Councillors here are in favour of moving ahead with the Puslinch Community Centre Concept Plan.
Councillor Wayne Stokley noted that all of council in addition to planner Sarah Wilhelm were at the Puslinch Community Centre Concept and Master Plan Stakeholder Group Meeting.
It was a chance to look at what members of the community would like to see.
Stokley said Wilhelm has now offered ideas on the next steps and how to proceed.
Wilhelm had agreed to follow up concerning official plan conformity and zoning compliance with respect to extending park uses onto the additional lands behind the community centre acquired by the Township.
At the stakeholder group meeting, a number of ideas were generated about possible uses for the property including soccer fields, trails, parking, a playground/picnic area, outdoor pavilion, and a skate park.
Wilhelm indicated the municipality may want to consider formal discussion with representatives from the Grand River Conservation Authority in terms of zoning.
The land acquired is currently designated as core greenlands to protect the floodplain associated with a tributary of Mill Creek and wetlands adjacent to the creek.
Because of the potential of flooding, the official plan generally directs development away from those areas.
However that criteria does not prohibit open space or recreational use.
The policies indicate that no development or site alteration is permitted within provincially significant wetlands or in provincially significant habitat of threatened or endangered species.
There are wetlands on the property and the GRCA also recently advised that they observed butternut trees which are considered to be endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act.
While the trees are in a location that should have no impact on the proposed uses of the property, the GRCA advised that they will need to be noted in any inventories and larger management plans.
In her report, Wilhelm stated that based on an applicable policy review, “there are portions of the property which cannot be developed or altered, the limits of which should be determined in consultation with the GRCA.
Outside of these areas, open space and recreational uses could be established on the property without an amendment to the county official plan.”
Stokley said “If we are to move forward with any proposal, whether it be fields or parking, then it is necessary to have some rezoning in that area.”
Along with that, Stokley recommended a public meeting in which more input could be garnered.
“It is important to take this information and use it. I think this is good starting point to go where we need because once this is in place we will have options as to what we can do with this area.”
Council was in general agreement to that approach.
