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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, Ja nu ar y 10 ,2 01 9 | 22 there were voices raised, because people were thrown off guard." Subsequently, the Town's Let's Talk Plat- form was opened up to res- idents willing to speak on the proposed development in Norval. Kathy Gastle, presi- dent of the Norval Com- munity Association, says the meeting in March was held to facilitate the very kind of public consulta- tion being requested of the Norval residents. "Pauline Gladstone and 60 other residents attend- ed a legal public open house hosted by the Town of Halton Hills on March 22, 2018 at Upper Canada College in Norval," she said, adding that four pro- jects were discussed that evening including chang- es to Norval Park and the Lucy Maud Montgomery Museum and Literary Centre. "The public meet- ing had representatives from four local and re- spected organizations who very clearly identi- fied their role, and the purpose of the meeting and identified each pro- ject in detail to all the Nor- val residents in atten- dance." Mayor Rick Bonnette says the Town is dedicated to taking a collaborative approach on behalf of the entire community. "I will say that regard- less of the opinion, I am al- ways impressed by the passion that our residents display," he added. Fraser says the Heri- tage Foundation of Halton Hills is receiving a seed grant of just over $74,000 this year (from Jan. 1 until Oct. 31, 2019) to help with the museum and literary centre planning. Five part-time staff members will be hired to conduct re- search and the grant will be used to design the mu- seum. "The museum design will present the past in a dynamic learning format, using an interactive edu- cational learning experi- ence. While researching other museums, the Heri- tage Foundation will learn what types of muse- ums work best for curricu- lum-based education pro- grams, outreach for re- searchers, educators, art- ists, historians, the public and tourists," she said. "The Heritage Foundation is determined to create a facility and a program that will make the Town of Halton Hills, Ontario and Canada proud." Warren Harris, com- missioner of Recreation and Parks with the Town of Halton Hills, says this year, the groups involved in the project will be work- ing toward both a business plan and feasibility study to give them the frame- work to move forward on the museum and literary centre. "The other major con- sideration is that it would be subject to all planning approval," Harris said. "As part of that, there would be technical studies required for everything from traffic, parking, ser- vicing, (etc.) and public notice is part of that plan- ning application process as well." Harris says the process for the project will have to line up with the town's Joint Capital Policy, which ensures that groups that have an expec- tation of the town to either fund or be a partner in a development, present a formal proposal to com- mittee before the plan can be adopted. "The benefit of that is committee and council would have a full under- standing of what the scope of the project is and what the financial implications to the town are," he said. "Then it also would be available for the public to comment on." In an effort to improve the public consultation process, Harris says the Town will also be holding annual meetings to check in with residents involved with or affected by the de- velopment projects. "Anyone who has par- ticipated in the process to date would continue to be advised and kept abreast of the different initia- tives," he said. NEWS PROJECT WILL LINE UP WITH JOINT CAPITAL POLICY, SAYS COMMISSIONER HARRIS Continued from page 21 STORY BEHIND THE STORY Petition claims notification of proposed development was not adequately relayed to the residents who would most be affected by the changes. Mayor Rick Bonnette says the town is taking a collaborative approach. THE ISSUE: MANY NORVAL RESIDENTS AGAINST PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR MUSEUM, LIBRARY LOCAL IMPACT: PROPONENTS CITE CULTURAL BENEFITS, OPPONENTS SAY NOISE, TRAFFIC JAMS AMONG NEGATIVES Local journalism makes a difference. Support us by registering at theifp.ca OfferingTwO OpTOmeTry Offices in geOrgeTOwn has opened a 2nd location at the mill street medical centre. DOwnTOwn geOrgeTOwn | 83 mill st | 905 873 1867 meTrO plaza | 371 mountainview rd s | 905 873 1861 GIDDENS OPTOMETRY family eye care services Day, Evening and Saturday Hours | Same day appointments for urgent eye care. Please phone. Dr. Andrea Kozma Dr. Ben Giddens Dr. Stephanie Britton Community Resource & Wellness Family Night Thursday, January 17th, 2019 7:00 - 9:00 pm ACTON HIGH SCHOOL 21Cedar Road, Acton 519-853-2920 Join us for a Keynote/Speaker Panel: ADAPT Halton Regional Health Halton Regional Police Followed by: - Community Resource Carousel (Families for Families, ROCK/ROPS, COAST/MRT - to name a few) Plus: - Child Minding for ages 2 and up (Refreshments will be provided)