> Town of Grimsby and its controversial CAO part ways /Pg 5 > West LIncoln rekindles youth committee Pg 4 > Bill 23 faces public protest Pg 6 > Free admission for Winter WineFest Dec. 9-11 Pg 14 Thursday, December 8, 2022 Vol. 11 Issue 30
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Santa’s Grimsby visit caps launch of holiday season Grimsby’s Santa Claus parade rolled through town Saturday night drawing near-record crowds. For more coverage, please turn to Pages 10-11. McDonald – Photo
Region ups ante with further Greenbelt release suggested By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Grimsby council issued a formal invitation to Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff to attend the next meeting of council to discuss the provincial government’s release of two parcels of Greenbelt land for development. The move, under Bill 23, has met with significant opposition on many fronts. For council, while planning processes and economic impact of capped development charges are at the front of the line when it comes to concerns, the dark cloud over all of it is uncertainty on key components. During Grimsby council on Monday night regarding a controversial twist to the issue - a Niagara Region planning report received at re-
gional council last Thursday which recommended removing even more Greenbelt lands - Coun. Delight Davoli said more information is needed on several fronts. “We need to be on firmer ground,” said Davoli, adding the current climate “has too many variables.” Council agreed and that was part of the reason Oosterhoff was issued the invite after a motion was passed by council to request his presence. Premier Doug Ford’s government has approved the release of lands at 321 Hunter Road, a lot on the lake at Hunter and Winston Road owned by New Horizon Development Group and a second parcel bordered by Oakes Road, Kelson Road, CN rail tracks and existing housing
to the north. In the planning report, which regional councillors saw for the first time at Thursday’s meeting, approval of the first two parcels removal is included - with an added suggestion, which also brings Town of Lincoln into play. “Further, staff recommend discussions with the Province regarding two additional sites, lands south of the future Grimsby GO Station and lands within the Prudhommes Secondary Plan (Beacon) to recognize challenges associated with achieving a Transit Oriented Community and existing historical uses,” reads the report. Regarding the regional council debate, Coun. Veronica Charrois raised concerns regarding Grimsby’s represented position at the meeting. See BILL 23, Page 3