News

Last night, County Council considered a heritage permit application by the Drake Devonshire in Wellington. Brenda Little has more. 

[It was a long council meeting last night that ran well past midnight.] The hefty agenda began with a deputation from Lawyer David Bronskill regarding the Heritage permit application for the proposed 3 story extension to the Drake Devonshire in Wellington. Studies have been done

and the Drake is ready to take the next step however, the municipality’s Heritage committee is not happy with the report of the design and asked for an independent heritage impact study to be done. There was a great deal of discussion from councillors and numerous members of the public had their say. In the end, Wellington Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer proposed a motion where the permit application would be referred to Development staff and that staff would continue to work with the Drake towards an outcome that supports local business investment while ensuring conformity with the Wellington heritage conservation district plan. The motion carried 7 to 5.

Council is making a change to its procedural by-law. During last night’s meeting, council voted to change the threshold to reconsider a previously-decided matter to require a two-thirds majority, rather than the previous simple majority. The motion was put forward by Councillor Brad Nieman, who said that motions up for reconsideration will have already had long discussions. The motion was approved after brief debate.

Also during last night’s meeting, councillors voted to approve a study and report on the process the controversial Cold Creek development took to eventual approval. Hillier Councillor Chris Braney proposed the motion, saying that important feedback from the community was ignored. An 870-unit housing development was approved for the area around Sandy Hook Lane near Picton in an area that could have significant effects on Warings Creek, the only cold-water creek in the County.  While the development was eventually approved, that approval came after complex jurisdictional matters, irregularities, and major community pushback that included an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Only Ameliasburgh Councillor Roy Pennell voted against the motion.

You will soon see a new sign at the Wellington arena. The municipality has made an agreement with Heidelberg Materials Canada for the naming rights of the arena, to be known now as the Heidelberg Materials Arena. The County will receive $150,000 over ten years. 

And, finally, the Committee of the Whole will be meeting tomorrow afternoon at 1 in Shire Hall. The Executive Director of Visit the County will present a fiscal update. The President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario will address the Municipal Accommodation Tax. And the Executive Director of the County Food Hub will present a deputation on the Agricultural Worker Equity & Diversity Initiative. The Committee will also consider municipal reports on the County’s Climate Action Plan, updates on procurement, physician recruitment, and staff parking, and finally a request by the Affordable Housing Corporation to transfer a portion of a Wellington property.

Sports

In MLB, the Toronto Blue Jays are in the middle of a four-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, who lead the AL East. The Jays lost Monday night and last night, and have lost four of the five games so far in a seven-game homestand by a combined 34 runs to 7. The Jays play the Rays again tonight and tomorrow afternoon. The Jays are in last place in the AL East, and are now six games out of a wild card spot. 

The WNBA starts a break today in preparation for the All-Star game this Saturday. Guard Marina Mabrey is the only Toronto Tempo playing.  

Canada’s women’s volleyball team has secured a spot in the Volleyball Nations League Finals for the first time. The final phase runs from today until Sunday in China.

In the Northern Super League of Canadian women’s soccer, the last-place Calgary Wild host the first-place Ottawa Rapid tonight. 

In MLS tonight, all three Canadian teams are playing out of town. CF Montreal and Toronto FC are 11th and 12th in the Eastern Conference, and are playing teams above them in the standings. The Vancouver Whitecaps are in first place in the West.