A letter from the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) to Grey County says that development plans at the former Talisman property require the commission’s approval first before others are granted.
In the letter, authored by Holly Templeton, senior planner and Janet Sperling, senior strategic advisor, the NEC says before the county subdivision application for the Talisman property proceeds any further, the proponents must secure the NEC’s approval to move forward.
“The proposed subdivision requires a development permit from the NEC, and … this permit must be issued prior to any approvals under the Planning Act for this draft plan of subdivision,” the letter states. “At present, the NEC has not received a development permit application from the subdivision proponent.”
Beaver Valley Development Group, which owns the former Talisman golf course property and another former Talisman property on top of the old ski hill. The group does not own the property containing the former ski lodge/hotel buildings.
The group has applied to Grey County for a subdivision plan that would create a number of blocks on the former golf course lands. Some blocks would be for future residential development and others would remain green/open space.
The lands are currently designated escarpment recreation area and escarpment natural area.
In the letter, the NEC states that they consider the block plan to be a change of use for the Talisman lands.
“The lands and proposed subdivision blocks in (development control) require a development permit from the NEC because development (defined as a change in the use of any land building or structure) is proposed,” the letter says. “The proposed creation of blocks (individual parcels of land), the introduction of land uses that differ from the established ski centre and golf course uses, and the proposed site alteration and intensified built form are all development.”
The NEC letter says the permitted use on the Talisman property is a “ski centre and golf course.” As such, any subsequent development on the property (including residential) are to be secondary uses to the golf and ski uses.
“The proposed plan of subdivision does not constitute a continuation of the legally established permitted use(s) on the subject lands, therefore a change in use is being proposed. This is important because while not currently active, the established and permitted use is a ski centre and golf course,” the letter says. “It is the establishment of the ski and golf course use as a primary (recreational) use that permits for the establishment of residential development as a secondary use under the (Niagara Escarpment Plan).”
The county’s planning department is currently reviewing the application and a report and recommendation will come to county council in the future. A public meeting about the proposal was held in June.
The letter from the NEC has been posted to the project’s webpage on the Grey County website. A number of other agencies including: the Bluewater District School Board, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority and local utilities and communications companies have also submitted comments about the application.
The NEC’s letter also states that should the commission allow a permit, notice would be circulated to all landowners within 120 metres and anybody else who requested notification. The decision could be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal within 14 days.
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