Lakeshore Moves Forward with Measures to Protect Rural Landscape

At the regular meeting on February 14, 2023, Lakeshore Council approved several resolutions designed to preserve the integrity of the municipality’s rural areas and communities. 

“Around the table tonight, we saw a Council united around a bold vision to protect our rural landscape. We know that these areas and communities are critical to Lakeshore’s identity and history, and they have been a key focus for Council since our term began,” said Mayor Tracey Bailey. “The measures we passed tonight, and the direction provided to administration, will help us mitigate the negative impacts of projects, from greenhouses to battery storage facilities, and ensure our rural residents can continue to enjoy their communities to the fullest.”

Greenhouse By-laws

First on the agenda, Council hosted a statutory public meeting to hear resident and stakeholder feedback on proposed amendments to Lakeshore’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law dealing with Large-Scale Greenhouse Farms.

Council deliberated and directed Administration to include additional measures designed to eliminate the potential negative impacts of greenhouses such as lighting, odour, and stockpiling of waste. Council also expanded setback distances from settlement areas, updated language to include all commercial greenhouses, and added requirements for community impact analyses. The updated by-laws will be provided to Council at the February 28 and March 7 meetings for consideration.

Council also directed Administration to bring a report describing the scope and estimated cost of a study to consider designating a greenhouse “business park.”

“We appreciate all our constituents who took the time to share their feedback tonight and throughout the last two years of public consultation. As a Council, we know how important this issue is to our residents, especially in rural areas, so we had to get it right the first time,” Mayor Bailey added. “We’ve exercised the full extent of our jurisdiction to mitigate the negative impacts of greenhouses, and I look forward to continuing these efforts with the direction provided by Council.”

Four Battery Energy Storage System Proposals Supported by Council

Council provided Municipal Support Resolutions (MSRs) to four of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) proposals participating in the Independent Electricity System Operator’s Expedited Request for Proposal process.

The proposals included Liberty Power projects near Comber and Tilbury, Energy Group’s project near Comber, as well as the Baseload Power project near Comber (projects 2, 11, 12 and 15 on the Lakeshore BESS proposal map).

The resolutions come after the creation of ranking criteria for proposed BESS projects in the Municipality. The ranking criteria include a project’s proximity to settlement areas and similar land uses, as well as adjacent road conditions and classifications.

“While the IESO process certainly moved quickly, Council once again demonstrated our commitment to taking the time to consider residents in rural areas while ensuring we have a say when it comes to delivering energy projects critical to the future of our communities and region,” Mayor Bailey said. “I look forward to the next phase of the IESO process, which will give the municipality and our residents additional opportunities to understand the projects and weigh in.”

Support on Ranking Criteria from Caldwell First Nation

Council also received support on the ranking criteria from Caldwell First Nation Chief Mary Duckworth.

“As a Nation, we have sought opportunities to create partnerships with all levels of government that will build economic prosperity for our people while ensuring proper stewardship of the land and protection of the environment. We appreciate the opportunity to engage with the Municipality of Lakeshore and look forward to many future opportunities to work closely and cooperatively with them for generations to come,” Chief Duckworth said.