Essa not fond of plans for Everett

Posted November 1, 2012

Adjala-Tosorontio's proposed Secondary Plan for Everett, which would grow that community to 10,000 people over a 25 year period, is greeted with skepticism in neighbouring Essa.

"I Think Adjala should know what is best, but question why province would allow growth in areas that have no infrastructure," Essa Mayor Terry Dowdall told Free Press Online via email this morning about the Everett Secondary Plan proposal. "Seems like province allows growth without concern for full hospitals, full landfills and no doctors. Residential growth is not answer for positive municipal cash flow."

Next Thursday, Adjala-Tosorontio is holding a two hour "Public consultation for the Everett Secondary Plan, Boundary Adjustment and Master Servicing Plan" that starts at 7 pm at the Adjala-Tosorontio Administration Centre, and will include a question period starting at 7:30 pm.

The Everett Secondary Plan is hobbled by servicing contraints and its Master Plan Servicing Study was prepared by Greenland International Consulting, based in Collingwood. Greenland is the same firm commissioned by Simcoe County to develop its Water and Wastewater Visioning Strategy, which among its recommendations was to connect Everett to the sewage plant in Angus, which has unused additional capacity. Greenland had also recommended Angus capacity be used to service growth in New Lowell. Essa has rejected both options.

Last April, Essa councillors confirmed its objections to any intrusions through the following motion:

The Township of Essa does not support the County of Simcoe taking over responsibility of operating and maintaining Water and Wastewater Treatment and/or Distribution Systems within our municipality since Essa has properly planned, constructed and paid for such infrastructure without incurring significant debt and the operation and maintenance of these facilities are being done in conformity with MOE requirements at a reasonable expense to the users; and, The Township of Essa does not support providing water and wastewater servicing needs to neighbouring municipalities where water and wastewater servicing gaps have been identified given that the settlement area of Angus is on full municipal services and there are opportunities available to intensify development within the boundaries of Angus in which the unreserved water and wastewater capacities may be utilized in accordance with the Places To Grow Act and the Growth Plan Amendment."

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