More than 200 at open houses
More than 200 people attend information open houses on shoreline management along Ausable Bayfield shoreline
Presentations, displays at August 2018 open houses in Thedford, Zurich provided information on proposed draft development guidelines for shoreline
More than 200 people attended two public information open houses, about shoreline management, held in Thedford and Zurich in August of 2018. Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) hosted the first open house on Saturday, August 11 in Thedford and the second in Zurich on Saturday, August 18.
“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to attend to meet staff, listen to presentations and review displays, ask questions, and provide written comments,” said Geoffrey Cade, ABCA Manager of Water and Planning. “The open houses offered a great chance to exchange information, to update the public on project progress, to introduce proposed draft development guidelines for review, and to discuss next steps for the update work.”
Posters and presentations from the open houses, including proposed draft development guidelines, have been posted, for information and review, on the abca.ca shoreline management plan page at this link: https://www.abca.ca/page.php?page=shoreline-management
Posters explained how shoreline hazard zones are defined and outlined the current development guidelines as well as the proposed draft development guidelines for bluff areas and dynamic beach areas. Presentations were made by Fiona Duckett, M.Sc., P. Eng. of W. F. Baird and Associates Coastal Engineers Ltd. and by the water and planning manager at ABCA. The presentation by Fiona Duckett looked at shoreline recession (erosion) rates as well as next steps for updating the current Shoreline Management Plan (2000).
Members of the public are invited to provide written comments on the open house content until September 15, 2018. The public will also have a later opportunity to comment. Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority has contracted Baird and Associates Coastal Engineers Ltd. to compile the 2015-2018 updates into a document for review by the ABCA Board of Directors prior to release to the public for comment.
When a draft proposed updated Shoreline Management Plan is released by the board, the public will have a chance to review and provide comments on the updated draft plan. After this period of public comment, the proposed plan would again go the board for consideration of approval. The updates and approval may be completed before the end of the year.
ABCA’s Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) was last updated in 2000. The plan identifies shoreline hazards for flooding, erosion, and dynamic beaches and their impact on shoreline development. A copy of the SMP 2000 is online at abca.ca. The conservation authority started a process in 2015 to begin updating technical information to support updates to the 2000 SMP document. The 2018 open houses provided information on the existing plan, current policies, and next steps to update the current plan.
Updates to the plan will provide newer information on shoreline recession rates, ensure that local policies and application of the Regulation conform to Province of Ontario policy, and keep policies current in light of emerging land use trends. Updates to the Shoreline Management Plan will provide a consistent and up-to-date guide for development and municipal land use planning along the shoreline, according to the ABCA.
Members of the public are invited to subscribe to a free electronic newsletter that provides updates about shoreline management in the watershed. More than 500 people have subscribed to this newsletter. To sign up to receive these updates you may visit this link: http://eepurl.com/bxn8_5.
To learn more visit abca.ca or contact ABCA at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.