There was at least one positive local outcome from last week’s Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in Toronto.
Guelph-Eramosa Mayor Chris White announced on Monday night the event has led to a possible solution to a legislation issue that threatened at least one of two new schools planned for Rockwood.
White said during the Feb. 24 to 27 conference he met with Ontario infrastructure minister Glen Murray to discuss the province’s Places to Grow Act, which classifies Wellington County as one municipality and put a kink into plans for a new public school in the village’s south end.
The $6.2-million Upper Grand District School Board project is proposed for a property outside the current village boundary, which according to the legislation, means it could be considered “urban sprawl,” even though the proposal is for a school and park only.
“We’re not adding a single home, that’s what’s frustrating,” White previously told the Advertiser.
On March 4 White noted Murray seemed to agree that denying the school’s construction made little sense.
On the advice of township and county planning officials, it was suggested the county’s 2031 population forecast – a requirement of the Places to Grow Act – could be increased by 5,000 to allow the Rockwood school to proceed, as well as a $6-million Catholic school proposed for the village and a large expansion planned for Rockmosa park.
Adding an additional 5,000 in population (for a total of 10,000) also helps facilitate an expansion of the Centre Wellington sewage treatment plant in Elora, White added.
“He agreed it’s the right thing to do,” White said of Murray’s feedback.
White added the move to increase the county’s population projection by 10,000 was approved by the county’s planning and land division committee, as well as county council, and the request sent to the province. The mayor expects the request will be approved, but he is still concerned a provincial election could delay or derail plans for the two new Rockwood schools.
Yet overall he is pleased the township managed to convince provincial officials to approve the move.
“We weren’t going to lie down for some guy in London on a laptop who said ‘you can’t do this,’” White said, calling the Places to Grow Act “urban-centric legislation.”
