In 2019, the last of Southampton’s urban Environmental Protected significant woodland came under threat of development.
The forested and wet lands at the corners of Bay and Albert Streets were marked for development until hundreds of people in Southampton joined in solidarity for a “Circle the Woodland” protest on Saturday, May 18th (2019). In order to develop the land, a proposed amendment to the Saugeen Shores Official Plan had to be implemented.
At the time, residents turned out in large numbers to attend both a town planning meeting and a public open house meeting arranged by the planning consultant on behalf of the developer.
A resident during the protest said, “The whole world is worried about climate change and here we are about to change this little corner of the world drastically. This is wrong in so many ways. Other places are now trying to reclaim wetlands that were destroyed through urbanization while we are set to destroy the last one in Southampton.” The Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) also found, at the time, that the lands in question were significant wildlife habitat and wetlands, and there was a potential for endangered species.
Planning consultant for the developer, Ron Davidson, said at the Town’s public meeting in 2019 that “…the Town’s Official Plan includes a policy for this particular area of Southampton that simply does not allow for any development being considered whatsoever. This policy however, in this area of Southampton is unique and is the only area in Southampton with this policy.”
In May of 2019, in what was a surprising move to many, Saugeen Shores Council voted unanimously to reject the proposed amendment to the Official Plan. Each Councillor laid out his and her reasons:
“I sincerely hope that the outcome of the lands being discussed here, the majority of the lands, will end up in the hands of the Bio Sphere Conservancy, particularly south of Bay Street” … Vice Deputy Mayor Mike Myatt
“The previous Council felt that these woodlands are important enough that it restricted development in our current Official Plan. I vote against the approval of this proposed application” … Councillor Cheryl Grace
“In that forest south of Bay Street, it is a Significant Woodland and I would never support development in that section” … Councillor Dave Myett
“The most important thing is that residents have the right to protect their community and how they would like to see their neighbourhood develop and we (Council) should listen. Therefore, I will not support this” … then-Councillor John Rich
“We need more information and, therefore, I will not support this”…then-Councillor Kristan Shrider
“We were elected to do what is best for the Town following the rules that are given to us. With that in mind, I will not support this” … then Deputy Mayor Don Matheson
“I, too, will not support this. This application only deals with half of this Specific Woodland and the woodland extends all the way to McNabb Street and beyond. In my view, lifting a restriction on one part of the land and potentially allowing development in one part will, almost certainly impact the whole. The significance of a Significant Woodland is its contiguous nature and that’s what makes it ‘significant’. If you make a change to one part without considering all the other parts, that change can have an impact on the others” … Mayor Luke Charbonneau.
According to recent Planning documentation from the County of Bruce, it appears however, that the area is once again under threat, as plans move forward to once again propose an amendment to the Official Plan that would allow a subdivision of some 22 townhomes and a number of single-family dwellings, for a total of 36, to be developed on the protected area bounded by Bay, Albert and Island Streets.
The 2023 subdivision would be the lands outlined in red at the top of the image (1,2,14). (The image is the previous 2019 plan that shows a continuation of development on both sides of Bay St.)
An upcoming public meeting will be scheduled but, in the meantime, for anyone who has questions, concerns or objections the County invites you to email: bcplpe@brucecounty.on.ca or call226-909-5515. The planner on file is Coreena Smith and File Numbers are S-2022-028, L-2022-016, Z-2022-135.
