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Rb SS 5. ERR EIR ii 6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, February 11, 1986 Ban on farmer retirement lots Province seeks changes The Durham Federation of Agriculture will be taking a hard look at a number of proposed policy changes from the provincial Agriculture Ministry. | Among the proposed changes "would be an outright ban on farm severances for such things as retire- ment lots, extra housing for farm help and lots formembers of farm families. John Noble, president of the Durham Federation, told the Star last Friday the executive of the organization would be studying the changes at an executive meeting this Wednesday. He declined to comment until after the proposed changes have been discussed by the executive. Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell unveiled the proposed changes last week in a Policy Statement for Foodland Preservation, and he has given farm organizations and municipalities until April 30 to. comment. A "Right-to-Farm" advisory com- mittee has been set up by the government to hear these com- ments and report to the Ministry on options to protect farming from in- compatible land uses and from com- plaints against normal farm prac- tises. This committee will be chaired by Don Dunn, the Ministry's director of the Foodlands Preserva- tion Branch and will include several working farmers from Ontario. In the policy statement issued last week, Mr. Riddell said the proposal to ban retirement lots and lots for second houses on a farm stems from the fact that "frequently, these change ownership to become non- farm residential lots." - "Often, people from the city buy these country lots and move in un- prepared for the sounds and smells of farming operations right next door. Complaints arise from the smell of manure or the noise from farm machinery early in the morn- ing and late at night. Farmers on the other hand complain about trespassing on their property, pilfer- (From pagel) CHS in the fall. And he said there are 53 slated to finish grade 8 this spring, two-thirds of them boys, which means that a high number of the grads may opt for the technical courses at Port Perry High School this coming September. A good portion of the ninety minute meeting was taken up in a general discussion about why grade nine students are apparently deciding not to start at CHS. Trustee Kelly suggested that new residents moving to Cartwright may not have any feelings of loyalty towards CHS, or they may be under the misconception that because the school is small in numbers, it is not as good as a larger school. It was also suggested at the meeting that some students may want to attend high school in a "more urban setting."' Despite the discussion about the grade nine enrolment at the school, Chatterbox by Cathy Robb (From page 4) : [ronching g the big dip, subtract 45 off the speed limit and you'll be going slow enough to pass the dip unscathed. And also in the meantime, I think the Township should re- name Water Street. They could call it the Big Dipper. - resolute ing, damage to machinery and crops," the Minister stated. Durham York MPP Ross Steven- son, a former agriculture minister and a farmer north of Uxbridge, said he anticipates there will be op- positon from farmers to the propos- ed ban on retirement lot severances. "Farmers in central, eastern and northern Ontario will not like this, but it will be better received in western Ontario where there has been opposition to retirement lots," he said. As for what kind of reaction might be expected from farm groups and individuals in York and Durham regions, Mr. Stevenson said he ex- pects it "will be mixed." Mr. Stevenson said he is concern- "ed about the lack of flexibility in the proposal stating that it might be bet- ter to tighten up the restrictions in certain areas where farming opera- tions, especially livestock, are "highly concentrated. It is estimated that already in On- tario, there are more than 60,000 rural lots and many of these are vacant. Other policy proposals include the need to justify any kind of develop- ment on prime farm land, whether it's housing, gravel pits, highways, pipeline corridors or hydro transmission lines. If it can be justified, the location of this development must not interfere with farming operations, if at all possible. The provincial government also [4 'wants municipalities to be more precise in designating areas for long term development, relating to ac- tual needs, rather than vague expec- tations 20 or 30 years in the future. "There are far too many ex- amples where prime farmland has been designated prematurely. Some of this land is not needed for development for 30 years, if ever," said Mr. Riddell. He now wants municipalities to plan their growth needs within a ten year time-table. Under the "right to farm" provi- sions, the advisory committee will attempt to determine the cause and extent of the problems caused by non-agricultural land uses in close proximity to farming operations. The Minister wants farmers to have adequate protection in land use planning matters. Port Fair may be moving (From page 1) need facilities to hold the Holstein and other cattle shows, space for the midway, concession and displays. It is expected that the Arena could be used for many of the displays and exhibitions. There was no estimate of how much the re-location of the Fair might cost, but Mr. Deeth made it clear that a new site would not need a race track for horses like the one at the present grounds. - He warned that there could be op- position to the move from horse owners who stable their horses at the present Fairgrounds and use the exercise track. The horse owners have a lease agreement with the Fair Board for the stables and Vote of confidencé Mr. Fairburn urged those parents who attended the meeting "not to go home feeling gloomy about the future." It was pointed out clearly during the meeting the CHS has many features that will work to its advan- tage, including the fact that the academic standards and qualities offered are second to none in Durham Region. The number of CHS grads who go on to complete post-secondary education is virtual- ly 100 per cent. And CHS is organiz- ed on the full credit semester timetable which is an attraction for many students, especially in the higher grades. The committee also reported that historically, CHS has had strong and support from the community. With 108 students presently atten- ding classes, the school is operating at 81 per cent capacity, according to guidelines set by the Durham Board. The committee's report summed up with the statement that with "routine funding and maintenance, CHS can remain open for the foreseeable future and continue to provide education comparable: to that of any school in the Board's jurisdiction." The committee was chaired by trustee John Buchanen included trustees Joyce Kelly, Debbie Tred- way and Don Mcllveen. Private citizens on the commitee were Marion Murray, Sheena Williams, Gord Paisley and Harold Wright. track, but this can be broken on 30 days notice. The 23 acres of land that is home for the Port Perry Fair is owned by Scugog Township. The Fair Board has had a Planning Committee set up for the past year to look into the possibility of re-location. Several times during the meeting last week, Mr. Deeth stressed that the Fair Board is seeking to fully co- operate with the council on the relocation. If the School Board goes ahead with its plans for a new school at the Fairgrounds site and the Fair is the re-located to the Arena, it has been suggested that Scugog might open up the remainder of the present Fairgrounds for residential development. Caesarea hall to be taken It appears likely that Scugog Township will soon be taking over the community hall in Caesarea. Hall trustees Gord Gettins and Alf Tomchishin made the request at the council meeting Monday afternoon, stating that taxes, heating and other costs are proving too much for the group running the hall now. The Township has two plans for the operation of numerous halls in Scugog. One is to pay all the costs and retain all the revenues; the other is to merely help pay for ma- jor capital repairs, when It was not decided Monday which method would be used in the case of the Caesarea Hall. Mr. Gettins said - he has called a public meeting in Caesarea for this coming Monday to explain the proposal to the community. LOOKING FOR ~~ A PLACE TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS?? "LOOK HERE! Where consumers in need shop for the professionals in business' CALL 285-7383 for more information! Meet the Port Perry Star's new columnist, Peter Hessel. His first column appears on page 5 this week. Peter Hassel was born one morn- ing, long before there were any word processors. He picked up an old manual typewriter and went to work for a small-town newspaper. They paid him so much that he now owns an IBM Selectric. When nobody else. even remembers the Selectric. He lives in a little village which a few years ago became the fastest growing community in Canada. That's when Peter, his wife Elizabeth, their now seven year-old son Alexander, and their four year- old twins Duncan and Stephanie moved into a 150 year-old log house, and the population of the village jumped by 10 per cent. Readers of his column will frequently en- counter the members of his family because they are easy targets for him. But in addition to his wife and kids, Peter pokes fun at everything he likes or dislikes, from field mice in the cellar to cluster flies in the at- tic, from maple syrup to Valentine cards, from smoking to dieting. He compares his role as a columnist to that of a cartoonist. He uses words -- not pictures -- to exaggerate for effect, to highlight what he sees as the naked truth. His humour is generally gentle, but when agitated, - Peter can be blunt. Apart from being a columnist, aac g AT - a Fr 99 ~ Peter Hessel pokes fun at everything \ Peter has authored three published "books on Canadian history as well as hundreds of articles and essays in - magazines and newspapers in Canada and abroad. He also works - as an editor and translator. Peter has several passions. But he can get very excited about Canada. He loves this country. And his affec- tion shows up in his writings. His column, too, is very Canadian. There is one more thing. Peter is a vain man. He likes to know whether people read his stuff. If a week goes by without any letters from readers, he weeps like a baby. But when people write how they agree -- or disagree -- with him, his batteries recharge, and his frown disappears. He needs feedback and dialogue to maintain his momentum. HOWSAM - sown On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 7, 1985, Shelley Evelyn Howsam and John McPherson Scott were united in marriage at .the Port Perry United Church by Rev. Glenn Jackson. Shelley is the daughter of Bob and Norma Howsam and John is the son of John and Joan Scott, all of Port Perry. After the ceremony, the recep- tion was held at the Town Hall 1873. The happy couple spent their honeymoon in Jamaica and now reside in Toronto. ~The Murray House Restaurant 279 QUEEN ST. - PORT PERRY would like to announce their new winter hours commencing Monday, January 27, 1986 ... MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY ... CLOSED THURSDAY - Open for Lunch ....... 11:30 - 2:30 Open for Dinner - Open for Lunch ~ Open for Dinner SATURDAY - Open for Lunch Open for Dinner - Open for our New Buffet Style Brunch Open for Dinner FRIDAY SUNDAY 5:00 - 8:30 11:30 - 2:30 5:00 - 8:30 11:30 - 2:30 5:00 - 8:30 11:30 - 2:30 5:00 - 8:30 Join us Thursdays for Theme Nights FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 985-2775