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Neighbours raise concerns about Halton Place-- again By CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer "Enough is enough" cried both Halton Hills council and the neighbours surrounding Halton Place equestrian farm on 15 Sideroad, which is seeking a Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) permit for unlimited horse shows in perpetuity. That NEC application will be dealt with at this Thursday's Commission meeting-- NEC staff are recommending refusal of the application, stating a Niagara Escarpment Plan amendment is required to recognize the permanent special recreation/commercial use of the property. The refusal is based on "the general intensity level of use, permanent nature of use and added components increasing to the point at which a NEP amendment is necessary." About a half-dozen residents turned out at the March 8 council meeting to support a Town report advising the NEC of its objection to Halton Place's application. The Town objects to the request to: · Hold an unlimited number of horse shows each year in perpetuity · Permitting overnight stays for horse owners, riders and training staff in their own trailers during the shows · Permitting ancillary activities such as charity fundraisers and social gathering · Allowing no limits on the morning start and evening end times of the shows. The Town did agree to accept six shows in 2011, under the same terms and condiers are for the health and safety of tions as previous years provided a theirs horses, and not for the gennew application was filed. Council eral public. He estimates about 60 also approved an amendment notitrailers/per show would stay overfying the NEC the Town won't apnight. prove any more events after 2011 Arnold said Halton Place has unless all outstanding building perbeen addressing a number of ongomits are closed and site plans are aping issues such as noise levels and proved, and that Town staff take all manure placement and offered to appropriate steps to ensure compliCLARK meet with Town staff to discuss ance with the building permits. SOMERVILLE terms and conditions that could Halton Place solictor Thomas be attached if the Town were to Arnold said the in perpuity application for an unlimited of horse shows, "is to approve Halton Place's application. But three residents-- neighbours of further develop Halton Place as an agricultural business similar to Chudleigh's (apple Halton Place-- spoke at Tuesday's council meeting in support of the Town recommenfarm) for example." He said Halton Place provides the town tation not to approve the application. Speaking on behalf of 15 homeowners with significant economic benefits, supports local businesses and attracts thou- surrounding Halton Place, resident Mike Shantz said acceptance of this permit sands of tourists each year. Arnold said six shows per year are would have "a monumental negative implanned for and since horse shows must pact to our enviroment if this application is be approved by the equestrian sanction- allowed to proceed. This is our nightmare ing body months in advance, the in per- coming true. We hope council will deny petuity clause aids Halton Place in their open-ended commercialization of the Halfuture planning. But he said Halton Place ton Place property." Shantz called the in perpetuity request a may wish to host amateur shows-- for example about 30 young riders on Friday af- "do whatever we want" permit and he said ternoon-- but would be required to file a it seems Halton Place has been building whatever they wanted since 2003, without NEC application. "That process takes months and is not penalty. He said he called Town bylaw ofpractical in that situation," he said. He fice twice last year for excessive noise. "Until the conditions of approvals are added the ancillary events-- charity fundraisers that part of the horse shows-- have followed, noise control, building permits been previously approved by the NEC, and corrected and after-hours parties have been the overnight stays by owners and train- stopped, overnight camping is just out of the question," said Shantz, who recommended that the number of shows be reduced from six to four to show a clear message that the rules must be followed. He and the other speakers, Rob Brettle and Ron Morin expressed frustration that Halton Place constantly flouts regulations without consequence. A frustrated Brettle told council there are too many agencies involved and nobody wants to take responsibility to get the owners to do the right thing. Wards 1&2 Regional Councillor Clark Somerville agreed. "As a representative for that area. I've had enough. ...Every year we seem to get a song and dance of `yes we will do this' and `yes we will do that'. What assurances can we have that anything wlll be done?," he said. Arnold said Halton Place faces the challenge of satisfying the conflicting jurisdictions (of the NEC, Town and Conservation Halton). "There is a great overlap of requirements," he said. Morin said past performance should be a good indication of future performance. He noted the neighbours had been fighting for the last four to five years such as issues as noise, maintaining local rural character, land values, and natural environment. "We relying on the agencies to make them (Halton Place) accountable because without you we're powerless," said Morin. "I believe they should be allowed to have certain events on a certain level but not the whole 200 acres (of commercialization)." 3 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday, March 15, 2011 2010 Corolla Sport Finance 2010 Matrix Convenience Pkg., Auto up to 48 Mos. BU44EM-A Ku4EEP-B 0% Finance up to 48 Mos. 0% $ 266 + Taxes $500 Down or Trade Equivalent 60 Month Lease MSRP $22,209 $ 211 + Taxes + Taxes $500 Down or Trade Equivalent 60 Month Lease MSRP $22,084 2010 Yaris 2010 FJ Cruiser Adventure Pkg. Finance JT9K3M-E MSRP $15,689 Finance up to 36 Mos. 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