2023 Budget Approval The 2023 Town Budget was approved by Council on Monday, March 27, 2023. The approved budget includes the three-year operating budget, the five-year capital budget and the 2023 Fees and Charges. The 2023 Budget includes a property tax rate increase of 2.55%, representing an increase of $53 on the Town’s portion of the tax bill for an average home in The Blue Mountains as set by MPAC at $555,840. The approved budget can be viewed here. Learn More | | Community Improvement Plan Now Accepting Applications The Town of The Blue Mountains is excited to announce the launch of the Community Improvement Plan program, with applications being accepted between April 3, 2023 – May 12, 2023. A Community Improvement Plan is a planning and economic development tool that municipalities may use to facilitate broad community revitalization goals through grants or loans to private property owners and tenants. Interested applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-application consultation with Town Staff to discuss and confirm application requirements. Following the consultation, applicants will be required to submit a completed application form, including supporting documentation for evaluation. For more information on the Community Improvement Plan, please visit the www.thebluemountains.ca/CIP or contact the Community Improvement Plan Administrator. Learn More | | Ontario Uses New Tool to Create Long-Term Care Beds and Affordable Housing in The Blue Mountains The Ontario government is responding to a request from the Town of The Blue Mountains to streamline approvals to build 160 long-term care beds and housing for seniors in Grey County. Once complete, the Community Campus of Care will be located on approximately 20 acres of town-owned surplus lands at 125 Peel Street South. The campus will also provide a range of retirement home living options, such as affordable housing and attainable housing units (e.g., townhouses and apartments), daycare facilities, and certain commercial uses. Ontario is supporting this development through a new tool that helps municipalities fast-track their own planning process, the Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator. It helps municipalities speed up approvals for housing and community infrastructure, like hospitals and community centres, while increasing transparency and accountability. This is the first Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator order to be issued by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Learn More | Volunteer Recognition & Awards Ceremony and Volunteer Fair All members of the community who have volunteered over the past year are welcome to attend the Volunteer Recognition & Awards Ceremony and Volunteer Fair, taking place on April 22, 2023 at the Beaver Valley Community Centre. Celebrate with a complimentary breakfast, including coffee and tea from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Visit the Volunteer Fair to learn about local volunteer opportunities in the Town of The Blue Mountains from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, or to register your organization for the Volunteer Fair, visit www.thebluemountains.ca/volunteerawards or call (519) 599-3131 ext. 254 Learn More | Wild Chervil Spraying Starting in 2023, the Town has shifted to a reactive management strategy for Wild Chervil consisting of spot spraying and shared stewardship. If residents identify Wild Chervil within the road allowance fronting their property they are asked to either cut the Chervil themselves before it goes to seed, or contact the Town to arrange a spot spraying treatment. For more information about the Wild Chervil Management Strategy, please visit the Town's Spring, Summer and Fall Road Maintenance web page. Learn More | | Tree Cutting Concludes in the Town of The Blue Mountains The Town would like to provide notice to residents that spring tree-cutting and clearing activities have concluded at various development properties throughout the Town, including Blue Vista, Aquavil West, Manorwood Thornbury and McPherson Home Farm. The Town of the Blue Mountains is committed to ensuring that sustainability is a fundamental principle throughout the development process, balancing future growth with environmental protection. For this reason, tree cutting is subject to comprehensive regulations that ensure environmental impacts are mitigated. For example, tree cutting is typically scheduled prior to April 1 each year in accordance with Federal regulation to avoid bird-nesting and migration windows. Learn More | | Beaver Valley Sustainable Tourism Strategy The Town has partnered with Grey County and the Municipality of Grey Highlands to develop the first sustainable tourism strategy and three-year action plan for the Beaver Valley Corridor. This corridor runs north from the village of Flesherton through the Niagara Escarpment, through the communities of Kimberley and Eugenia to Thornbury. A public survey has been launched to gather insight, input, and feedback directly from stakeholders in Beaver Valley whose perspective and experience is extremely important to this process. The survey will remain open until Friday, April 14, at 5:00pm. Take the Survey | | 2023 Resident Parking Passes As a reminder, all residents of the Town of The Blue Mountains are permitted to park for free at all paid parking locations throughout the Town by either registering their licence plate or by displaying the printed resident pass in their rearview mirror. 2023 Resident Passes were mailed to all taxpayers in the spring tax bills. If you did not receive your resident passes, licence plate(s) can be registered by visiting Town Hall during regular business hours with photo identification, proof of residency and vehicle registration information. New for this year, the Town will be selling non-resident parking permits for $100.00 (+HST) per year for residents of Collingwood, Clearview Township, Grey Highlands and Meaford. Learn More | | Parking Rate Changes A new parking rate structure has been put into effect with the approval of the 2023 Town Budget. The new rates are in effect and are reflected within the HonkMobile App while paying for parking. The rates will be updated on the Town website over the coming weeks. As a reminder, all residents can park for free by either registering their licence plate or by displaying the printed resident pass in their rearview mirror. For location details or to learn more about Municipal Parking Lots, please visit: www.thebluemountains.ca/parking Learn More | | Upcoming Planning & Development Updates A Public Meeting will be held on April 18, 2023 to consider two development applications. The first is related to an applicaiton that the Town has brought forward for a Zoning By-Law Amendment in Swiss Meadows, proposing to re-zone a portion of the subject lands from the Open Space (OS) zone to the Residential One (R1-1) zone. To learn more, visit the project web page. The second is related to an application from SJSB Network Consulting, on behalf of Bell Mobility Inc., proposing to relocate an existing telecommunications tower in Craigleith. To learn more, visit the project web page. Learn More | | | Bridge 2 and 3 Replacement The Bridge 2 and 3 Replacement project is nearing completion. Town staff have completed a substantial performance walkthrough with the contractor to inspect for any deficiencies. Once the road is deemed acceptable, it will be reopened to the public. For more information on the project, and to receive updates regarding the reopening of 6th Sideroad, please visit the project web page. Learn More | | | Water Tower Rehabilitation BGL Contractors Corp. has started the rehabilitation work on the Victoria Street Water Tower. Contractors mobilized to the project site the week of March 27 to begin minor excavation and began installation of the scaffolding structure the week of April 4. To learn more about the Water Tower Rehabilitation project, visit the project web page. Learn More | | | | | | |