The Township implemented an Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL ) two years ago as part of its effort to thwart the Ontario Power Authority’s effort to have a gas fired generator build in the Protected Countryside in northern King Township.  (One can only speculate whether it would have been effective if the Council of the day had voted to implement it the first time it was proposed one year earlier by Councillor Mortelliti.)

That battle was lost and we got the generator; but there is still reason to complete the ICBL process. Specifically, we want to amend the Official Plan to incorporate specific reference to Energy Generation facilities within the Township and to document expectations as to how  any future initiative should be addressed, if there should ever be one.

Some of the concepts to be included in the amendments.  Small facilities such as <5MW may be permitted on certain lands designated Industrial subject to site specific assessment and rezoning provided the use has demonstrated no adverse effects with a 1,000 meter study area.  Any facility greater than 5MW shall only be permitted by site-specific amendment to the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw assuming acceptable site specific studies re: environmental impact.

An information meeting was held on this in December.  Some members of the public questioned why we would bother at this stage.  From my perspective it is appropriate to provide this framework for the future.  Our current OP does not provide direction which only served to increase our vulnerability a couple years ago.

The statutory public meeting to make these amendments to the OP is Tuesday January 10 at 6PM in the Council Chambers.

If you want more background on the ICBL follow this link to the King Township’s website where you will find some documents.