Part 1: Planning Review and Advances Spring Work Plans - 03/27/2025
- PECConnect
- Mar 27, 2025
- 5 min read
The County’s Committee of the Whole met on the afternoon of March 27, 2025 at Shire Hall in Picton for a working meeting that combined public deputations with several major operational and policy reports. The meeting was chaired by Councillor John Hirsch (South Marysburgh), who opened by welcoming council members, staff, media, and members of the public attending in person and online.
Hirsch outlined how the meeting would proceed, noting that it was being live-streamed and that all comments would form part of the public record. He also reminded those present that any motions passed at Committee of the Whole would not be final until they were considered by Council at its April 8, 2025 meeting. With no disclosures of pecuniary interest, the committee confirmed the agenda and moved into its substantive work.
View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes.
Rural Severances and the Planning Process
The meeting’s longest and most detailed discussion came from a deputation by Kurt Van Cleef, who addressed the committee about rural severance requirements and the County’s planning framework. Speaking as a resident and farm operator, Van Cleef described efforts to sever existing farmhouses while keeping surrounding lands in agricultural use. He focused on the requirement for hydrogeological studies, their cost, and the requirement for peer review, questioning how those requirements applied to long-standing homes with existing wells and septic systems.
Van Cleef framed his concern around process versus outcome, stating that the physical use of the properties would not change, yet the application process triggered significant expense and delay. He compared the County’s requirements to those of neighbouring municipalities and questioned the value of studies when applicants are still required to acknowledge that the County offers no warranty on water quality or quantity.
Several councillors engaged directly with Van Cleef. Councillor David Harrison spoke about hearing similar concerns from other residents, including within his own farming experience. Councillor Janice Maynard addressed the challenge of balancing farmland protection with the reality of surplus rural housing. Councillor Kate MacNaughton asked clarifying questions about whether any change of use was being proposed and spoke to Council’s role when policy does not reflect on-the-ground conditions.
The discussion widened when Councillor Phil St-Jean raised the role of the Official Plan and whether requirements could be revisited. Chief Administrative Officer Marcia Wallace explained the distinction between reviewing planning “process” and changing the actual submission requirements embedded in County policy, emphasizing that exemptions after costs are incurred do not address the root issue.
Direction to Review Rural Severance Requirements
Following the deputation discussion, Councillor Chris Braney brought forward a motion directing staff to review the requirements related to rural severance applications, including practices in neighbouring municipalities and opportunities to reduce unnecessary barriers. The motion carried, signaling Council’s interest in revisiting how those requirements are structured. A separate motion to receive the deputation also carried.
During the comments from the audience portion of the meeting, additional residents shared their experiences with rural severance applications. Speakers described extended timelines, changing requirements, and mounting costs related to well testing, surveys, and peer reviews. Several emphasized that the homes involved were long-established and already serviced, questioning why studies were required before applications could even be accepted. Council carried a motion to receive the audience comments.
Municipal Boat Launches Review
The committee then moved to an Operational Services report on the Municipal Boat Launches Review. Director of Operational Services Troy Gilmour provided an overview, describing the report as a comprehensive assessment of the County’s 13 municipal boat launches, all of which were confirmed to be actively used.
Gilmour outlined planned 2025 maintenance and upgrades, including dock improvements, ramp repairs, dredging at select sites, and accessibility features such as seating and shade structures. Funding would come from launch and parking revenue along with the operating budget. Councillors raised site-specific issues, including parking layout, water level challenges, and long-standing requests at certain locations. The motion related to the boat launch review carried.
Tourism Management Plan and MAT Consultation
The final major item was a report on the 2025 Tourism Management Plan and proposed consultation on the Municipal Accommodations Tax (MAT). Programs Supervisor Julianne Snepsts explained that the tourism management plan has evolved from a pandemic response into a broader coordination tool for summer services and tourism-related municipal projects.
A key focus of the report was the absence of a formal policy guiding how the County’s share of MAT revenue is spent. Snepsts outlined a proposed community consultation process involving residents and businesses, with the goal of returning to Council ahead of the 2026 budget with a clearer spending framework. Councillors discussed infrastructure pressures, community impacts of tourism, and the importance of broad and inclusive consultation. The motion approving the work plan, consultation direction, and related by-law amendments carried.
The Committee of the Whole adjourned at 2:31 p.m. The meeting set several items in motion, including staff work on rural severance requirements, continued planning for boat launch improvements, and a community consultation on tourism-related funding. All matters will return to Council for final consideration as part of upcoming Council meetings and the next budget cycle.
Key Takeaways
Rural severance rules were the main focus of the meeting. Concerns about hydrogeological study requirements for existing farm homes led Council to direct staff to review rural severance requirements and report back, formally putting potential changes to planning policy on the table.
Council also confirmed continued work on municipal boat launches, supporting planned maintenance, accessibility upgrades, and longer-term improvements across all County-owned launch sites.
Finally, Council approved the 2025 Tourism Management Plan and launched a public consultation on how Municipal Accommodations Tax revenue should be spent, with future decisions tied to community input and the 2026 budget.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:32:29. 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.
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