SUPPORT for the Proposed…

SUPPORT for the Proposed Planning Statement (section 4.3)

We are owners of a small 50 acre farm in the Oro portion of Oro-Medonte Township and were happy about the original Proposed Planning Statement that provided the opportunity for us to potentially sever off three lots (section 4.3).

The plan for us was to allocate two of the lots to our two grown children and sell off the third to provide some income for us as we are now at retirement age.

This would have permitted us to “age in place” on the property that we have lived for the past 27 years. Prior to us taking over the farm, it belonged to my husband’s father and grandfather before that, making us third generation on the farm. Our hope was that this would continue into the next generation and beyond.

The other benefits of the severance proposal include our children being able to enter the housing market with property and mortgages (to build a house) of their own, increasing housing supply, substantially increasing tax revenue for our township while having to offer minimal additional services, increasing a presence on our country road with the hopes of decreasing illegal dumping (yes, this is a weekly occurrence). There are so many additional benefits to the three lot severance!

We understand the potential downsides, which could include decreasing a small amount of farmland; the areas our three lots would be located are a combo of not great farmland combined with a dying bush (ash trees ravaged by the Emerald Ash beetle).

It’s also understandable that some folks may not like hearing tractors or the dust or smells that go along with farming. I can assure you that there are many folks that would prefer that to living in a city so close to the noise and smells of neighbours!

While there are some vocal farmers and farm associations that disagree with the proposal and presented a NIMBY argument recently, there are many of us less vocal farmers that are in support. We have informally talked with our farming neighbours who see the benefits for the same reasons listed above. We have also watched our Oro-Medonte Council meetings where they expressed support.

We implore you to reconsider and to continue with the three lot severance option as this is the only way we will be able to keep our farm in our family. Prior to this proposal being released, we were consulting with real estate agents to place our farm on the market to sell to the highest bidder, which could result in the land not being farmed at all going forward should a speculator or non-farmer purchase it.

Further, please consider consulting with the Mayor and Councillors of our township to hear their views on the three lot severance proposal, they too are hearing from farmers that are supportive.

Thank you for your consideration.