Part 2: Split Votes on Severance, Resort Approval, and Shoreland Controls - 05/17/2023

This second part of the meeting recap focuses on how individual councillors spoke and voted on the major planning items and how those decisions connect back to specific parts of Prince Edward County. The discussion followed the same order as the meeting and reflects only what was said and recorded during the proceedings.

Drew Harrison Farms Severance and Rezoning

This item along County Road 8 generated one of the most complex voting sequences of the night. David Harrison declared a pecuniary interest because the applicant was his son and did not take part in discussion or voting.

The initial motion to deny the severance and rezoning followed the staff recommendation and was moved by Sam Branderhorst and seconded by Bill Roberts. That denial was supported by Phil Prinzen, Janice Maynard, Roy Pennell, Steve Ferguson, and others. It was opposed by Phil St. Jean, Brad Nieman, Chris Braney, Corey Engelsdorfer, and Sam Grosso. The denial motion failed.

After that vote, Brad Nieman introduced a new motion allowing the severance with a revised lot size of approximately 2.3 hectares and multiple conditions. The motion was seconded by Chris Braney and carried.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap.

Wander the Resort Rezoning

The rezoning for Wander the Resort along Loyalist Parkway in Bloomfield–Hallowell drew significant public input and detailed questioning from council. The main approval motion was moved by Councillor Engelsdorfer and seconded by Councillor Nieman.

Several councillors spoke in support of the project. Sam Grosso highlighted economic benefits and employment. Councillor Roberts pointed to the broader tourism impact and recognition the resort has brought to the County. Councillor Braney noted that many neighbours had expressed support and that issues raised could be addressed through later approvals.

Concerns were raised by Councillor Pennell, who attempted to refer the application back to staff for further neighbour consultation. That referral motion was seconded by Councillor Harrison and ultimately failed.

The rezoning was approved after the referral attempt was defeated.

© Isobel Ralston

Interim Control By law

The most divided discussion of the night focused on the Interim Control By-law affecting shore land areas that overlap with natural core designations across the County.

Councillor Hirsch led the item and later introduced amendments designed to protect existing lots of record and applications already in progress. Those amendments were seconded by Mayor Steve Ferguson and passed by a strong majority.

Opposition came primarily from Councillor St. Jean and Councillor Harrison, who raised concerns about limited public consultation and potential impacts on rural and agricultural landowners.

The final motion to approve the Interim Control By-law as amended was moved by Councillor Hirsch and seconded by Councillor Harrison. It carried on a recorded vote.

What This Means Locally

The County Road 8 decision shows that revised farm-related severances can still move forward when council is persuaded by site conditions and added safeguards.

The Wander rezoning confirms that resort growth is being supported, with the expectation that impacts on neighbours will be managed through later approvals and enforcement.

The shore land Interim Control By-law signals a pause rather than a shutdown, giving staff time to sort out long-standing policy conflicts while allowing homeowners with existing rights to keep moving forward.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:58:51. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.