A project that took Hastings County 12 years to develop has been rejected by the province.
A provincial report to county council says the draft official plan to allow more urban development in Bancroft, Marmora, Stirling, and Tweed must be changed because of the potential loss of agricultural land due to urban sprawl. For example, the county’s plan sets out that Bancroft’s downtown core could be expanded by just over 86 hectares. The province says it would rather see the area designated as a preferred location for future growth.
Hastings County Warden Rodney Cooney calls this frustrating. Cooney says the province wants urban growth where water and sewer services are already available, but doesn’t want to give the county the ability to make that happen. He says, based on the province’s recommendations, the county will have to amend its official plan in order to expand these areas in the future.
Cooney says the county just wants these communities to be zoned in such a way that they can expand if a subdivision or big box store wants to build in the area.
Council is asking for a chance to negotiate with the province in order to keep the plan the way it is.
