TOWN COUNCIL REVIEWS BILL 23 IMPACT ON HERITAGE PROPERTIES

FIREWORKS, TRAFFIC BYLAWS AMONG OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED AT COUNCIL MEETING

Halton Hills council is striving to sustain the heritage lands of Halton Hills.

Bill 23, passed in November, changed several provincial legislations, including the Ontario Heritage Act.

There are currently 768 properties listed on the town's heritage register. Under the new legislation, town officials would have to remove most listed properties as of Jan. 1, 2025, unless they are designated or subject to notices of intent to designate before that time.

"We've been hammered with this decision," said Mayor Ann Lawlor during the March 6 council meeting. "When we lose heritage properties, we simply become a massive suburban sprawl."

Due to a time constraint, limited resources and updated criteria, not all properties listed on the register would warrant a designation, shared town staff.

About 40 properties have been designated, and three others are being reviewed. While hoping to add as many properties as possible, staff said they anticipate the designation of 20 properties over the next two years.

Lawlor suggested recruiting people for a special advisory committee on heritage to support the designation process.

TRAFFIC WORK PLAN

Council was presented with a proposed annual traffic engineering work plan outlining traffic-related activities and projects for the year.

Key operating programs planned for the year include new automated speed enforcement, road occupancy permits, traffic control signals/street light maintenance, annual pavement markings program, and new traffic sign installations.

The 2023 capital project highlights include the installation of automated speed enforcement, pedestrian crossovers, implementation of various community safety zones, traffic calming in Glen Williams, active transportation enhancements, rural intersection street lights, and updates to traffic signals, signing and flashing beacons.

A major project under the traffic work plan includes the implementation of automated speed enforcement this year, shared a town report.

Staff say they plan to install one camera, which would potentially move to three to four locations within one year.

Locations for the camera placement have yet to be determined.

HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND PARKING BYLAW

Council approved amendments to the highway traffic and parking bylaw.

As part of the amendments, a no-boulevardparking-zone sign would be installed on the east side of Churchill Road North from 17 metres south of Cedar Road to 23 metres south of Cedar Road.

Signs for a reduced loads zone will be installed on Mountain Street from Confederation Street to Main Street (Glen Williams) and on Main Street from Confederation Street to 22 Side Road.

Two signs for a no heavy truck zone (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) will be removed on Main Street from Confederation Street to 22 Side Road, and on 22 Side Road from Main Street to Winston Churchill Boulevard (Regional Road 19).

Lastly, two no-heavytruck-zone signs will be added on Main Street from Confederation Street to 22 Side Road, and 22 Side Road from Main Street to Winston Churchill Boulevard.

FIREWORKS BYLAW REVIEW

Council is reviewing the town's current fireworks bylaw, which was created over 18 years ago.

Council members discussed keeping the bylaw as-is, introducing enforcement measures to address family fireworks safety standards better and allowing fireworks to be discharged on Lunar New Year, Diwali, and New Year's Eve.

Currently, fireworks can only be released on Victoria Day and Canada Day, with individual permissions required for other occasions.

A complete ban of using and selling family fireworks and/or exhibition fireworks in replacement of light shows was also discussed.

NEW HALTON HILLS VILLAGE HOMES SUBDIVISION NEARLY COMPLETE

Halton Hills Village Homes Inc. completed the development of its Phase 13 subdivision in June 2020, except for the off-site stormwater management facility installed with the construction.

A planning and development report shares that all other deficiencies have been rectified and works associated with these developments completed to the town's satisfaction.

The town expects the off-site stormwater management facility to be completed during spring.

The development comprises 106 residential blocks and various related public services, including West Branch Park.