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The Canadian Champion. Tued ue819- Town in tune with spirit of proposai WANIEI By IRENE GENTLE The Champion A proposai to ease up on the miles gov- erning home businesses in the rural area led to a tug-of-war between modem eco- nomics andi old fashioned charni recently. T'he Town's administration and planning conimittee grappled with the issue after learning of proposed changes to Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP) guidelines on home industries in the escarpmnent area. Currently. thse regulations state that thse operators of cottage industries and home occupations must work out of the actual home. Home industries, on thse other hanti, can take place in an accessory building provid- ed it is targeteti for tise surrounding rural/agricultural aiea. The softened version of tise plan would allow cotlage industries and home occupa- tions to expand outside the actual dwelling. Somne restrictions As well, home industries would be able to serve a broader baseti clientele than under the present guidelines. Though committee agreed witis the flavour of tise Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) proposai, it voted 10 plug in some restrictions. For exaxnple, home businesses must stili be operated by household residents only, allowing no more than two outside employees. Alan, home industries sisoulti continue to pnmanily serve the rural/farming commu- nity. Debate on the issue was largely split down urban andi rural uines, wîtis rural councillors seeming more eager te embrace thse change. I guess when 1 see tise NEP being moti- ified to bu leas stringent, I'm quite elateti,' said Councillor Lieven Gevaert. "Wisai they are trying to do should bu applauded.' Softened guidelines will make il easiei for rural residents, he saiti. III think anytising the NEC does tisat wil make life a liUtle more livable is a goog thing," said Mr. Gevaert. Home businesses aie a fact of life tha should bu recognized in bots tise rural an, urban communities, said Councillor Cinti: Lunau. Bylaw worries "It's just a reality that more businesse are going on at home anti people neeti t survive," she said. "But I wouldn't want t look at broadening our assessment base the rural area without looking a1 wisat i going on in the town as well." Councillor John Challinor worried thi thse NEP modifications coulti interfere wil thse way thse Town does business. 11I'm personally concerned tisat wisý îisey're proposing will supercede ot bylaws," he said. "Thsis coulti make eventually difficuit for us 10 enforce oi bylaws." Mayor Gorti Krantz argued that i escarpmeltt landi is an enormous the NE hat 1 create generalized regulations. He saiti he ditin't mmnd tweaking il NEC proposai to fit Milton' s neetis. "It's so tiiversitied that tisey can on Fax your Dateline items to 878-4943. SQrIy, but Datelmne is nwt taken over thse phone. *FR11 set of PREMIUM MICHELIN XwONE CAR MATS, TOWEL AND CHAMOIS!O with purchase of four Michelin X-Ones*! tWhile supplies last MTire Fui Mtw Rang ,STELES AVE. M eIt w ie Fi ag 675 Steeles Av.Of ____878-785 mca"Ica sir W row ... s.. stores for contest detoils ail this weel deal with il through a broad brusis," saiti Mr. Krantz. "We can be more specific here in Halton." Recognizing home businesses just makes sense, said Councillor Wally Hunter. 1susa e t tt I tisink tise intent of the NEC is 10 gel m um ma people with modems working at home gob*gon e hoe an instead of buing part of commuter traffic," popenedt ise said. "My view is tise way the economy is going, there's going 10 be more and more of tisis kind of tising and 1 tisink tisat'......................... a positive thing." CUI NUIS Rural traffic couiti increase if the busi- nesses encourage non-rural clientele, sai Councillor Ron Furik. "Tisat's not what I tisink the rural aiea is for," he said. "It would create too much traffic witis clients comidng in and out." 1 ALE Ns2w OUR!* flue mimess i Senee itilto Mail flesheopigentr orner o99 Ontario Street and Main Street outd or. Reach for the Light Youth Ministry (St. Geroge's Anglican Church) For furtter informaton cail 878-1363 "Milton Horticultual Society" Flower Show In the Mail Saturdav. June 12