by Sylene Argent
By-Law to establish water
and wastewater rates passed
Essex Council received Environmental Services report, “2022 Water and Wastewater Rates” and passed By-Law Number 2107, being a by-law to amend By-Law 1992 that establishes water and sanitary sewer rates and charges.
In the Report to Council, it notes on February 16, 2021, Council received a presentation regarding the completion of a rate study from Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. that determined the rates required for 2021 to 2030.
The proposed 2022 rates include a 2 percent adjustment to the base rate for all Wards in both water and wastewater, the Report to Council notes.
The water base rate for all four Wards is $20.49. The volume rate for water in Wards 1 and 2 is proposed to be increased by 0.7 percent at $1.47. Ward 3 and 4 is proposed to be increased by 1.2 percent at $1.67.
The wastewater base rate in Ward 1 is $21.52, $22.59 in Ward 3, and $21.52 in Ward 4.
The volume rates for wastewater also have proposed increases in the individual Wards – 2 percent in Ward 1 at $1.50, 3.1 percent in Ward 3 at $2.34, and 3.0 percent in Ward 4 at $2.05.
Ward 2 wastewater services and rates are provided from the Town of Amherstburg.
Councillor Sherry Bondy said, she wanted it confirmed that dollars collected through water and wastewater rates cannot be used to subsidize general taxes or parks.
Kevin Girard, Director of Infrastructure, said water and wastewater are not funded through taxes, but by these rates. The money cannot move to fund roads or parks.
Bondy also asked if there was a way the water billing could be done in-house, and wondered if that would be a way to look at cost-savings.
CAO Doug Sweet said the Director of Corporate Services/Treasurer, Kate Giurissevich, is looking at all different options for the future.
Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche said billing water in-house was looked at several years ago, with a cost-comparison. He believes, at that time, it would have cost almost twice as much to have that done in-house than contracted out.
Councillor Joe Garon asked how the rates are calculated. Girard noted the way the rates are calculated, includes using improvements, operation and capital budgets, and anticipated use over the next ten-years. The Town estimates consumption, based on the average experienced in the past, as well as assumptions for the future. The rates are then calculated for actual costs.
2022 Fee Schedule for Colchester Harbour approved
Council adopted the proposed 2022 fee schedule for the Colchester Harbour, which includes the addition of “Commercial Operations Unrelated to Direct Harbour Use Rate,” as well as an increase to the minimum footage on Dock B, from 15 feet to 20 feet.
The Report to Council notes that because Council adopted the “Short-Term Rentals and Commercial Operations at the Colchester Harbour” at the December 3 meeting, the Colchester Harbour fee schedule needed to be updated to include the new commercial fee category. This is a $73.50 fee.
It adds the minimum charge per foot on Dock B, from 15 feet to 20 feet, in 2022 was recommended as this dock was used for smaller fishing boats in the past. With recent upgrades and the adding electrical and water supply, administration noticed an increase in the size of the boats utilizing this dock, in addition to an increase in water and electrical expenses, and an increase in slip requests by boaters. This change will affect seven existing boaters, if they return in 2022, the Report to Council notes.
Site Specific Zoning Amendments for 27 Maple Avenue,
2151 Roseborough Road approved
Essex Council adopted Bylaw 2105, to amend By-law Number 1037 for the property at 27 Maple Avenue to permit a semi-detached dwelling; and Bylaw 2106, to amend By-law Number 1037 for the property at 2151 Roseborough Road, to permit a sit-down restaurant.
Council held a statutory special meeting to discuss both of these requests, and hear public feedback, on December 6.
Both lots are vacant and are located in Harrow.
As discussed at the December 6 meeting, the 27 Maple Avenue lot is currently zoned Residential District 1.1, low density housing, which is the type of zoning surrounding the lot, in addition to Commercial District 2.2. The R1.1 zoning allows one single-detached dwelling as the main use.
The applicant wants to build a semi-detached dwelling to provide long-term rental accommodations geared to seniors looking to downsize and wish to reside in Harrow.
The owner is not intending to establish second dwelling units within the basement of the proposed dwelling units, the Report to Council notes. A second dwelling unit, however, may be constructed in each dwelling unit or in an ancillary structure, according to Town policy. To prevent this, administration recommended a restriction on the addition of a second dwelling unit within a semi-detached dwelling unit or within an accessory or ancillary structure.
Bylaw 2105 amends Bylaw 1037 to allow a semi-detached dwelling as a main use on the subject property, subject to all building regulations for Residential District 1.1 (R.1.) and adds a restriction on the addition of a second dwelling unit within a semi-detached dwelling unit or within an accessory or ancillary structure, the Report to Council notes.
In regards to the 2151 Roseborough Road lot, information shared at the December 6 meeting noted the property is 3.89 acres of vacant, industrial lands. It is zoned Manufacturing District (M2.1) for General Industrial Uses, and is subject to a Site Specific Zoning Exception for a drive-through restaurant/food outlet, but exclusively on a corner lot.
The surrounding area includes residential, manufacturing, municipal parklands, and future residential development.
The amendment request is to add a site specific zoning use, one sit down restaurant, which would serve the manufacturing businesses there.
Development down 78 percent in November,
compared to the same month in 2020
Council received the development overview report, which noted total construction value for November 2021, including all new and expanding commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential developments requiring a building permit totalled $5,748,100. This is down 78 percent from the same month in 2020.
It adds the average sale price for a dwelling in November of 2021 was $475,289 in Wards 1 and 2, compared to $366,945 in November of 2020. The average sale price for a dwelling in November of 2021 was $475,621 in Wards 3 and 4, compared to $469,891 in the same month of 2020.
Director of Development Services, Lori Chadwick, said it was not long ago when administration brought forward amendments to the Zoning By-Law to permit second dwelling units in agricultural districts and certain residential districts. She said there have been numerous inquiries to the Town on this amendment and meetings with interested residents. She was happy to share as of last month, the first building permit for a detached secondary dwelling unit was issued.
She added the Building Department is currently reviewing another detached secondary dwelling unit application.
Based on that, and because secondary dwelling units are exempt from Development Charges, Chadwick said administration recommends six be forecasted to be built in 2022 and that Development Charges be forecasted to be waived for six of these units.
NoM: persistent dog barking
Councillor Sherry Bondy brought forward the Notice of Motion she introduced at the December 6 meeting, which asked Council to have a discussion regarding persistent dog barking and the negative impact it may have on the quality of life for residents of the Town of Essex. She also wanted to talk about how complaints regarding this matter are to be enforced in accordance with the Town of Essex Noise By-Law.
Bondy said a few times over the past few months, she has received complaints from residents, primarily in Ward 3, regarding dogs barking all the time.
Residents, she said, have called the police and the Town’s By-Law Officers, and they get pointed in different directions.
“I don’t know what the solution is, and I am not sure if it is something that can be added to our Animal Control Services. I know it sounds trivial, but if you have ever lived next door to a dog that barks constantly, it can really have a negative impact on somebody’s quality of life,” Bondy said.
She also searched out the Top Calls for Service as outlined in the minutes of recent Essex Police Services Board meetings, and noted the Town of Essex has a lot of by-law calls. She thought Council could look at the issue.
“To me, it means that our police are doing a lot of by-law work,” she said, noting she realizes the Town does not have a by-law officer in the evenings or on the weekends. Perhaps looking at that would open the OPP up to do more traffic enforcement.
She said police and By-Law Officers are responding to a lot of calls and cannot get on top of the issues.
Mayor Larry Snively said he and CAO Doug Sweet talked about the issue and noted the Town does have a By-Law Officer during the day. After hours, he strongly believes by-law enforcement becomes a police issue. If there is an issue, police, he said, should respond to the complaints.
Sweet added the previous Friday, Town staff did meet with the OPP to go over the Town’s by-laws in general. The general practice will be, if there is an instance during regular business hours, the Town’s By-Law officials will attend. If it is after hours or weekends, it becomes a police matter.
The OPP is also creating a tracking sheet to give to the Town on a monthly basis, so the addresses of where they are going to are known.
In terms of dogs barking, Sweet said the Town does not have a solution for that yet, but the Animal Control Officer may be brought in to see what his scope of work may be.
Both Snively and Sweet believe the Town is headed in the right direction on the matter.
Bondy suggested the Town also do some public education on its by-laws. She is glad to see the conversation on the matter has been started.
Council moved the recommendation.