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Wednesday, January 7, 2009 Orono Weekly Times - 5 Clarington: the capital of outdoor storage facilities Proposed changes to the location of RV storage facilities could make Clarington the capital of outdoor storage of recreational vehicles in Durham and beyond, according to Mayor Abernethy. Last October, Clarington Council directed staff to report back with opportunities for storage of recreational vehicles outside of the industrially designated areas. The Planning Department report recommended that the storage of recreational vehicles could be accommodated on land designated Urban Residential, Future Urban Residential and Green Space, provided there is a minimum of five acres. Clarington's Official Plan currently allows for commercial storage of recreational vehicles in industrially designated areas only. Given the average price of one dollar per foot for outdoor storage, a land owner in the appropriately designated area could generate $35,000 an acre per year based on full occupancy, according to the Mayor. He speculated there are many five-acre parcels of land in the Municipality on which people would want that kind of revenue, coming from machines sitting quietly in their back yards. "I am concerned over what this will do to our municipality," Abernethy said at Monday's meeting. The Mayor had many concerns with the proposed storage areas, including concern over the aesthetics of such an area, property values, noise, and drinking water contamination, as the recommended areas for these storage facicilites are outside the areas serviced by municipal water supply. As Clarington is undergoing a review of its Official Plan, staff recommended that these changes be consolidated into the "Planning for the Countryside" portion of the Plan. The matter was tabled at Monday's meeting for one week, allowing staff the opportunity to provide Councillors with a map indicating the areas in the Municipality where RV storage facilities could be located. Fence posts were still visible along the Darlington-Clarke Townline Road on a foggy morning last week. Winter birds and feeders by Jim Richards Unless you're really looking, I'm sure most readers think there are very few birds around in the winter months; not true! Each year, the avid birding community makes a list of all birds reliably observed during the winter months (1 Dec. - 31 January). You may be interested in knowing that 195 species were documented in Ontario during the 2007-8 round-up. The list for 2008-9 was already at 138 species by the end of the first week in December this year, and stood at 185 by Dec. 31. However, for the birding enthusiasts who limit their activities to their backyard feeding stations, there is good news for watchers this winter. Reports of northern owls are on the increase, so if you live in a more rural location, you are apt to see one or two of these; birdseed attracts mice, and they are a staple in the owl diet. As well, we are expecting a good irruption of winter finches from the boreal reaches of Ontario to grace our area this winter. Be on the lookout for grosbeaks, crossbills, siskins and other northern finches this winter. Birds (especially in winter) depend on food and cover. How your yard is landscaped can have a great bearing on what birds you might attract. The provision of fruit and berry producing trees and shrubs (ie; apple varieties, Mountain Ash, High bush Cranberry, European Buckthorn) will serve to attract many species. Likewise, it is important to provide water if you can. Your proximity to a wooded creek valley (where birds congregate in winter) can also serve to increase your likelihood of attracting winter birds. Providing a constant source of birdseed is a prerequisite in determining an active birding season in your home environment. A silo feeder to dispense Niger seed is excellent for most all of the finches. Mixed seed scattered on the ground also serves to attract ground foragers like doves, juncos and various sparrows. A silo or hopper feeder to provide sunflower seed (the black oilseed is best as it provides more calorific value) will attract almost all local species. Offering foods such as bread, etc. is not a good idea as it contributes to avian botulism. BIRDS see page 9