Dear Members,

 

It has been a relatively mild winter for us in South East Ontario, and although we did not mind not having to shovel too much snow, we probably would have appreciated more of it now for the spring run-off. We hope you have faired well, be it in the not so cold North or the not so warm South. Spring is coming fast and thoughts are turning to Cottage Country.

 

This year is an important time for us in Honey Harbour, November will bring local elections, a time and opportunity to set the pattern for the health and well being of our natural environment. We must ensure that those we elect truly understand and will promote our vision of the future for Honey Harbour.

 

From the notice in your tax bill, you will know that the Township has embarked on a new process to define a Master Plan and Guidelines for the future development of the Honey Harbour area. This is most disturbing!  Many of our members and permanent residents, as well as commercial operators spent many hours and dollars from 1998 to 2001 in defining the Honey Harbour Neighbourhood Plan.  This Plan was approved by the Township and District and incorporated into the Official Plan of the Township.  Over the past decade, the Township has time and time again ignored the guiding principals of this plan in approving development requests.  Now they want to create a new plan, but this time, instead of using volunteer, passionate, local, members of our community, they have hired consultants to “survey” various parties and then, with direction from the Township, create a new plan. 

 

The Neighbourhood Plan we have is a good one.  It defines policies and standards for development and covers both the full area of Honey Harbour as well as the Hamlet area of Honey Harbour.  Since we have not had much support or communication from the Township to our Association over the past term of Council, we need you to get involved, and to take action and be heard on this issue.

 

You also need to get out and vote!  It is more important now than ever before that we cooperate and communicate with the various stakeholders in the area. To this end we have joined with our neighbouring associations in Cognashere and Go Home Bay, the GBA, and others, to work towards defining the issues that are important and for which the understanding and performance of election candidates can be assessed. It is critical that we are heard and represented when voting time comes. We will be communicating with you about who is eligible to vote, how to get registered and how to vote either in person or by mail.

 

There is much work to be done. We are a volunteer organization, we need your active participation in these tasks. We would be pleased to hear from anyone with a love for Honey Harbour who would like to assist us in any way. We would be even more pleased to have you join us on the Board.

 

We hope to see you for the AGM at the Schoolhouse, or at one of our social events or just round and about. We wish you a safe and enjoyable “Cottage” season.

 

Best wishes,

 

Allan Hazelton