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Published - Nov 4th, 2009
By Ben Forrest
VARNA – A public meeting will be held Nov. 17 to allow for public consultation and feedback on a community improvement plan for Hensall.
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the Hensall Community Centre, a decision rendered Monday by Municipality of Bluewater council.
A draft community improvement plan has been prepared and presented to council and is intended as a tool to “rehabilitate and revitalize targeted areas such as specific properties, streets, neighbourhoods and entire communities,” according to literature submitted to council.
The completion of a plan is also seen as an opportunity for council to identify changes that are taking place, and the need for improvement in a number of areas, including infrastructure, community facilities and building stock, the literature states.
As previously reported, the creation of the draft plan involved two surveys asking residents and businesses to identify areas of concern.
Both groups identified property standards as a main concern, as well as the appearance of the village’s downtown area, the condition of streets and sidewalks, and street lighting.
According to the literature submitted to council, a number of respondents suggested the demolition of the former funeral home and the building that once housed Mike’s Stop and Go, a convenience store and gas bar on the western edge of the village.
Refurbishing commercial facades, repairing sidewalks (particularly near Hensall United Church), encouraging new business development and the occupation of vacant store fronts, as well as the creation of a parkette were also suggested.
The draft plan makes a series of recommendations, including considering renovations to Hensall’s former town hall, considering sidewalks on one side of all streets, and a series of improvements to the downtown area.
Recommendations include a number of grant programs to help residents and business owners improve store facades, improve energy efficiency in their buildings, improve accessibility, provide upper-storey residential conversions and other measures to bring older buildings into compliance with the current Ontario Building Code.
The plan also recommends waiving fees like building permits, demolition permits and minor variances as a catalyst for developing, redeveloping or renovating residential and commercial properties in the village.
Each of these economic incentives would be subject to council approval and funding availability, the literature states.
The literature cites a number of steps taken since the draft plan was introduced, including applying for upgrades to the Hensall Arena and Community Centre; water upgrades and watermain repairs on Highway 4; and approving application to the 2010 Communities in Bloom project, which will involve beautifying the municipality and fostering civic pride, among other things.
After the Nov. 17 meeting, Bluewater staff will review comments, change the plan if necessary, and proceed to adopt a final version of the plan.
With council’s direction, staff would highlight activities that promote the plan during budget deliberations each year, according to the literature submitted to council.
Blue Flag update
Bayfield’s Main Beach is a step closer to achieving Blue Flag status this summer, according to Bluewater Coun. George Irvin.
Irvin reported Monday that the Bayfield beach has met a water quality standard for E. coli levels, one of several regulations required for flying the Blue Flag.
In addition to water quality, Blue Flag beaches must meet a series of criteria related to environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and services.
Bayfield’s beach narrowly missed gaining the Blue Flag this year due to water tests that were not up to snuff. With that standard met for the upcoming season, measures will be taken to ensure the other standards are complied with.
“We’re very familiar from our application of a year ago what needs to be done, and we’ve got all that documentation,” Irvin said in an interview.
“Between now and the spring we know that they can’t change the testing results ... It’s just a matter of erecting signs and making sure that the beach is safe and up to their standards.”
Irvin said measures will be taken starting in mid-March, in advance of an inspection that will determine Bayfield’s compliance with Blue Flag standards.
Irvin anticipates an inspection in May, with the flag announcements likely taking place in early June.
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