Part 2: Votes Split on Rural Severances While Backing Community Gardens and Housing Advocacy – 05/07/2024

Name: Picton Community Gardens
Location: Delhi Park

PECConnect
May 7, 2024
4 min read

During deputations, Barbara Mason, Chair of the Picton Community Gardens, presented Council with an update on improvements underway at the gardens in Delhi Park and outlined future plans. Mason formally asked Council to reaffirm the existing agreement permitting use of municipal land and to designate the gardens as a Project of Community Interest, allowing the group to issue charitable donation receipts.

Support from Council members was consistent and public. Kate MacNaughton, (Picton), moved the motion to receive the deputation and approve the requests, with Phil St-Jean (Picton), seconding. Councillors including Janice Maynard and Bob Waldon spoke positively about the gardens’ role in community connection, food access, and volunteer engagement. Council voted in favour without opposition.

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

Severance debate and recorded vote

The most contested item of the night involved two remaining severance applications on County Road 2 in Ameliasburgh. Mark Pedersen, lawyer with O’Flynn Weese LLP, argued Council had not explicitly ruled on the “inside severances” and should make a clear decision rather than rely on implication from previous approvals.

Michael Michaud, Manager of Planning, explained staff’s recommendation to refuse the severances, citing Official Plan policies intended to prevent linear or strip development and preserve rural character. Michaud emphasized that staff concerns were rooted in policy interpretation rather than servicing or safety issues.

The refusal motion was moved by Phil St-Jean and seconded by Roy Pennell. Janice Maynard spoke against refusal, stating she believed the proposal aligned with previous approvals under the older Official Plan and warning that inconsistency could lead to further complications. She requested a recorded vote.

Councillors voting in favour of refusal were Mayor Steve Ferguson, Phil St-Jean, Roy Pennell, Sam Branderhorst, Bill Roberts, Phil Prinzen, Brad Nieman, Corey Engelsdorfer, and Kate MacNaughton. The motion to refuse carried 9–5.

Demand pressures acknowledged

Five people in a meeting around a wooden table, engaged in discussion. A laptop is open, papers are scattered, and a plant is in the background.

Public comments from Gillian Armstrong, Grants and Communications Administrator with the County Foundation, outlined the growing gap between available municipal grant funding and community demand. Armstrong described the adjudication process and the need to balance geography, sector, and community benefit.

Councillors Bill Roberts and Bob Waldon questioned how long rising demand could be sustained without increased pressure on taxpayers. Phil St-Jean raised concerns about overlap between food-related programs and flagged the issue for future program review. Council voted in favour of approving the recommended grants.

Roads and operations: spot repairs approved

Council approved additional asphalt spot repairs, awarding work to Kiley Paving Ltd. Phil St-Jean questioned whether coordination with other departments could reduce overall repair costs, while Janice Maynard raised concerns about severely deteriorated sections near Ameliasburgh and asked whether alternatives could be explored.

Staff explained how repairs are prioritized, tendered, and funded. Council voted in favour of the report as presented.

Fuel supply and regional purchasing

Council approved a fuel supply contract with W.O. Stinson & Son Ltd. Phil St-Jean proposed that staff explore regional fuel purchasing with neighbouring municipalities to achieve potential cost savings. Council supported directing staff to investigate the option while approving the current contract.

Housing funding advocacy: unanimous support

White house model beside stacked coins on a table, with a green bokeh background, suggesting finance or real estate themes.

A resolution addressing provincial and federal housing funding disputes was introduced by Sam Branderhorst and seconded by Bill Roberts. Branderhorst explained that recent notices to Prince Edward–Lennox and Addington Social Services indicated significant funding losses tied to broader intergovernmental disagreements.

Councillors across all wards spoke in support. Council voted unanimously in favour, with a recorded vote confirming full endorsement, and directed staff to support public communication on the issue.

What this means for locals

Council’s decision secures the future of the community gardens and strengthens their ability to raise funds. In Ameliasburgh, the severance refusal reinforces a stricter interpretation of rural planning policies and limits additional residential development along County Road 2.

Community groups will move forward with approved grants despite clear acknowledgment that demand exceeds supply. Drivers can expect continued spot road repairs in 2024, while staff explore ways to control operating costs.

Finally, residents reliant on affordable housing and social supports saw Council take a unified advocacy position, formally pressing senior governments to protect funding that directly affects housing stability in the County.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:53:18. 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.