia.  You can hear Elvis music through-out the Town and even many, many blocks away.
 
My favourite part is chatting with the tourists who come for this event.  I love to hear their thoughts about our Town and how much they are enjoying this.  Love him or not, Elvis brings a very large number of really nice folks into town for this week-end every year and that is always a good thing.

So have fun folks, shake it up, dance in the streets, sing along, worship and enjoy our town.  We’re glad you are here.  Thank you.  Thank-you very much.

P.S.  I was just about to post this when I got an email from a new client who is coming up to view homes tomorrow.   It seems Elvis is contagious.   His message is priceless:  “Thanks Marg for the clarification. Sometimes I get all shook up with numbers, and especially around all you hard-headed women. Thanks again for not being cruel to a heart that’s true and remember we got a lotta livin’ to do. See you tomorrow.”

The organizer for the evening is my new friend, Silann Kaduc who is a talented local artist and former restauranteur.  Silann describes the evening as an avant-garde performance that celebrates words in all their forms of expression.  She cites an example of a poet and a mime performing together in an interactive way.  While she refuses to divulge all the details (even to the steering committee!) she explains that she doesn’t want to reveal the full show outline in order to create dramatic impact for the audience.  We do know that planning for the gala has involved many people such as Frank McNulty of JBG Productions, Steven Thomas of Theatre Collingwood and singer-songwriter, Romney Getty.

The role of emcee for the show will be shared by Barbara Weider and Denis Mildon who both have a long history and association with the arts in Collingwood.  They will be the thread that ties the entire evening together as they bring to life the evolution of literary arts in Collingwood.

Based on what I’ve heard, I suspect tickets for this show will sell out. Cost is just $25.00 including all taxes and surcharges with reserved seating.  Tickets are now on sale on a first-come, first-served basis.  You can order online www.wordstockcollingwood.com or by calling the Town events department at 705-445-9463 on that date.

For the first time in over 100 years, Collingwood residents are about to get their waterfront back.

The new master planned, Shipyards development is located at the northern tip of Hurontario Street in downtown Collingwood.  The main street has been extended alongside the former launch basin right to Georgian Bay and includes a lovely public promenade.  There is a 7 acre green space with an open-air amphitheatre facing the water as well as pedestrian and bike trails around the site.  Access will become official today – July 1st when Official Greetings for Canada Day will be held at 6 pm at the amphitheatre followed by fireworks over the Harbour at dark.

Developers FRAM Building Group and Slokker Real Estate Canada have revitalized this former brownfield site into an award-winning waterfront community that has been recognized for its environmental efforts.  It was named best large-scale project by the Canadian Urban Institute at the 2009 Brownie Awards.  The 40 acre site will include about 600 homes; some already occupied and many more are now under construction.  The site spans 1,400 metres of waterfront along Georgian Bay and will also feature a clubhouse, shops and restaurants.

As I wandered around the pristine site that has yet to see the effects of human activity, I couldn’t help but wonder what people would have to say when they see it for the first time.  Sometimes it feels to me that people complain far too much in this town – maybe that is human nature.  But when I look at this grand new site, the almost complete new First Street and the revitalization results in the downtown, I think we have much too be very thankful for on this Canada Day.

One of the showcase events of course, is author readings. Three separate sessions featuring nine authors will be held through the day at Trinity United Church with a capacity for 400 people each.  They include:

A Morning of History featuring Christine Cowley (Butchers, Bakers and Builders of the Lakers), Catherine Gildiner (AfterThe Falls) and Dorris Heffron (City Wolves). 
 
An Afternoon Of Mystery will bring national authors to town including former Toronto Star writer Linwood Barclay, the John Cardinal mystery series author, Giles Blunt and, Maureen Jennings, the author of the Murdoch Mysteries.
 
A Late Afternoon Look at Life features non-fiction writers: John Geiger (The Third Man Factor), Karolyn Smardtz-Frost (I’ve got a Home In Glory Land) and documentary fiction writer, Michael Winter (Death of Donna Whelan).

Each session will be up to 90 minutes long allowing time for each author to read and discuss their current works.  There will be time for Q&A’s plus book sales and signings on-site of course.  I’d say more but I’m off to read…

Related Posts:
Wordstock:  A Literary Festival Coming To Town

Those were my thoughts after a chance meeting at a dinner party in Toronto last summer.  I was seated next to Lisa Zaritzky, the Director of Publicity at Thomas Allen Publishers and asked her what exactly her job entailed.  Among other things, she mentioned attending literary festivals with her authors in towns and cities across the country.  As I was telling her about our new LEED Gold certified library, a little light bulb went off in my head saying, “Gosh, this would be a great time for Collingwood to launch a literary festival.”

Ideas have a way of taking hold of my brain and not letting go so on the following Monday, I invited Barbara Weider, the reigning Queen of Culture in Collingwood-Blue Mountain and, Kerri Robinson, the Library CAO, to lunch.  The idea resonated with them as well and ideas flowed freely.  Well, let’s just say that one thing led to another and here we are less than a year later, almost ready to launch Wordstock, a literary festival for Collingwood.

In the months since that meeting, a steering committee and many sub-committees have met, brainstormed, challenged, researched, consulted and birthed a plan.  The town and the BIA came on as festival partners.  Significant sponsors came on board.  Hundreds of volunteer hours have been spent putting together a plan that is nothing short of spectacular for an inaugural event.
 
Over this week and next, I’ll fill you in here on the blog with all the details because tickets are being released at 10 am on July 1st and are expected to go fast.  Visit the Wordstock website often for updates.  This is one event you won’t want to miss!