Land donation moves forward
Councillors discuss development pressures on agricultural land
Jim Curle is inching towards his goal of donating 48 acres to Campbellford Memorial Hospital for its new facility and Campus of Care.
On Tuesday evening council heard Curle’s application to sever the 48 acres from a 124 acre parcel of prime agricultural land that’s on the western edge of Campbellford.
Council will likely approve the severance at its meeting on April 28. That will clear the way for Curle to transfer the parcel to the hospital. The donation was announced 3 ½ years ago but was delayed because Premier Doug Ford dragged his heels on approving a new hospital here.
The donation is also a bit more difficult to make because it is prime agricultural land and according to provincial, county and municipal policies cannot be used for anything else. Two weeks ago, council opened the first door to allowing the donation when it changed municipal regulations to permit severances creating prime agricultural parcels of less than 100 acres. It altered the rule to 50 acres to accommodate this change and others in the works by farm families.
Two other changes must be made before the parcel can actually be used for a hospital. It must become part of the urban community of Campbellford and must then be rezoned from agricultural to institutional.
Planner Cameron Law said he hopes these steps can be taken this summer while the current council is still in charge. Delaying into the fall would run into the Oct. 26 election and possible new cast of councillors.
The meeting, a regular monthly occurrence to let councillors learn about requested severances and rezoning, included further discussion of agricultural land use and the need to protect farm land.
The topic arose because Ron Elmhirst applied to sever two 2.03-acre parcels from a 75-acre farm on the 12th Concession East.
Nearby resident Bill Petherick, former reeve of Seymour Township and deputy mayor of Trent Hills, wrote: “I have no objection to my neighbour’s proposed severances, however, I am sorry he has to give up four acres of productive farmland to get approval.
“If there is some woodland or wasteland involved, I agree with the larger lot, but two acres of productive land means about 1.5 acres of lawn.
“Many of these lots are bought by people of retirement age. As one said to me, ‘my idea of retirement is fishing and relaxing, not cutting grass’.”
Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf asked why there is a minimum two-acre lot size and Law explained that it is in order to ensure a property has enough space to drill a well and install a septic system. Often, extra space is needed in order to find a suitable well.
Another resident, Jeff Runciman, opposed the severances because “I feel sacrificing farmland like this for more building lots is not acceptable. We do not need more building lots, we need more farmland.”
Runciman argued that the land is productive and should be retained.
Law said that the land is not recognized as Class 1
Councillor Gene Brahaney said he had sympathy for the views of Petherick and Runciman.
“I have no problem with this severance as it is here, but I want to echo the comments of Mr. Petherick that we should develop some of these other lands that are not farmable,” Brahaney said.
***
You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.
It is disappointing to read this column. This hospital has been talked about for a long time. The foundation has put in a lot of work getting it this far even with a grant of a couple of millions dollars for planning. Jim Curle a long time resident of Trent Hills came from a family that if they were living today would be so proud of him donating the property. Why are these farmers not complaining about the residential properties that have went up on Cty rd 30 North of Campbellford. Check 29 West of 30. At one time farmers could get severances quite easily. I know of two farmers who got a couple for development I presume if they need the money.
A lot of people who more than likely will never see the hospital has donated sums of money already. The last hospital entry by Art I note the laughter from some council members when they asked that the severance fee be waved.
I would encourage all members of council to pass this severance and calling on the Mayor for a recorded vote. Yes there has been a lot of severances on farmland in the past but there was none on the council that I was on with Petherick and Thompson.